Put the following verbs into the correct tense—either the present simple or the present progressive. Use
all the elements in the brackets. Note the importance of certain key words. Use a highlighter to indicate
the key words.
1. They (sell) my grandfather six eggs every Saturday.
2. Mr Brown (have) a cold shower every morning, but at the moment he (have) a hot
bath.
3. She (dislike) playing tennis but she (adore) swimming.
4. (he, not, work) in his room at the moment?
5. Mrs Poole seldom (eat) crisps.
6. The plane (leave) Heathrow at 8 a.m. and (arrive) at Kennedy seven hours later.
7. He always (phone) me every Saturday evening. He never (forget).
8. I (send) this book to Tim next week.
9. He (catch) the same train every evening.
10. I (look) for my glasses and I (not, can) find them anywhere.
11. We (have) lunch with the Smiths on Tuesdays.
12. We (have) dinner with the Browns on Friday.
13. Mr Green (come) to see us next week.
14. My cousins (go) to Greece this summer. They (go) there nearly every year.
15. James (want) a new pair of trousers.
16. Julie (need) to have her hair cut.
17. Mr Stowcrat (own) five cars and a plane.
18. I (not, know) who these socks (belong to), but they (smell) like cheese.
19. John (hardly ever, write) to me these days, but he (usually, phone) me once a week.
20. They (want) to stay here for another week.
21. This tea (taste) like dishwater.
22. Look! He (come) now.
23. What (you, do)? I (try) to make some jam but everybody (keep) asking me what I (do),
so I (not, make) much progress.
24. My car (always, break) down.
25. She (not, earn) very much but she (buy) her first car next week.
26. We (think) of going there next week.
27. I (see) the doctor on Thursday.
28. He (always, forget) to bring his books.
29. This book (belong) to Brian.
30. What (you, do)? I (be) a dentist.
31. What (you, do)? I (think) about what I’ve got to do tomorrow.
32. (you, think) he would come if we asked him?
33. How much (you, owe) me?
34. (I, not, go) with you tomorrow? Isn’t there enough room in the car?
35. It (look) as if it is going to rain.
36. (you, not, want) to come walking with me?
37. I hope you (understand) what I (talk) about today.
38. (you, go) to market on Wednesday?
39. (you, remember) when you were very small?
40. I (wish) he would stop phoning me at eleven o’clock at night. He (always, do)
- Present simple tense is used here to express a habitual action. The verb "sell" is in the present simple tense because it describes a regular activity performed every Saturday.
2. Mr Brown has a cold shower every morning, but at the moment he is having a hot bath.
- Present simple tense is used to describe Mr Brown's habitual action of having a cold shower every morning. However, the present progressive tense is used to describe his current action of having a hot bath at the moment.
3. She dislikes playing tennis but she adores swimming.
- Present simple tense is used to describe her general dislike and adoration for playing tennis and swimming, respectively.
4. Is he not working in his room at the moment?
- Present progressive tense is used here to talk about an action that is happening at the moment of speaking.
5. Mrs Poole seldom eats crisps.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe a habit or a preference of Mrs Poole. The adverb "seldom" suggests that she rarely eats crisps.
6. The plane leaves Heathrow at 8 a.m. and arrives at Kennedy seven hours later.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe the flight schedule, which is a regular occurrence.
7. He always phones me every Saturday evening. He never forgets.
- Present simple tense is used to describe his habitual action of calling every Saturday evening. The adverb "always" emphasizes the regularity of the action. The negative form "never" is also used in present simple to describe a habitual action that does not occur.
8. I will send this book to Tim next week.
- It seems that the question mistakenly asks for the present tense, but the statement uses future tense. "Next week" indicates a future action.
9. He catches the same train every evening.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe a routine action of catching the same train every evening.
10. I am looking for my glasses and I can't find them anywhere.
- The present progressive tense is used to talk about an ongoing action of looking for the glasses at the moment of speaking. The negative form "can't" is also used in present simple to indicate inability.
11. We have lunch with the Smiths on Tuesdays.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe a regular action of having lunch with the Smiths every Tuesday.
12. We will have dinner with the Browns on Friday.
- Similar to the previous example, future tense is used here to describe a plan to have dinner with the Browns on a specific Friday.
13. Mr Green is coming to see us next week.
- Present progressive tense is used here to describe a planned action of Mr Green coming to see us in the near future.
14. My cousins are going to Greece this summer. They go there nearly every year.
- Present progressive tense is used to describe a future plan for going to Greece this summer. The present simple tense is used to describe their regular habit of going there nearly every year.
15. James wants a new pair of trousers.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe James' desire for a new pair of trousers.
16. Julie needs to have her hair cut.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe Julie's current need to have her hair cut.
17. Mr Stowcrat owns five cars and a plane.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe Mr Stowcrat's possession of five cars and a plane.
18. I don't know who these socks belong to, but they smell like cheese.
- Present simple tense is used here in the negative form to express uncertainty about the ownership of the socks. The present simple tense is also used to describe their smell which is a permanent characteristic.
19. John hardly ever writes to me these days, but he usually phones me once a week.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe John's infrequent writing and regular phoning habits.
20. They want to stay here for another week.
- Present simple tense is used here to express their desire to stay here for another week.
21. This tea tastes like dishwater.
- Present simple tense is used here to express the quality of the taste of the tea, which is a permanent characteristic.
22. Look! He is coming now.
- Present progressive tense is used here to indicate an action happening at the moment of speaking.
23. What are you doing? I am trying to make some jam, but everybody keeps asking me what I am doing, so I am not making much progress.
- Present progressive tense is used here to describe an ongoing action of trying to make jam, as well as the continuous nature of people asking. The negative form "not making" is also used in present progressive to describe a lack of progress.
24. My car always breaks down.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe a permanent characteristic or habitual occurrence of the car breaking down.
25. She doesn't earn very much, but she is buying her first car next week.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe the amount she earns, which is a regular occurrence. The present progressive tense is used to describe her planned action of buying her first car.
26. We are thinking of going there next week.
- Present progressive tense is used here to describe a planned action of thinking about going there in the near future.
27. I am seeing the doctor on Thursday.
- Present progressive tense is used here to describe a planned action of seeing the doctor in the future.
28. He always forgets to bring his books.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe a habitual action of forgetting to bring his books.
29. This book belongs to Brian.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe the ownership of the book, which is a permanent characteristic.
30. What do you do? I am a dentist.
- Present simple tense is used here to inquire about one's profession or occupation. The present simple tense is also used to describe the person's occupation as a dentist.
31. What are you doing? I am thinking about what I've got to do tomorrow.
- Present progressive tense is used here to describe an ongoing action of thinking about one's tasks for tomorrow.
32. Do you think he would come if we asked him?
- Present simple tense is used here to inquire about a person's opinion, and the present simple tense is also used in the reported speech to describe the hypothetical situation.
33. How much do you owe me?
- Present simple tense is used here to inquire about the amount owed.
34. Am I not going with you tomorrow? Isn't there enough room in the car?
- Present progressive tense is used here to describe an action happening in the future, and the negative form "isn't" is used in present simple to express doubt or disagreement.
35. It looks as if it is going to rain.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe the appearance or likelihood of rain.
36. Don't you want to come walking with me?
- Present simple tense is used here in the negative form to inquire about a person's desire to join for a walk.
37. I hope you understand what I am talking about today.
- Present simple tense is used here to express hope, and present progressive tense is used to describe an ongoing action of talking.
38. Are you going to the market on Wednesday?
- Present progressive tense is used here to inquire about a person's future action of going to the market.
39. Do you remember when you were very small?
- Present simple tense is used here to inquire about a person's past memory or recollection.
40. I wish he would stop phoning me at eleven o'clock at night. He always does.
- Present simple tense is used here to describe a habitual action of the person phoning at eleven o'clock at night, and the "wish" expressions indicate the desire for a change from the habitual action.