Complete the sentences using the present simple or present continuous form of the verbs given. 1. Usually, Nathalie and Chantal ______ (to play) in the park but today they ______ (to study) at school. The teacher ______ (to give) them an exam. 2. Kathy always ______ (smile) in class and at the moment some of the other pupils ______ (smile) as well. 3. Right now the pupils ______ (read) a book and the teacher ______ (to write) on the board. 4. Almost every day class ______ (begin) at 8:00, but on Tuesdays the class ______ (start) at 8:30. 5. She ______ (like) to bake cookies, but at the moment she ______ (not bake) cookies because she ______ (study) at school. 6. Dany ______ (enjoy) climbing mountains during his vacation, but this year he ______ (not take) any vacation because he ______ (study). 7. Martine ______ (do) computer exercises at the moment. She usually ______ (do) computer exercises on Tuesday. 8. Isabelle ______ (like) to read at the moment. She ______ (read) a very good novel about Ghandi. 9. Suzonne ______ (come) from France, and ______ (return) there for a holiday in the near future. 10. Claude ______ (try) to complete the on-line exercises at the moment.
Answer (1)
In this exercise, you need to use either the present simple or present continuous form of the verbs to complete the sentences. Here is how you can fill in each sentence correctly:
Usually, Nathalie and Chantal play in the park but today they are studying at school. The teacher is giving them an exam.
Use 'play' because it's a habitual action and we describe it using the present simple.
Use 'are studying' and 'is giving' because these actions are happening right now, requiring the present continuous.
Kathy always smiles in class and at the moment some of the other pupils are smiling as well.
Use 'smiles' for habitual action and 'are smiling' for the action happening currently.
Right now the pupils are reading a book and the teacher is writing on the board.
Both actions are happening at this moment, hence the present continuous form is used.
Almost every day class begins at 8:00, but on Tuesdays the class starts at 8:30.
'Begins' and 'starts' are used for routine actions, so the present simple is applied.
She likes to bake cookies, but at the moment she is not baking cookies because she is studying at school.
'Likes' describes a general preference or habit, while 'is not baking' and 'is studying' describe actions at the current moment.
Dany enjoys climbing mountains during his vacation, but this year he is not taking any vacation because he is studying .
'Enjoys' is used for habitual actions, while 'is not taking' and 'is studying' denote current situations.
Martine is doing computer exercises at the moment. She usually does computer exercises on Tuesday.
'Is doing' is happening right now, and 'does' is used for habitual actions.
Isabelle likes to read at the moment. She is reading a very good novel about Ghandi.
'Likes' indicates a current general preference, while 'is reading' shows the action is in progress.
Suzonne comes from France, and is returning there for a holiday in the near future.
'Comes' is a fact about her origin, requiring the present simple, and 'is returning' is a planned action using the present continuous.
Claude is trying to complete the online exercises at the moment.
'Is trying' shows the action is in progress, so the present continuous is used.
