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General English · A1

Present simple or present continuous?

Separate a usual routine from an action happening now.

What you will learn

  • Choose between a habit and an action in progress.
  • Use the correct helper in questions and negatives.
  • Use common state verbs in the simple form.

Odatdagi ish uchun present simple, ayni paytdagi yoki vaqtinchalik ish uchun present continuous ishlating. Faqat vaqt so‘ziga emas, gapning ma’nosiga ham qarang.

Present simple describes routines and general facts: I walk to work. Present continuous describes an activity happening now or around now: I’m taking the bus today. Some verbs usually describe a state, not an action in progress. At this level, use like, love, want, need, know and understand in the present simple for their usual meanings.

Grammar Tables

On small screens, swipe tables sideways.

Meaning first
Present simplePresent continuous
I work in a café. (usual job)I’m working at home today. (temporary)
She reads every evening. (habit)She’s reading now. (in progress)
We live in Tashkent. (usual home)We’re staying in Khiva this week. (temporary)
Questions and negatives
SimpleContinuous
Do you cook?Are you cooking?
Does he run?Is he running?
I don’t cook.I’m not cooking.
She doesn’t run.She isn’t running.
Common states: usually simple
MeaningExample
preference / yoqtirishI like this song.
wish / istakShe wants a drink.
need / ehtiyojWe need help.
knowledge / bilishHe knows the answer.
understanding / tushunishI understand you.

Examples

Habit versus today

I usually wear glasses, but today I’m wearing contact lenses.

Odatda ko‘zoynak taqaman, bugun esa kontakt linza taqyapman.

Job versus current action

She teaches maths. At the moment, she’s talking to a parent.

U matematikadan dars beradi. Hozir esa ota-onalardan biri bilan gaplashyapti.

Different time focus

We don’t eat at cafés often. We’re eating at one now.

Kafelarda tez-tez ovqatlanmaymiz. Hozir esa kafeda ovqatlanyapmiz.

State

I know your sister. She lives near me.

Singlingizni taniyman. U mening yonimda yashaydi.

Two different questions

Do you walk to school? Are you walking there now?

Maktabga piyoda borasizmi? Hozir u yerga piyoda ketyapsizmi?

Common Mistakes

Avoid: I am knowing the answer.

Use: I know the answer.

Know normally describes a state and uses the simple form.

Avoid: Does she working now?

Use: Is she working now?

The continuous uses be, not does.

Avoid: He isn’t play football every week.

Use: He doesn’t play football every week.

For a general habit, use doesn’t + base verb.

Avoid: Look! It rains.

Use: Look! It’s raining.

Here you point to rain happening now, so use the continuous.

Practice & Feedback

Practise freely. Scores stay on this page only and reset when you leave or reload. Feedback appears after checking each exercise.

1 · Routine or right now?

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. As a normal routine, I ___ breakfast at seven every day.
2. Please wait. I ___ my shoes right now.
3. My sister’s usual job: she ___ in a bookshop.
4. Look at the boys! They ___ a snowman.
5. I ___ this word. Please explain it. (understanding / tushunish)
6. Listen! Someone ___ at the door.
7. As a general fact, water ___ at 100°C at sea level.
8. Our kitchen is being repaired. This week we ___ at my aunt’s home.
9. She ___ a new pen because hers is broken. (need / ehtiyoj)
10. His usual routine: he ___ to work by train.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

2 · Complete with the right helper

Type only the missing word or words. Read the clue carefully.

1. ___ you usually walk home? (do/are)
2. ___ you walking home now? (do/are)
3. ___ she often cook? (does/is)
4. ___ she cooking at the moment? (does/is)
5. I ___ like cold tea. (do not: contraction)
6. He ___ watching the film now. (is not: contraction)
7. My daily habit: I ___ before bed. (read)
8. Look! The baby is ___. (smile)
9. She ___ your name. (know: state / holat)
10. We are ___ in a hotel this week. (stay)

Answer every question to check this exercise.

3 · Choose the meaning

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. Ask about a daily routine / Kundalik odatni so‘rang.
2. Ask about an action right now / Ayni hozirgi ishni so‘rang.
3. Describe a general preference / Umumiy yoqtirishni ayting.
4. Say you are busy on the phone right now / Hozir telefonda bandsiz.
5. Describe his usual job / Uning doimiy kasbini ayting.
6. Ask if they are sleeping now / Hozir uxlayaptimi deb so‘rang.
7. Express a need, even now / Hozirgi ehtiyojni bildiring.
8. Look outside: it is snowing / Tashqarida hozir qor yog‘yapti.
9. Say what she does not do as a habit / Uning odatiy qilmaydigan ishi.
10. Contrast a habit and a current activity / Odat va hozirgi ish.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

Review

  • Habit or general fact: simple. Current or temporary action: continuous.
  • Simple questions: do/does. Continuous questions: am/is/are.
  • Say what you usually do in the evening and what you are doing now.
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