1. Present Continuous применяется для описания ситуаций и действий, которые говорящий считает временными. Present Simple описывает ситуации, которые говорящий воспринимает как постоянные.

Linda is working at the ice cream shop during summer. – Летом Линда работает в магазине мороженого. (когда лето закончится, Линда больше не будет работать в этом месте.)

Sam works as a manager at the ice cream shop. – Сэм работает управляющим в магазине мороженого. (это его постоянная работа)

2. Если мы описываем повторяющиеся действия, которые связаны с настоящим моментом, используем Present Continuous. А если с настоящим моментом они не связаны, употребляем Present Simple.

I'm speaking with my mom a lot these days. – В последнее время я часто говорю с мамой по телефону. (есть связь с текущим моментом)

I speak with my aunt who lives in New York twice a year. – Дважды в год я разговариваю со своей тетей, которая живет в Нью-Йорке. (нет связи с настоящим моментом)

3. Present Continuous описывает действие, происходящее в настоящий момент. Present Simple используется для описания фактов, которые остаются верными в любой момент времени.

Kathy is speaking with her father at the moment. – Сейчас Кэти говорит со своим отцом. (она говорит в настоящий момент времени, разговор будет закончен)

Kathy speaks English. – Кэти говорит по-английски. (она умеет говорить по-английски, это утверждение остается фактом в любой момент времени)

Упражнение 1

Раскройте скобки, употребляя глаголы в Present Continuous или в Present Simple.

1. I (to take) my sister to school now. I (to take) her to school every day. 2. He (to work) in the centre of Chicago. 3. Tom (to play) football on Saturday. 4. His father (not to watch) TV at the moment. He (to sleep) because he (to be) tired. 5. I (to sit) in the waiting room at the doctor’s now. 6. I (not to know) what to give my brother for his birthday. 7. I often (to go) to see my friends in the evening. 8. You (to keep) to any special diet? – Well, I (not to think) it (to be) good to eat a lot of meat. I usually (to have) meat only once a week. I (to eat) lots of fruit and vegetables. 9. He (to help) his father now. He (to help) his father very often. 10. He (to work) in the centre of Chicago? 11. He (not to play) football every day. 12. Pat (not to cook) dinner at the moment. She (to talk) on the phone. She (to cook) dinner every Monday. 13. I (not to work) in my office now. 14. They (to want) to publish this book in July?

Упражнение 2

Раскройте скобки, употребляя глаголы в Present Continuous или в Present Simple.

1. We sometimes (to go) to the cinema or to a disco club on Sunday. 2. He (to learn) English now because he (to want) to get a better job. 3. At the moment they (to go) to the river for a swim. They usually (to go) to the river for a swim. 4. He (not to work) in the centre of Chicago. 5. I (to wear) a suit now. 6. I (not to drink) coffee now. I (to write) an English exercise. 7. Eric (to talk) about his holiday plans, but Kenny (not to listen) to him. He (to think) about his new car at the moment. 8. She (to think) he (to drive) dangerously. 9. Andrew (to get) up very early as he (to live) far from school. He (to be) never late. 10. The teacher (to know) the girl often (not to argue) with pupils. 11. She (to play) the violin now. She (to play) the violin every day. 12. They (to read) a lot of books. 13. I (not to wear) jeans now. 14. I (not to drink) coffee in the evening. I (to drink) coffee in the morning.

Упражнение 3

Раскройте скобки, употребляя глаголы в Present Continuous или в Present Simple.

1. My friend (to live) in Toronto. 2. He (to understand) that he (to eat) noisily, but he always (to forget) about it. 3. It (to be) six o’clock in the evening now. Victor (to do) his homework. His sister (to read) a book. His mother and grandmother (to talk). 4. I (to think) she often (to worry). 5. I (to read) now. I (to read) every day. 6. They (to read) many books? 7. My friend (not to like) to play football. 8. Your friend (to do) his homework now? 9. My cousin (not to live) in Toronto. 10. Who that man (to be) who (to stand) in the doorway? – You (not to recognize) him? It (to be) John, my cousin. 11. I (to write) a letter to my grandmother who (to live) in Toronto. I (to write) to her very often. 12. Barbara’s boss (to see) she (to be) always late for work. 13. He (to sleep) now. He (to sleep) every night. 14. They (not to read) many books.

Упражнение 4

Раскройте скобки, употребляя глаголы в Present Continuous или в Present Simple.

1. I (not to read) now. 2. Your friend (to go) to school in the morning? 3. The children (not to sleep) now. 4. I (to have) no time now, I (to have) dinner. 5. It (to take) me forty minutes to get to school. 6. I (to call) my son in Chicago now. I (to want) to call him every month but it (to be) very expensive. 7. We (to drink) tea now. We (to drink) tea every morning. 8. The children (to eat) soup now. 9. He (to sleep) now? 10. Look! The baby (to sleep). 11. The children (to play) in the yard every day. 12. Your family (to leave) Toronto in summer? – Yes, we always (to go) to the seaside. We all (to like) the sea. Mother (to stay) with us till the end of August, but father (to return) much earlier. 13. Hello, Pete, where you (to go)? – I (to hurry) to school. 14. You (to hear) me now? How your job (to go)? – Great! I (to enjoy) it a lot. The only problem I (to have) here (to be) that the food (to be) so good. I (to eat) too much! I (to get) really fat.

Упражнение 5

Раскройте скобки, употребляя глаголы в Present Continuous или в Present Simple.

1. They (to go) to school now. They (to go) to school every morning. 2. The children (to eat) soup now? 3. We (not to go) to the country in winter. 4. The baby always (to sleep) after dinner. 5. They (not to go) to the stadium on Monday. 6. Where Tom and Nick (to be) now? – They (to have) a nice walk in the garden. 7. When your lessons (to begin) on Monday? – They (to begin) at nine o’clock. 8. Ruth (to learn) English now because she (to like) learning languages and she (to want) to impress everybody. 9. I (not to sleep) now. I (not to sleep) in the daytime. 10. The children (not to eat) soup now. 11. My sister (to eat) sweets every day. 12. My grandmother (not to work). She is on pension. 13. She (to read) in the evening. 14. What you (to do) here now? – We (to listen) to tape recordings.