The ESL HELP! Desk

In today's lesson we are going to give you some activities with two verb tenses:  simple present tense and the present progressive (also known as the present continuous) tense.

You will be able to find the initial grammar lesson in our Library.  Let's follow up the grammar lesson with a Warm-up Exercise.

Exercise 3   Practice forming simple present tense verbs. In the following sentences, the main subject is in bold letters.  Fill in the blank with the correct form (number and person) of the simple present tense verb:

1. Love (preserve) _________________________ the beauty of life.

2. My wife usually (go) ______________________ to rent a movie and to buy some snacks.

3. Red (symbolize) _____________________________sex, heat, terror and beauty.

4. This problem (repeat) _____________________________itself in every generation.

5. My country (have) ____________________________many problems.

6. They (work) _____________________________quickly and carefully.

7. These people (have)___________________________successful careers.

Be a Grammar Geek!

Warm-up 1  Exercise 4  Each of the four sentences below correctly uses both simple present and present progressive (continuous). Identify the two different present tenses. Beneath each highlighted verb, write simple or progressive, according to which form and tense it is.

Example: The moon is shining on the other side of the Earth, where my father lives.
                         present continuous                                              simple present

1. At home we speak in Russian because it is easy and so that my mother can understand.  But now I have* to write in English and I am making mistakes.

2. Here at the college I feel like I am being born again.

3. One sculpture is of a girl who is sitting and reading a book.

One challenge is to know when to use each verb tense. 

Now here is another activity to practice this.

Exercise 5   Simple Present or Present Continuous?  

1. Which statement is correct? Circle the best choice.

a) My father is living in Hong Kong.
b) My father lives in Hong Kong.

2. Which statement is correct? Circle the best choice.

a) I am working in a doctor’s office.
b) I work in a doctor’s office.

3. Which statement is correct? Circle the best choice.

a) I am studying English.
b) I study English.

Now It's Your Turn: Editing Practice

Editing Tip:   Edit for Correct SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Problem:  Everybody wait for Friday night because this is the last day of work and of school.
Solution:  Everybody _____ for Friday night because this is the last day of work and of school.

Problem:  People who get married has to remember many important things.
Solution:  People who get married _____ to remember many important things.

Editing Tip: Edit for Correct Verb Form

Problem:  Sometimes we going dancing or going somewhere special to eat.
Solution:  Sometimes we _____ dancing or _____ somewhere special to eat.

You will find the answers to the Present Continuous exercises in our "Answer Key".

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