Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Level: A2–B1 (Elementary–Pre-intermediate)
Age group: Teenagers/Adults
Duration: 60 minutes
Topic: Daily routines vs. actions happening now
Target Language: Present Simple & Present Continuous

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Distinguish between Present Simple and Present Continuous.

• Use Present Simple to talk about routines, habits, and facts.

• Use Present Continuous to describe actions happening now or around the moment of speaking.

• Practice forming affirmative, negative, and question forms.

• Whiteboard/Markers (or digital board)

• Flashcards or pictures of daily activities (e.g., eating, reading, running)

• A short video or set of images showing people doing different activities in real time

• Handouts with exercises

• Greet the students and ask:

  • What do you usually do in the morning?

  • What are you doing right now?

• Elicit quick answers to activate prior knowledge and introduce contrast between the two tenses.

Step 1: Introduce Present Simple

• Write on the board:

  • I play football every Sunday.

  • She works in a bank.

• Highlight:

  • Use → routines, habits, facts, schedules.

  • Signal words → always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day.

Step 2: Introduce Present Continuous

• Show a picture/video of someone doing something right now (e.g., a person cooking).

• Write:

  • She is cooking dinner now.

  • We are studying English.

• Highlight:

  • Use → actions happening now, temporary actions, actions around this moment.

  • Signal words → now, at the moment, right now, today, this week.

Step 3: Compare

• Create a contrast chart:

Controlled Practice (Fill-in-the-blanks):

• She ___ (read) a book now. → She is reading a book now.

• They usually ___ (go) to school by bus. → They usually go to school by bus.

• I ___ (not/watch) TV at the moment. → I am not watching TV at the moment.

Pair Work (Speaking):

• Students ask and answer in pairs:

  • What do you usually do after school/work?

  • What are you doing after class today?

• Encourage contrast between habits and current plans.

Game: "Find Someone Who…"

• Hand out a list of prompts:

  • Find someone who usually cooks dinner at home.

  • Find someone who is wearing blue clothes right now.

  • Find someone who often plays a sport.

• Students walk around, ask questions using Present Simple or Present Continuous, and record answers.

Follow-Up Discussion:

• Students share what they learned about classmates.

• Example: Anna usually cooks dinner at home, but today she is eating at a restaurant.

• Quick review quiz:

  • She (reads / is reading) a book every night.

  • Look! The children (play / are playing) in the park.

• Ask students: What’s the difference between Present Simple and Present Continuous?

• Assign homework: Write 5 sentences about your daily routine (Present Simple) and 5 about what you are doing today/this week (Present Continuous).

1. She ___ (read) a book now.

2. They usually ___ (go) to school by bus.

3. I ___ (not/watch) TV at the moment.

4. He always ___ (drink) coffee in the morning.

5. Look! The cat ___ (sleep) on the sofa.

6. My parents ___ (travel) to Paris this week.

7. We ___ (play) football every Saturday.

8. Listen! The birds ___ (sing).

1. She (reads / is reading) a book every evening.

2. Look! He (runs / is running) in the park.

3. They (work / are working) in an office every day.

4. Be quiet! The baby (sleeps / is sleeping).

5. We (go / are going) to the cinema tonight.

Work with a partner. Ask and answer the questions:

1. What do you usually do on weekends?

2. What are you doing after class today?

3. How often do you use your phone?

4. What are you wearing today?

Walk around the class and ask your classmates questions. Example:

Do you usually cook dinner at home? Are you wearing blue clothes now?

✓ Find someone who usually cooks dinner at home.

✓ Find someone who is wearing blue clothes right now.

✓ Find someone who often plays a sport.

✓ Find someone who is studying for an exam this week.

Part A: 1. is reading, 2. go, 3. am not watching, 4. drinks, 5. is sleeping, 6. are traveling, 7. play, 8. are singing.

Part B: 1. reads, 2. is running, 3. work, 4. is sleeping, 5. are going.