Do you ever find it difficult to differentiate between the present simple and present continuous? We recently received the following e-mail:

Dear James,
Please could you help me with the difference between the present simple and the present continuous? I have many problems with these tenses.
Yours truly and sincerely,
June (by e-mail)

Here is my reply:

Dear June,
As you probably know, we can use the present simple to speak about facts. For example:
a) You make cheese from milk.
b) This is the biggest country in the world.
c) It rains every day here.

And we can use the present continuous to talk about an activity in progress at the moment of speaking. For example:
a) She is jumping.
b) He is playing a game.
c) They are running.

I hope that has helped you.
Yours,
James.
Here is a Grammar exercise we’ve created for you to practise.

Complete each sentence with the correct word/s.

1. Oh, look, it ____.
a) Rain
b) Is raining

2. They usually ____ to the beach for their summer holidays.
a) Going
b) Go

3. Look, the chocolate ____. You need to take it out of the sun.
a) Is melting
b) Melts

4. Chocolate ____ if you leave it in the sun.
a) Is melting
b) Melts

5. Who usually ____ the house?
a) Cleans
b) Cleaning

6. Who ____ the house at the moment?
a) Cleans
b) Is cleaning

7. She hardly ever ____ television.
a) Watch
b) Watches

8. Sam ____ a documentary on the television at the moment.
a) Is watching
b) Watching

Think you’ve got them all right? The answers are:

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The British Museum houses one of the most famous and wide collections of human history and culture. With more than 13 million objects, you can marvel at artefacts from across the globe dating back to as early as 196 BC such as the Rosetta Stone. If you are interested in joining us, as part of our social events programme in March we are visiting the British Museum on Thursday 6 March.  We give you the opportunity to learn more about this fantastic museum and expand your vocabulary at the same time!

Details are as follows:

Date: Thursday 6 March 2008

Themes: Guided tour of the British Museum, taking in the highlights and giving you the chance to learn more about British History and Culture along the way!

Meeting Point: British Museum - by the pillars at the Main Entrance Time: 5.30 pm
Start: British Museum Time: 5.45 pm
End: British Museum – to pub & dinner (optional) Time: 7.15 pm

Price: £6

You will be taken around by an experienced guide and English teacher.  For more information call 020 7402 8651 or e-mail: bookings@answerenglish.com

Click here for the poster: British Museum Social Event