Present Simple vs Present Continuous: Formation, Usage and BAC-Style Exercises — English — First Year Secondary — Algerian Curriculum

Lesson Objectives / أهداف الدرس

• Distinguish between Present Simple and Present Continuous tenses
• Form each tense correctly (affirmative, negative, interrogative)
• Use the right tense in context
• Apply both tenses in BAC-style exercises

1. Present Simple / المضارع البسيط

Formation / التكوين

Affirmative: Subject + Verb (base form) — for he/she/it add -s or -es
Examples: I play football. / He plays football. / She goes to school.

Negative: Subject + do/does + not + verb (base form)
Examples: I do not (dont) like coffee. / He does not (doesnt) smoke.

Interrogative: Do/Does + Subject + Verb (base form)?
Examples: Do you speak English? / Does she work here?

Uses / الاستخدامات

1. Permanent truths / حقائق عامة: Water boils at 100°C.
2. Habits and routines / عادات: I wake up at 6 a.m. every day.
3. Feelings and states / مشاعر وحالات: She loves reading.
4. Timetables / جداول زمنية: The bus leaves at 7 p.m.

Signal Words / كلمات دالة

Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never, every day/week, generally, normally.

2. Present Continuous / المضارع المستمر

Formation / التكوين

Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing
Examples: I am eating now. / He is studying. / They are playing.

Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + Verb-ing
Examples: I am not (aint) sleeping. / She is not (isnt) working.

Interrogative: Am/Is/Are + Subject + Verb-ing?
Examples: Are you listening? / Is he coming?

Uses / الاستخدامات

1. Action happening now / حدث يحدث الآن: Look! It is raining.
2. Temporary situations / وضع مؤقت: I am living in Algiers this month.
3. Fixed future arrangements / ترتيب مستقبلي محدد: We are visiting the museum tomorrow.
4. With “always” for annoyance / للتعبير عن الانزعاج: He is always complaining!

Signal Words / كلمات دالة

Now, right now, at the moment, today, this week, look!, listen!, currently.

3. Key Differences / الفروقات الرئيسية

Present Simple	Present Continuous
Permanent / دائم	Temporary / مؤقت
Routines and habits / عادات	Actions now / الآن
Facts / حقائق	Changes / تغييرات
Stative verbs (know, believe, like…)	Not used with stative verbs

4. BAC-Style Exercises / تمارين على نمط البكالوريا

Exercise 1: Choose the correct form

1. Water (boils / is boiling) at 100 degrees Celsius.
2. Listen! Someone (knocks / is knocking) at the door.
3. I (do not understand / am not understanding) this lesson.
4. The sun (rises / is rising) in the East.
5. They (build / are building) a new school in our town this year.

Answers: 1. boils 2. is knocking 3. do not understand 4. rises 5. are building

Exercise 2: Put the verbs in the correct tense

Sarah usually (wake up) at 7 a.m., but today she (sleep) because it (be) Friday.

Answer: Sarah usually wakes up at 7 a.m., but today she is sleeping because it is Friday.

Exercise 3: Correct the mistake

1. I am going to the gym every day. → I go to the gym every day.
2. She is knowing the answer. → She knows the answer.

5. Summary / ملخص

Present Simple → permanent, habits, facts, stative verbs
Present Continuous → now, temporary, future plans, dynamic verbs

Memorise the signal words and always check: Is this a routine or is it happening now?

Good luck with your BAC preparation! 🎯

📍 دروس مشابهة:

• Articles in English: Definite (The) and Indefinite (A/An) — Rules, Usage and Exercises — English — First Year Secondary — Algerian Curriculum
• أدوات الاستفهام (Wh-Questions) في اللغة الإنجليزية: Who, What, Where, When, Why, How – شرح وتمارين محلولة – الإنجليزية – الأولى ثانوي – المنهاج الجزائري
• Conditional Sentences (If-Clauses): Types 0, 1, 2, 3 with BAC Exercises — English — Second Year Secondary — Algerian Curriculum