Basics. Present Simple vs. Present Continuous: Advanced Contrast: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓Present Simple vs. Present Continuous: Advanced Contrast
Do you know the difference between saying "the chef is tasting the soup" and "the soup tastes terrible"? While both use present tenses, the first describes a dynamic action happening right now, whereas the second describes a state. Advanced present tense contrast also involves expressing annoying habits, such as saying, "My roommate is always borrowing my clothes!"
This challenge tests your ability to navigate these tricky distinctions. You will help food critics, secret agents, and spaceship captains choose the correct verb forms by contrasting stative and dynamic verbs, distinguishing between temporary situations and permanent routines, and identifying structures for continuous annoying habits.
You'll work through 12 questions featuring a varied mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
Help the spaceship captain update her digital logbook about an annoying crew member. Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence.
"I love our alien co-pilot Zorg, but he _____ my coffee mug! He _____ perfectly well that humans need caffeine to survive."
The correct answer is is always stealing / knows.
We use the Present Progressive with "always" (is always stealing) to complain about an annoying, repeated habit.
We use the Present Simple (knows) for the verb "know" because it is a stative verb (a state of mind) and cannot be used in the progressive form. Also, "Zorg" is singular, so the verb needs an 's'.
Question 2
The correct answers are tastes, is tasting, and think.
tastes: When "taste" describes the flavor of something (a state), it is a stative verb and uses the Present Simple.
is tasting: When "taste" describes the physical action of sampling food, it is a dynamic verb. Because it is happening "right now," we use the Present Continuous.
think: When "think" expresses an opinion or belief, it is a stative verb and uses the Present Simple.
Question 3
Help the frustrated college student vent about their terrible roommate by dragging the appropriate verb phrases into the blanks.
The sun always rises in the east, and my roommate is just as predictable. He always leaves for his morning run at exactly 6:00 AM. But I absolutely cannot stand that he is always singing terribly loud opera in the shower! Right now, he is destroying my favorite pop song.
The sun always rises in the east, and my roommate is just as predictable.
Use the present simple for universal truths and scientific facts.
He always leaves for his morning run at exactly 6:00 AM.
Use the present simple with "always" to describe a regular, scheduled routine.
But I absolutely cannot stand that he is always singing terribly loud opera in the shower!
Use the present continuous with "always" to express annoyance or complain about a repeated, irritating habit.
Right now, he is destroying my favorite pop song.
Use the present continuous for actions happening at this exact moment ("right now").
Question 4
Help the cooking show producer confront the judge about a terrible dish. Choose the correct verbs to complete the sentence.
"Chef, why _____ the soup again? We all know it _____ like old gym socks!"
The correct answer is are you tasting / tastes.
Some verbs can be both action verbs and stative verbs, but their meaning changes.
"Are you tasting" (Present Progressive) is used for the physical action of sampling the food right now.
"Tastes" (Present Simple) is used because describing a flavor is a state or quality, not an action.
Question 5
The correct answers are am staying, is growing, and want.
am staying: We use the Present Continuous for temporary situations (she only lives there "this month" while her dorm is renovated).
is growing: We use the Present Continuous for situations that are slowly changing or developing over time.
want: "Want" is a stative verb expressing a desire. It is almost never used in the continuous form, even if the desire is happening right now!
Question 6
Complete the exchange student's postcard to her parents by dragging the correct verb forms into the gaps.
Greetings from Japan! Normally, our family lives in a quiet, boring suburb back home. But this month, I am living right in the noisy heart of Tokyo! My host brother usually studies engineering at the local college. However, this week he is working as a giant mascot for a noodle company to earn extra cash.
Normally, our family lives in a quiet, boring suburb back home.
Use the present simple for permanent situations and general facts.
But this month, I am living right in the noisy heart of Tokyo!
Use the present continuous for temporary situations happening around the present time.
My host brother usually studies engineering at the local college.
Use the present simple for regular habits and routines (indicated by "usually").
However, this week he is working as a giant mascot for a noodle company to earn extra cash.
Use the present continuous for temporary actions happening specifically "this week."
Question 7
The correct answers are I am having a wonderful time at this new cafe. and The owner has three more restaurants in the city.
Some verbs can be both state and action verbs, depending on their meaning.
When have means "to experience" or "to eat/drink," it is an action verb and can be used in the present continuous (am having a wonderful time).
When have means "to own or possess," it is a state verb and must be in the present simple (has three restaurants).
Question 8
Complete the frustrated email to a landlord about a quirky roommate. Select the grammatically correct option.
"Normally, my roommate _____ his tuba in the basement, but this week he _____ in the living room because the basement flooded."
The correct answer is plays / is practicing.
We use the Present Simple (plays) for regular habits and routines ("Normally...").
We use the Present Progressive (is practicing) for temporary situations happening around now ("this week").
Question 9
The correct answers are My brother is always borrowing my clothes without asking! and My brother is currently borrowing my car for the weekend.
We can use the present continuous with words like always or constantly to complain about annoying habits (is always borrowing).
For standard temporary actions happening around now, we also use the present continuous (is currently borrowing).
"Usually" describes a regular routine, so it requires the present simple (usually borrows). The option "always borrow" is incorrect because the third-person singular needs an "s" (borrows).
Question 10
The correct answers are is forgetting, remembers, and promise.
is forgetting: The action is happening at this exact moment ("Look at the stage!", "right now"), so we use the Present Continuous.
remembers: The word "usually" indicates a habit or routine, which requires the Present Simple.
promise: "Promise" is a performative verb (the act of saying the word is the action). Performative verbs are always used in the Present Simple.
Question 11
The correct answers are I usually live in Paris, but I am staying in London for a few weeks. and I am working as an art dealer for this specific mission.
We use the present simple for permanent situations and routines (usually live).
We use the present continuous for temporary situations that are happening around now or for a limited time (am staying, am working).
Saying "I work as an art dealer for this specific mission" sounds unnatural because the mission is explicitly temporary.
Question 12
Help the confused food critic complete their restaurant review by dragging the correct verbs into the blanks.
Welcome to "The Neon Spoon" restaurant! Personally, I think this glowing blue soup is a terrible idea. Over in the kitchen, the head chef is tasting it right now to see if it needs more salt. Honestly, the broth tastes like liquid plastic. My friends and I are having a very weird dinner tonight!
Personally, I think this glowing blue soup is a terrible idea.
Use the present simple for "think" when expressing an opinion (a stative meaning).
Over in the kitchen, the head chef is tasting it right now to see if it needs more salt.
Use the present continuous for "taste" when it describes the active, physical process of testing food.
Honestly, the broth tastes like liquid plastic.
Use the present simple for "taste" when describing the flavor or quality of the food (a stative meaning).
My friends and I are having a very weird dinner tonight!
Use the present continuous for "have" when it means experiencing or eating something, rather than possessing it.