English grammar · Class 6
Simple present and present continuous
English has two common ways to talk about the present. The simple present is for things that are usually true or happen again and again. The present continuous (am / is / are + verb-ing) is for something happening at this moment or around now.
Foundation lesson (not tied to a printed syllabus list).
The rules
1. Simple present for habits, routines and facts. With he, she, it or one person's name, add -s or -es to the verb.
- Riya walks to school every day.
- Water boils at 100 °C at sea level.
- My brothers play cricket on Sundays.
2. Present continuous for an action going on now: am / is / are + verb-ing.
- Look! It is raining.
- I am reading a story right now.
- They are painting the wall.
3. Questions and 'not' in the simple present use do / does, and the main verb goes back to its base form.
- Does she like mangoes?
- He does not (doesn't) eat fish.
- Do they live here?
4. Signal words help: always, usually, every day, often → simple present; now, right now, at the moment, Look! → present continuous.
- We usually have rice for lunch.
- We are having lunch at the moment.
Common mistakes
She go to school by bus.
She goes to school by bus.
With she / he / it the simple present verb takes -s or -es.
Does he plays football?
Does he play football?
After does, the verb stays in its base form.
I am knowing the answer.
I know the answer.
Verbs of knowing and liking (know, like, want, believe) are not usually used in the continuous.
Practice
1. The sun ___ in the east.
- (a) rise
- (b) rises
- (c) is rising
- (d) are rising
Show the answer
(b) rises — A fact that is always true takes the simple present; 'the sun' is like 'it', so add -s: rises.
2. Be quiet! The baby ___.
- (a) sleeps
- (b) sleep
- (c) is sleeping
- (d) are sleep
Show the answer
(c) is sleeping — 'Be quiet!' shows it is happening now, so use is + sleeping.
3. ___ your father work in a bank?
- (a) Do
- (b) Does
- (c) Is
- (d) Are
Show the answer
(b) Does — Your father = he, so the simple present question uses Does + base verb.
4. We ___ to the library every Saturday.
- (a) goes
- (b) are go
- (c) go
- (d) is going
Show the answer
(c) go — 'Every Saturday' is a routine; with 'we' the verb has no -s: go.
5. Which sentence is correct?
- (a) I am liking this song.
- (b) I like this song.
- (c) I likes this song.
- (d) I does like this song.
Show the answer
(b) I like this song. — 'Like' is not usually used in the continuous, and with 'I' it takes no -s.
Made by Shishya (AI-assisted); every answer checked by hand when written. Topic list for Class 9 and 10 from the CBSE 2026-27 English syllabus.