3.2 Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple. 1a) I usually get hungry in the afternoon. 1b) I’m getting hungry. Let’s go and eat something. 2a) (you / listen) to the radio? ‘No, you can turn it off.’ 2b) (you / listen) to the radio a lot? ‘No, not very often.’ 3a) The River Nile (flow) into the Mediterranean. 3b) The river (flow) very fast today — much faster than usual. 4a) I’m not very active. (I / not / do) any sport. 4b) What (you / usually / do) at weekends? 5a) Rachel is in New York right now. (She / stay) at the Park Hotel. 5b) (She / always / stay) there when she’s in New York.

1. a) I usually get hungry in the afternoon. b) I’m getting hungry. Let’s go and eat something.
2. a) Are you listening to the radio? ‘No, you can turn it off.’ b) Do you listen to the radio a lot? ‘No, not very often.’
3. a) The River Nile flows into the Mediterranean. b) The river is flowing very fast today — much faster than usual.
4. a) I’m not very active. I don’t do any sport. b) What do you usually do at weekends?
5. a) Rachel is in New York right now. She’s staying at the Park Hotel. b) She always stays there when she’s in New York.

The present simple describes habits, routines and permanent facts; the present continuous describes actions happening now or temporary situations.