The Present Spiral

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous – Time Expressions Board Game

Instructions

This engaging board game helps students master present simple and present continuous with time expressions. It can be used in both online and offline classrooms.

How to Play:

1. Set Up: Print or display the board for everyone to see. Students play as a class or in small groups (each group gets their own board).

2. Start the Game: Each player places their game piece at the starting point. Roll a die to advance that number of spaces.

3. Decide the Tense: When landing on a space, the player must determine whether the time expression is used with present simple or present continuous.

   • Incorrect answer? Go back to where you started from.

4. Make a Sentence: If the player chooses the correct tense, they must create a grammatically correct sentence using the time expression.

   • No mistakes? Stay on the space.

   • Mistake? Move back two spaces.

5. Winning the Game: The first player to reach the end wins!

What Students Will Practice:

✅ Present Simple – to describe habits and routines (e.g., “I always wake up at 7 a.m.”)
✅ Present Continuous – to describe what’s happening right now or around this time (e.g., “She is studying for her exam this week.”)
✅ Present Continuous – to describe future arrangements (e.g., “We are meeting at 6 p.m. tomorrow.”)

🔹 Note: The adverb “still” can technically be used with both tenses depending on context.

This printable and online-friendly game makes learning fun while reinforcing key time expressions for present simple and present continuous.