The hurricane

ESL BLUE(s)

present tense: simple versus progressive

The hurricane: quiz on present tense forms

The following is a tv reporter's description of the approach and arrival of a hurricane. For this exercise, imagine that you are writing a composition about what normally happens during a hurricane. You must therefore use the simple present instead of the progressive present.
Look at the examples at the beginning of the text.

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present tenses

(10 a.m. newscast)

A hurricane is approaching the Florida coast. approaches
It is not moving very quickly so people have time to react. does not move

Meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center are monitoring the storm very carefully.

They are warning the population that a hurricane is approaching.

Winds are increasing in strength

and the residents are taking the necessary precautions.

Many schools and businesses are closing early.

Parents are making sure that their children are safe at home.

Some people are doing some last-minute shopping for food and emergency supplies.

Stores are running out of things like candles, flashlights and batteries.

Many residents are covering their windows with plywood.

The government is encouraging those who live very close to the ocean to move to evacuation centers.

Heavy traffic is causing huge bottlenecks on certain roads and bridges.

The shelters are filling up with people from all over the area.

Volunteers and government employees are looking after their needs.

They are providing blankets, bedding and food.

The evacuees are not feeling very safe, however.

Everybody is standing anxiously around the television, waiting for news.

(6 p.m. newscast)

The hurricane is hitting the coast.

All hell is breaking loose.

Gigantic waves are crashing onto the beaches.

The wind is attacking everything in its path.

Trees and branches are falling to the ground,

windows are breaking,

roofs are flying off houses.

The wind is picking up any loose object

and (is) carrying it away.

Anybody foolish enough to go outdoors is running the risk of injury of death from all the flying debris.

Because of the violence of the storm, people are not feeling secure even inside their homes.

Some areas of the city are experiencing power outages.

The police are not patrolling the streets.

There's no need. Nobody is going out onto the streets in the middle of such a violent storm.

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