GRAMMAR SECTION

Present tenses
PY Nient r . mple; present continuous; state verbs; the verb to be

Context listening
You are going to hear Millie talking on her phone to her friend Lisa. Its Saturday morning. Before you
listen, answer these questions.

1 Where is Lisa? ") Where is Millie?

3 Why do you think Millie is phoning Lisa?

Lisa

Elikai Listen and check if you were right.

n OE Listen again and answer these questions. Write complete sentences.

1 What's Millie doing this morning' She's looktng round the shops.
2 What does she do nearly every Saturday"
3 What's she looking for?
4 What's Lisa wearing'
5 What's she doing this morning?
6 What does she do whenever she goes to town?
7 What's Millie looking at right now?
8 What does Lisa want Millie to do now?

4 Look at your answers to Exercise 3 and answer these questions.

1 Look at answers 2 and 6. What tense are they'

2 Look at answers 1, 3,4, Sand 7. What tense are they?
3 Which sentences are about regular actions?
4 Which sentences are about actions at or around the time of speaking?
5 Look at answer 8. Does it fit the pattern'

12
 Present tenses

Grammar exercises
n Choose the correct sentence from each pair.

a My brother lives with us until he can find a flat of his own.

I, My brother is living with us until he can find a flat of his own./

2 a Megan goes to Hong Kong every January.
b Megan's going to Hong Kong every January.

3 a I don't have enough money for a long holiday this year.

b I'm not having enough money for a long holiday this year.

4 a Everyone needs a break from work sometimes.

b Everyone is needing a break from work sometimes.
5 a What period of history do you study this term?

I, What period of history are you studying this term?

6 a The team manager looks bad-tempered in public, but he's always being very kind to young players.

I, The team manager looks bad-tempered in public, but he's always very kind to young players.

n Complete these sentences with the present simple or present continuous form of the verbs.

1 My father knows (know) all about mending cars, but nothing about bicycles.
2 This pie (smell) a bit odd. What's in it?

3 I (like) the jacket of this suit, but unfortunately the trousers

(not fit) me any more.
4 You're very quiet this evening. What (you / think) about?
5 Who (be) that man? Why (your sister / be) so rude to him?
She (have) such beautiful manners normally.

flFill in the gaps with the present simple or present continuous form of the verbs.
1 Alex: Why are you wearing (you / wear) my coat?
Ben: Oh, I'm sorry. It (look) like mine in this light.
2 Carl: I (have) no idea what this sentence (mean).
Can you translate it?
Donna: No, sorry. I (not understand) it either.
3 Eddie: (you / see) those men near the door? They (look)
at us very strangely.
Fergus: Yes. You're right. (you / recognise) them from anywhere?
Eddie: No, but they certainly (seem) to know us. They (come)
across to speak to us.
4 Gina: What (you / do) in the kitchen? Our guests (wait) for
their dessert, and you (get) in my wag
Hamid: I just (want) to be somewhere quiet for a while. Everyone (be)
so noisy this evening I (not know) why — it's very unusual.

IS
1 Present tenses

4 Complete the email using the present simple or present continuous form of these verbs.

behave come cost eat enjoy feel go have like love pay realise say
seem serve show smile stay take visit

Dear Stephanie,

How are you? We're fine. Our trip round the States (1) 1.4 gang well and we
(2) ourselves a lot One good surprise is that things (3)
less here than back home. For example, this weekend we (4) in a motel beside
a lake and we (5) only $65 per night for a room with a beautiful view.

The only thing we (6) (not) much is the food. Restaurants (7)
dinner rather early. We (8) (never) at six o'clock at home so we
(9) (not) hungry then and American portions (10) very big to
us. Apart from that, we (11) a wonderful time. We (12) lots of
interesting little towns and we absolutely (13) the scenery.

People here (14) in a very friendly manner towards strangers. All the shop
assistants (15) at us, and everyone (16) 'Have a nice day!'
At home, the TV (17) (always) us bad news stories about the States, but in fact,
when you (19)
here, you (19)
its a really great place.
We (20) lots
of photos to show you.

Much love,

Mick and Mary

a 0 Cambridge First candidates made mistakes in the following sentences. Choose the
correct verb forms.

I want / am wanting to help out at the camp this summer.

2 Most Spanish companies belong / are belonging to multinationals nowadays.
3 I think / am thinking about interviewing my grandfather's friend, who collects vintage cars.
4 My father went to that university, so he knows / is knowing all about it.
5 Ned has / is having a lot of problems with his teacher at the moment.
6 Every town needs / is needing a library, even though everyone has the intemet nowadays.

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 Exam practice Present tenses 1

Listening Part 4

113 You will hear an interview with a man called Martin Holloway who is a sound engineer. For questions
1-7, choose the best answer (A, B or C).

1 The mistake people make about sound 5 What change in equipment has Martin
engineers is to think that appreciated the most over the years?
A they spend most of their time working A It is more portable.
indoors. . The sound quality is better.
their job is the same as that of a disc jockey. C It is less expensive.
C they are responsible for the quality of the
6 According to Martin, what is the most
music.
important quality in a sound engineer?
2 What does Martin say helped him to begin A some musical ability
earning money?
good communication skills
A the course he did
C practical technical knowledge
some of the bands he played in
7 What does Martin find most difficult
C some people he met
about his job?
3 Martin first gets involved in a project A working in difficult environments
A as soon as the band is booked. being away for periods of time
when he visits the venue. C waiting for things to happen
C while the band is rehearsing.
4 What does Martin often find during a show?
A There are problems with the equipment.
it Exam tip

The question helps you find your place in

Very little goes wrong for him. the recording. If you miss an answer, listen
C The performers don't communicate with him.
for the next one and go back later.

Grammar focus task

13 153) Here are some extracts from the interview. Choose the present tense that the speaker uses.
Listen again to check.
1 I usually set uo / am usually setting up the equipment before the show.
2 What you hear / am hearing is out of tune.
3 People sometimes call / are calling me a disc jockey.
4 This weekend, I work/am working at a music festival.
5 I mostly work / am working out of doors.
6 Some people think / are thinking we just turn up on the day.
7 Everything gets / is getting smaller all the time.
8 But / always tell / I'm always telling people and they never listen.
9 They just don't realise / aren't realising that what's crucial is being able to get on with people.
10 An interest in music means /is meaning it is more enjoyable.