Present simple Problems with simple and PRESENT TIME Explanations + Fools which are always tre ‘he preset simple is weed to deveibe permanent facts, for example it lence and gcoraphial descriptions ‘The ligh fom th Su takes 8 nt 20 aes to reach the Eat The River Po flnes ita the Ariat Sa, preset simple is aso used fr situations that are generally ue 1 moek inn office and ve i a fa inthe stars “The preset simple is weed to deserbe habits and routines, A froqwoney iver is ofenus08 aay tke the bas v0 work + Summary of evens ranative, fe example in 9 film orbook. Te istrict! events 1 Cher 1 Scam meets Davi al agrees go 1 the schoo! dance wih in In 1789 the Trech Revolation begin ‘The present eamtinioas is eed to describe actions which are temporary and not et finished Pm doing the woshine-w “The setion may be happening sight sow, oF around ao {Pm rating one of the Harry Poster books atthe momen + Habits during «temporary situation ‘The presen continuous cam describe habit that happens over ahort period ‘oF time. A ime expression is neces A the moment were sending alte mal by courier, Beaune the Post Office TS peead apy aaa ‘The present continuous can describe a single action that is repeated. time ‘expression i ncesary. Whenever He Tom he’ shin, You're making the same mite asin! pete repels or cir) Youre aways Barring money fom me! + Some verbs ate not normally used in the continuous form, because they describe activities which already extend in time. These are called ‘sate! wate te, helo, cos depend, have, hear, know, mauter. smell. suppose, tsi, think, understand ‘+ Some of these verbs can be used in continuous forms with a change of eae Tom 18 being rater dificult tthe moment. 1m having bref Tm tasting tho soup, 10 check tt nocds more salt. (sample) Yim thnting of baying @ new car. (consider) + In many situations we can ise either a simple or continwots form, The eepasentale re percent Site peed Deka Weenies form is fora temporary situation. "ive in London (its my permanent hore) ‘Tm losong in London. (just fora year - my home is im Athons) Doyouslesp a bi? (lit your habit?) Are you sleeping enough? (What is happening at the moment?)ractice Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence. a) What sort of work do you do/are you doing? ) I can't talk now. I cook/l'm cooking the dinner. ©) What shall we have? Do you like/Are you liking fish? 4) Can I borrow this typewriter? Or do you use/are you using it? ©) What do the people here do/are the people here doing in the evenings? f) Follow that bus. Then you tum/are tuning left. 4g) A lot of people think that the Sun goev/is going around the Earth hh) Excuse me, do you read/are you reading your newspaper? Could I borrow it? i) Do you wait/Are you waiting for the bus to Newcastle? i) Andy buildsis building his own house in the country. Put each verb in brackets into either the present simple or the present continuous, a) There's nobody here, and the door’s locked. What (we do) .do we do... now! 'b) What (you look} at? (I wear), the wrong clothes? ©) I (look after) Jack's dog this weekend. (you want). to take it for a walk? d) Who (drive) the Mercedes that's parked outside? ©) 1 (still have). 2 pain in my leg but it (set). better. £) Who (Sue dance), with? That's not her brother, is it? 2) Harry always (look). untidy! He (wearl dirty jeans. h) I (write). jin reply to your advertisement in the Daily News. i) That plant I bought (not grow) very much. And I (water) it every day. i) Which hotel (you stay). in when you (come), here Decide whether the verb form in italics refers to present or future time. a) Where are you staying on Saturday night? future b) George retires at the end of next year ©) What are we doing when the guests arrive? 4) I'm trying really hard to understand this book ©) Wait for me here until / get back. 1) Suc is leaving in the morning 8) I'm waiting for the bus fh) I'm off now and f’m taking the car i) They're showing a Woody Allen film on Channel 4 tonight. 4) I'm going for a walk this evening,4 Write each verb in the ~ag form, then complete the spelling rules below. write ..wiciting.. admit. study decide ..... a) If'a word ends in vowel + consonant ~ -¢ (write). b) Ifa word ends in vowel + consonant (swim). ©) Words which end in -y (uy, annoy). italics. 5 Rewrite each centence. Use a verb from the box to replace the word be cost feel have see smell taste. have think of have a) This flower has 0 wonderful perfime. the flower smells wonderful... b) I think you are behaving in a very silly way. ©) She is expecting a baby in the summer 4d) Nancy is considering moving to Scotland. ) Don't go in. They are holding a meeting. 1) Lam meeting Janet this evening actually. g) Good clothes are becoming more and more expensive. h) Lam trying the soup to see if it needs more salt. i) Helen is taking a bath at the moment {j) I think that you would be happier in another job.Key points Put each verb in brackets into either the present simple or the present ‘continuous. Dear Aunt Jean, 1(1)...am just writing. (just write) how to tell you how much @. appreciate) the money you sent me, and to tell you how I Q). (get on) in my first term at university Actually 1 a {ecally enjoy) myself! 1 (5), (etal) quite hard as well, but atthe moment T (6) (pend) alt of time just making friends. 1 (7) {elill stay) with my friend Sue, and 1 (8) (lock for) somewhere of my own to live. Only 2 few of the first-year students (9) {lve} in college here, and 1 (10). {ecem) to be spending a lot of time travelling backwards and forwards. I (11) {a to lectures every moming, and most afternoons I (12). (study) in the btrary. In ft 1 (13). (ovrite) this letter instead of an essay on Hanntet! 1 (14), (think) TH buy some new clothes with the money you sent. Everything (15) (cost) 8 fo here, and 1 (sy {e2ve) to buy a winter coat. Tt a. {got really cold here in the evenings. I now as). (know) some other students and generally speaking we (19). (have) quite a good time socially! 1 20. {also lear) to drive. See you soon Katherine The present simple describes facts end habitual actions. The present continuous describes actions which are still in progress at the time of speaking. Many verbs which describe states rather than momentary events can only be used in the simple form. Many verbs describing mental activities (understand, now) are of this kind. Some verbs have both state and event meanings, but the meanings are not the When describing a photograph, we usually descrihe the scene as ifit is happening now, and use the present continuou: Present tense forms are also used to refer to future time, See Grammar 3. Where some languages use present tenses, English uses the present perfect, See