Unit 1

Simple Present and Present Progressive Tense

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

1

S + V-1 She likes eating out

positive S +/- auxiliary(do/does) + bare infinitive
(+) The children are naughty.
S + be(am/is/are)

S + aux. verb(do/does) + not + bare infinitive She doesn’t like eating out
negative
(-) S + be(am/is/are) + not The children aren’t naughty

interogat Do/Does + S + bare infinitive Does she like eating out

ive
Be(am/is/are) + S Are the children naughty
(?)

Adverb of time :

Today, Everyday, every week, at 2 o’clock, every morning

1. Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The
action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that
often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not
do.

Examples :

• The train does not leave at 9 AM.

• When does the train usually leave?
 • She always forgets her purse.
• He never forgets his wallet. .
• Does the Sun circle the Earth?

2. Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before,
is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct
about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

• Cats like milk.

• Birds do not like milk.
• Do pigs like milk?
• California is not in the United Kingdom.
• Windows are made of glass.

3. Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near
future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but
it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples :

• The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.

• The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
• When do we board the plane?
• The party starts at 8 o'clock.
• When does class begin tomorrow?
4. Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is
happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous
Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.

• I am here now.
• She is not here now.
• He needs help right now.
• He does not need help now.
• Do you have your passport with you?
 PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
2

Form : (+) S + am/is/are + Verb + “ing”

(-) S + am/is/ are (not) + Verb + ing

(?) am/is/are + S + Ving

Time Expressions:
these days
now, right now
today, tonight
this week, this semester
this month, this year

1. When an activity is in progress now at the moment of speaking

Example : They are singing at this moment

2. The present progressive can also be used to describe an action that is occurring
in the present, but is temporary.

Example: John is living in Modesto, but he might move soon.

3. One thing happened in the past, and is in progress at the present time, and
probably will continue.

Example: I am washing the dishes.

4. Express future time

Example : I am meeting a friend at nine.

We are going overseas this spring.

5 When an activity is developing and changing.

Example :

She is understanding English more and more because she moved into the dorm.

Another Cases often happen in the use of present progressive:

a. Verbs that express a state of being cannot be used in the progressive tense. They
describe a state or quality that we do not expect to change.

Example :

Martha is being rude today. Martha is a nice person.

The soup tastes delicious. Mother is tasting the soup.

I think BCC is a wonderful school. I am thinking seriously about it

b. Many verbs can have both a stative or an active use:

smell, think, have, taste, look, see.

Example :

He has a beautiful house. He is having dinner with his family.

 c. Some English verbs have stative meanings. They describes states : Conditions or
situations that exist. When verbs have stative meanings , they are usually not
used in progress tenses

Example :

a) Mmmm... Yummy...This food tastes good

I like it very much

b) INCORRECT: This food is tasting good

I am liking it very much
c) The chef is in his kitchen
He is tasting the sauce
d) It tastes too salty
e) He doesn’t like it

In a): Tastes and like have stative meanings. Each describes a state that exists.
A verb such as taste has a stative meaning, but also a progressive meaning.
In c) : tasting describes the action of the chef putting something in his mouth
and actively testing its flavor (progressive).
In d) : tastes describes the person’s awareness of the quality of the food
(stative).
A verb such as like has a stative meaning. It is rarely, if ever, used in
progressive tenses.
In e) : It is incorrect to say He isn’t liking it.

COMMON VERBS THAT HAVE STATIVE MEANINGS

Note: Verbs with* are like the verb taste: they can have both stative and
progressive meanings and uses.

1) MENTAL STATE
Know believe imagine* want* Realize doubt*
need understand suppose Remember*
desire recognize think forget* Mean*
2) EMOTIONAL STATE
Love Hate mind astonish Envy
Like dislike care amaze Prefer
fear Surprise Please appreciate
3) POSSESSION
Posses have* own belong
4) SENSE PERCEPTIONS
Taste* hear see*
 Smell* feel*
5) OTHER EXISTING STATES
Seem cost* be* conssit of
Look* owe exist contain
Appear* weight* matter include*
Sound equal
Resemble
Look like

SPELLING OF -ING AND -ED FORMS

(1) a) hope hoping hoped -ING form: if he

word ends in –e,
Verb that end date dating dated drop the –e and add
in-E –ing*
injure injuring injured
-ED form : If the
word ends in –e,
just add -d
(2) ONE SYLLABLE VERBS

Verbs that end b) stop stopping stopped 1 vowel = 2

in vowel and a consonants**
consonant rob robbing robbed

beg begging begged

2vowels=1
c) rain raining rained consonant

fool fooling fooled

dream dreaming dreamed

TWO SYLLBLE VERBS

d) Listen listening listened 1st syllable stressed

= 1 consonant
offer offering offered
2nd syllble stressed
open opening opened = 2 consonants

e) begin beginning began

 prefer preferring Preferred

Control controlling controlled

(3) f) start starting started If the word ends in
two consonants,
Verbs that end fold folding folded just add the ending.
in two
consonants demand demanding demanded
(4) g) enjoy enjoying enjoyed If –y is preceded y a
vowel, keep the – y
Verbs tht end pray praying Prayed
in- Y
Buy buying bought

h) study studying studied If –y is preceded by

a consonant :
try tryi ng tried
-ING form:keep the
reply replying replied –y , add –ing

-ED form : change

–y to –i, add –ed
(5) Verbs that (i) die dying died -ING Form:
End in –IE Change –ie to –y,
Lie lying lied add –ing.

Tie tying tied -ED Form: Add –d

*Exception : If a verb ends in -ee, thr final –e is not dropped: seeing, agreeing, feeing

** Exception: -w and –x are not doubled: plow = plowed; fix = fixed

Task 1. Find and correct the mistakes!
1. I’m work for a very good company, and I also student at MiraCosta College.
2. The manager talkes with all employees once a week.
3. The manager and I has a meeting today.
4. The company’s profits looks good.
5. The technician fixxes any computer problems we have.
6. Everybody working hard every day, and company morale is high.
7. The people in this company really likes working here

Task 2. Use either the simple Present or the present progressive of the verb in parantheses.

1. She can’t afford that ring. It (cost). ................................... to much.

2. Look. It (begin).......................to rain. Unfortunately, I (have,not
)............................my umbrella with me. Teddy is lucky. He
(wear) a raincoat.
3. A: Close your eyes. Now listen carefully. What (hear, you). ........................................ ?
What (do,I )............................................................ ?
B: I ( believe)............................you (rub). ............................................. the top of your desk
with your hand.
A: Close , but not ................ exactly right. Try again. (listen, you).
carefully?
B: Ahaaa! You (rub). ............... your hands together .
A: Right!
4. Right now I (look)......................at Jane. She (look).................angry. I wonder What’s
the metter. She (have)..................................................................... afrown on her face. She
certainly ( have, not)..................................any fun right now.
5. A : Who is that woman who (stand) ...................................... next to the window?
B : Which woman? (Talk , you).............................about the woman who
(wear) the blue and gold dress?
A : No, I (talk, not).........................about her. I (mean)...................................................... the
women who (wear). ................................................... the blue suit.
B : Oh, I (know, not)......................I (recognize, not). ................................................ her.
6. Samila (tutor, often)............other students in her math class. This afternoon
she (help) .........................Steve with his math assignment
because he ( understand, not)....................the material they
(work).......................................... on in their class this week.
7. Jonathan (fix).....................the roof of his house today, and he
(need). .....................................some help. Can you help him?
8. There’s a book on my desk, but it (belong, not)...............................
9. Right now I (look)..........................around the classroom. Yessy
(write)....................in her book. Carol (bite).................his pencil. Naema
(scracth)...................her head. Aliando (stare)....................out thewindow. He
(seem).................to be daydreaming, but perhaps he ( think)...............hard about verb
tenses. What ( think, you). aliando
(do) ?
10. I (own, not)................................an umbrella. I (wear) ..................................................... a
waterproof hat on rainy days

Task 3. Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

a) I haven't decided yet about whether to buy a new car or a second-hand one. But / think
about it/I'm thinking about it.
b) All right, you try to fix the television! But / hope/I'm hoping you know what you're doing.
c) Every year / visit/I'm visiting Britain to improve my English.
d) It's time we turned on the central heating. It gets/It's getting colder every day.
e) Of course, you're Mary, aren't you! / recognise/I am recognising you now.
f) The film of 'War and Peace' is very long. It lasts/It is lasting over four hours.
g) I can see from what you say that your mornings are very busy! But what do you do/are you
doing in the afternoons?
h) I'm going to buy a new swimming costume. My old one doesn't fit/isn't fitting
any more.
i) That must be the end of the first part of the performance. What happens/is happening now.

Task 4. Put each verb in brackets into the present simple or present continuous

a) (hear) that you have been promoted. Congratulations!

b) British people (drink) more and more wine, apparently.
c) I hope Sarah will be here soon. I (depend) on her.
d) Please be quiet, David. You (forever/interrupt).
e) Hey, you! What (you/think) you're doing?
f) Could you come here please? I (want) to talk to you now.
g) Jane is away on holiday so Linda (handle) her work.
h) To be honest, I (doubt) whether Jim will be here next week.
i) You've only just started the job, haven't you? How (you/get on)?
j) Pay no attention to Graham. He (just/be) sarcastic