CAE Vince Book

1 Grammar: PRESENT TIME

Basic contrasts: present simple and present continuous

● The present simple generally refers to:
Facts that are always true
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Habits
British people drink a lot of tea.
States
I don’t like gangster films.

● The present continuous (progressive) generally refers to actions which are in

progress at the moment. These can be:
Temporary
I ’m staying in a hotel until I find a flat.
They can be actually in progress.
The dog is sleeping on our bed!
Or they can be generally in progress but not actually happening at the
moment.
I ’m learning to drive.

● State verbs and event (action or dynamic) verbs

State verbs describe a continuing state, so they do not usually have a
continuous form. Typical examples are:
believe, belong, consist, contain, doubt, fit, have, know, like, love, matter,
mean, need, own, prefer, seem, suppose, suspect, understand, want, wish

● Some verbs have a stative meaning and a different active meaning. Typical
examples are:
be, depend, feel, have, measure, see, taste, think, weigh

Other uses of the present continuous

● Temporary situations
Are you enjoying your stay here?

● Repeated actions
My car has broken down, so I am walking to work these days.

● Complaints about annoying habits

You are always making sarcastic remarks about my cooking!
Other possible adverbs are: constantly, continually, forever.
 ● With verbs describing change and development
The weather is getting worse!
More and more people are giving up smoking.

Other uses of the present simple

● Making declarations
Verbs describing opinions and feelings tend to be state verbs.
I hope you’ll come to my party.
I bet you don’t know the answer!
I hereby declare this hospital open!

● Headlines
These are written in a ‘telegram’ style, and references to the past are usually
simplified to the present simple.
Ship sinks in midnight collision.

● Instructions and itineraries

Instructions and recipes can be written in the present simple instead of in
imperative
forms. This style is more personal.
First you roll out the pastry.

Itineraries are descriptions of travel arrangements.

On day three we visit Stratford-upon-Avon.

● Summaries of events
Plots of stories, films etc, and summaries of historical events use present
(and present perfect) verb forms.
May 1945: The war in Europe comes to an end.
...At the end of the play both families realize that their hatred caused the
deaths of the lovers…

● ‘Historic present’ in narrative and funny stories

In informal speech, it is possible to use what we call the ‘historic present’ to
describe
past events, especially to make the narration seem more immediate and
dramatic.
... So then the second man asks the first one why he has a banana in his ear
and the first one says …
1 Underline the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence.
1. I haven’t decided yet whether to buy a new car or a second-hand one. But I
think about it / I’m thinking about it.
2. All right, you try to fix the television! But I hope / I’m hoping you know what
you’re doing.
3. Every year I visit / I ’m visiting Britain to improve my English.
4. It’s time we turned on the heating. It gets / It’s getting colder every day.
5. Of course, you’re Mary, aren’t you! I recognize / I am recognizing you now.
6. The film War and Peace is very long. It lasts / It is lasting over four hours.
7. I can see from what you say that your mornings are very busy! But what do
you do / are you doing in the afternoons?
8. I’m going to buy a new swimming costume. My old one doesn’t fit / isn’t
fitting any more.
9. That must be the end of the first part of the performance. What happens / is
happening now?
10. What 's the matter? Why do you look / are you looking at me like that?

2 Underline the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence.

1. I work in this office all this year / all the time.
2. The Hobbit is currently / for long top of the best-sellers list.
3. I am not making much money these days / so far this year.
4. The food tastes even worse now / presently. You’ve put too much salt in.
5. Normally / Previously we get in touch with customers by post.
6. Pete was ill but he is getting over his illness soon / now.
7. I’m feeling rather run down lately / at present, doctor.
8. I always stay on duty since / until six o’clock.
9. I’m often/forever tidying up the mess in your room!
10. Fortunately the baby now / recently sleeps all night.

3 Complete each sentence with the present simple or present continuous form oF
MIthe verbs in brackets.
1. I hear that you have been promoted. Congratulations!
2. British people (drink)........drink.... more and more wine, apparently.
3. I hope Sarah will be here soon. I (depend)...am depending…. on her.
4. Please be quiet, David. You (forever / interrupt)....are forever interrupting.
5. Hey, you! What (you / think).....do you think…. you’re doing?
6. Could you come here, please? I (want)........want..... to talk to you now.
7. Jane is away on holiday so Linda (handle)...is handling…. her work.
8. To be honest, I (doubt)......doubt...... whether Jim will be here next week.
9. You’ve only just started the job,How (you / get on )....are you getting on...?
10. Pay no attention to Graham. He (just / be )......is just being....sarcastic.
4 Complete the text with the present simple or present continuous form of the
nllverbs in brackets.
I work in a large office with about thirty other people, most of whom I know
quite well. We spend most of the day together, so we have all become friends.
In fact, most of my colleagues are so interesting that I am thinking of writing
a book about them! Take Helen Watson, for example. Helen runs the
Accounts department. At the moment she is going with Keith Ballantine, one
of the sales representatives, and they seem very happy together. But
everyone - except Helen apparently - knows that Keith fancies Susan Porter.
But I happen to know that Susan dislikes Keith. ‘I can’t stand people who
never stop apologizing all the time!’ she told me. ‘And besides, I know he is
deceiving poor Helen. He is seeing Betty Wills from the Overseas
department.’ And plenty of other interesting things are currently going on.
For instance, every week we experience more and more problems with theft -
personal belongings and even money have been stolen. When you realize that
someone in your office is a thief, it upsets you at first. But I also try to catch
whoever it is before the police are called in. I’m not going to tell you who I
suspect. Well, not yet anyway!

5 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
mllsentence, using one of the words in bold. Do not change the word in bold. You
mnmust use between two and five words, including the word in bold.
1. Charles and his father are exactly alike in appearance,
looks / looking
Charles looks exactly like his father.
2. Take all your possessions and walk slowly to the exit
belongs / belonging
Take everything that belongs to you and walk slowly to the exit.
3. I’m finding it really enjoyable to work here,
enjoy / enjoying
I am enjoying working here.
4. I take work home regularly because of my new responsibility at work,
means / meaning
My new responsibility at work means I can work home regularly.
5. In my cycling group there’s George, Tom, Harry and me.
consists / consisting
My Cycling group consists of George, Tom, Harry and me.
6. In your opinion, who’s going to win the Cup?
think / thinking
Who do you think will win the Cup?
7. I’m seeing how wide the door is.
measure / measuring
I am measuring the width of the door.
 8. Neil always forgets his wife’s birthday,
remembers / remembering
Neil Has a hard time remembering his wife’s birthday.
9. Its ability to catch fish is the key to the polar bear’s survival,
depends / depending
The polar bear’s survival depends on their ability to catch fish.
10. What’s on your mind at the moment?
think / thinking
What are you thinking at the moment?

6 Are the present simple and present continuous used correctly in these
IIIsentences? Tick the sentence if it is correct, and change any incorrect
IIIsentences.
1. I’m depending on you, so don’t make any mistakes!
2. Is this total including the new students?
Does this total include new students?
3. Excuse me, but do you wait for somebody?
Excuse me, but are you waiting for somebody?
4. These potatoes are tasting a bit funny.
These potatoes taste a bit funny.
5. How are you feeling today?
6. I look forward to hearing from you.
7. I have a feeling that something goes wrong.
I have a feeling that something is going to go wrong/ will go wrong
8. What’s that you’re eating?
What are you eating?
9. Are you hearing anything from Wendy these days?
10. I think you’re being rather mean about this.

7 Complete each sentence with a word.

1. I’m trying to concentrate.
2. Are you shooting off now, or can we talk?
3. Go on, I’m listening
4. I think we're talking at cross purposes. B
5. You're asking for trouble.
6. It’s coming along nicely.
7. You don’t seem to be taking much interest.
8. You're making a fuss about nothing.

Match one expression from 1-8 to each of the following meanings.

A. Are you in a hurry to leave?
B. We’re talking about different things without realizing it
C. If you say or do this you will get into difficulties
2 GRAMMAR: FUTURE TIME

Basic contrasts: will, going to, present continuous

● Will is normally known as the predictive future, and describes known facts,
or what we suppose is true.
I ’ll be late home this evening.
The company will make a profit next year.
This can also take the form of an assumption.
That’ll be Jim at the door. (This means that I suppose it is Jim.)

● Will is also used to express an immediate decision.

I’ll take this one.

● Going to describes intentions or plans. At the moment of speaking the plans

have already been made.
I ’m going to wait here until Carol gets back.
Going to is also used to describe an event whose cause is present or evident.
Look at that tree! It’s going to fall.
Compare the following with the will examples above:
I’m going to be late this evening. I’ve got lots of paperwork to finish off.
The figures are good. I can see the company is going to make a profit this
year.
Decisions expressed with going to refer to a more distant point in the future.

● The present continuous describes fixed arrangements, especially social and

travel arrangements. A time reference is usually included. Note the strong
similarity to the going to future.
I am having a party next week / I am going to have a party next week.
(The message is the same.)

Future continuous
● This describes an event which will be happening at a future point.
Come round in the morning. I’ll be painting in the kitchen.

● It can also describe events which are going to happen anyway, rather than
events which we choose to make happen.
I won’t bother to fix a time to see you, because I’ll be calling into the office
anyway several times next week.

● In some contexts the future continuous also sounds more polite than will.
Will you be going to the shops later? If you go, could you get me some
milk?
 ● It can also be used to refer to fixed arrangements and plans.
The band will be performing live in Paris this summer.

Future perfect
● This has both simple and continuous forms, and refers to time which we
imagine looking back at from a future point.
In two years’ time I’ll have finished the book.
By the end of the month, I’ll have been working for this firm for a year.

● It can also be used to express an assumption on the part of the speaker.

You won’t have heard the news, of course. (I assume you have not heard
the news.

Other ways of referring to the future

● Is / are to be
This is used to describe formal arrangements.
All students are to assemble in the hall at 9.00.
See also Grammar 9 and 10 for uses expressing obligation.

● Be about to, be on the point of, be due to, just /just about to
Be about to and be on the point o/both refer to the next moment.
I think the play is about to start now.
Be due to refers to scheduled times.
Ann’s flight is due to arrive at 6.20. (or is due at 6.20)
Just can be used to describe something on the point of happening.
Hurry up! The train is just leaving / just about to leave.

● Present simple and present perfect

The present simple is used to refer to future time in future time clauses.
When we get there, we’ll have dinner.
The present perfect can also be used instead of the present simple when the
completion of the event is emphasized.
When we’ve had a rest, we’ll go out.

● The present simple is also used to describe fixed events which are not simply
the wishes of the speaker.
Tom retires in three years.
Similarly, calendar references use the present simple.
Christmas is on a Tuesday next year.

Other future references

 ● Hope
This can be followed by either present or future verb forms.
I hope it doesn’t rain. I hope it won’t rain.

● Other verbs followed by will

Most verbs of thinking can be followed by will if there is future reference.
These include: think, believe, expect, doubt.
I expect the train will be late. I doubt whether United will win.
● Shall
Shall for first person singular and plural is now used only in questions in
everyday informal speech. See Grammar 9 and 10 for other uses of shall and
will.

1 Complete each sentence with the best form of the verb in brackets.
1. In twenty-four hours’ time I will be relaxing on my yacht.
2. ‘There’s someone at the door.’ ‘That will be the postman.’
3. By the time you get back Harry hill have left
4. It’s only a short trip. I will be back in an hour.
5. What are you doing this Saturday evening? Would you like to go out?
6. By the end of the week we will have decided what to do.
7. It will not be long before Doctor Smith is here.
8. We’ll go to the park when you have finished your tea.
9. It’s very hot in here. I think I will faint
10. What will you give Ann for her birthday? Have you decided yet?

2 Underline the best verb forms to complete the text.

In July Gordon will have been at this company for 30 years and he’s finally
retiring on his 65th birthday. We’ve decided to have a long holiday and we’ll
take the opportunity to visit some old friends in Hungary, and then travel
around in that region. We leave towards the end of August, and our aim is to
visit as many countries as we can. We fly to Budapest on the 25th and then
we’ll be stopping over with our friends, they ’ve got a house on Lake Balaton.
We'll probably spend a couple of weeks in Hungary and travel around. After
that we´re thinking of going to Romania, but we haven’t planned anything
definite. We’ll know a bit more this weekend when we’ll be researching the
whole thing on the internet. We’d like to go on from there to Bulgaria or
Ukraine, but I doubt whether we’ll have time. Money could be a problem too,
I hope the whole trip won’t have been too expensive. From now on we’ll
really have to save as much a s we can. We’re really looking forward to it - I
can hardly wait! Just think, in just over two months’ time we’ll have traveled
around Europe like a couple o f old hippies! When we come back, you won’t
recognize us!
3 Choose the best ending (A, B or C) for each sentence.
1. Paula's flight is bound to be late, although B
A. it arrives at 6.00 B. it’s due at C. It’s arriving at six.
2. According to the latest forecast, the tunnel A
A. will be finished next year B. will have been finished next year
C. is finishing next year.
3. It’s no use phoning Bob at the office, he B
A. will be leaving B. is leaving C. will have left.
4. Everyone says that this year City A
A. are going to win the Cup B. are winning the Cup C. win the Cup.
5. I don’t feel like visiting my relatives this year so B
A. I won’t go B. I’m not going C. I don’t go.
6. You can borrow this calculator, I A
A. am not going to need it B. won’t have been needing it
C. am not needing it.
7. I’m sorry dinner isn’t ready yet, but it C
A. is going to be ready in a minute B. will have been ready in a minute C. will
be ready in a minute.
8. Can you send me the results as soon as you A
A .hear anything? B. Are hearing anything?
C. will have heard anything?
9. You can try asking Martin for help but A
A. it won’t do you any good B. it’s not doing you any good.
C. it won’t be doing you any good.
10. Don’t worry about the mistake you made, nobody B
A. is noticing B. will notice C. will be noticing.

4 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
MIsentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use
between two and five words, including the word given.
1. I don’t suppose you have heard the news.
WON’T
You won't have heard the news.
2. The prime minister expects an easy victory for his party in the election.
BELIEVES
The prime minister believes he will win the election easily.
3. I’ve been in this company for almost three years.
WILL
By the end of the month I will have been in this company for three years.
4. This book will take me two years to write.
HAVE
 In two years I will have finished writing this book.
5. Scientists are on the point of making a vital breakthrough.
ABOUT
Scientists are about to make a vital breakthrough.
6. Maria is pregnant again.
HAVE
Maria is having another baby.
7. I’ll be home late.
UNTIL
I won't come home until late.
8. No one knows what the result of the match is going to be.
WHO
No one knows who will win the match.
9. Don’t worry; David won’t be late.
HERE
Don’t worry; David will be here in time.
10. Mary and Alan’s wedding is next weekend.
GETTING
Mary and Alan are getting married next weekend.

5 Look at the three options (A, B and C) for each question. Decide which two
are correct.
1. We’ve run out of fuel B,C
A. What will we do now? B. What do we do now?
C. What are we going to do now?
2. You can’t leave early B,C
A. we’re having a meeting B. we’re going to have a meeting.
C. we will have a meeting.
3. Oh dear, I’ve broken the vase A,B
A. What will your mother say? B. What is your mother going to say?
C. What is your mother saying?
4. According to the weather forecast, B,C
A. It'll rain tomorrow B. It's raining tomorrow.
C. It's going to rain tomorrow.
5. I’d like to call round and see you B,C
A What will you have done by the morning?
B. What will you be doing in the morning?
C. What are you doing in the morning?
6. I’ve got nothing to do tomorrow so A,C
A. I’ll get up late B. I am to get up late C. I’m going to get up late.
7. It’s my eighteenth birthday next month so B,C
A. I’m on the point of having a party B. I’m having a party.
C. I’ll be having a party.
 8. Why don’t you come with u s? A,B
A. It’ll be a great trip B. It’s going to be a great trip C. It’s a great trip
9. When you get to the airport, A,C
A. Someone is going to be waiting for you B. Someone is due to wait for you.
C someone will be waiting for you.
10. Shut up, will you! A, B
A. I’m getting really angry B. I’m going to get really angry in a minute.
C. I’m getting really angry in a minute.

6 Underline the best word or phrase to complete each sentence.

1. I’ll be back after a few minutes / in a few minutes.
2. I’m sure that everything will be all right at the end / in the end.
3. Please call me the moment / exactly you hear any news.
4. I should be back by the time / at the time the film begins.
5. I’m sure Fiona will be here before long / after a while.
6. I can’t leave on Tuesday. I won’t be ready until then / by then.
7. By twenty four hours / This time tomorrow I’ll be in Bangkok.
8. Diana will be retiring soon / already.
9. There will be no official announcements forthwith/from now on.
10. Bye for now. I’ll see you in two weeks’ time / two weeks later.

7 Complete each sentence with one word from the box.

1. I’ll see what I can do.
2. I’ll have a look and get back to you.
3. I’ll give it some thought.
4. I’ll let you know by tomorrow.
5. I’ll just go and get it.
6. I’ll go halves with you. B
7. I’ll see to it.
8. I’ll be back in a minute.
9. I’ll be about five minutes.
10. I’ll come and show you.

Match one expression from 1-10 to each of the following meanings,

A. I’ll try and do this for you.
B. I’ll share it with you.
C. I’ll fix it / arrange it.