OG) 1 Basie contrasts: present simple and present continuous State verbs and event (action or dynamic) verbs. Explanations Present simple generally refers to: Facts that are always true Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Habits British people drink a lot oftea States: 1 don't like gangster films. 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 [find a fiat. ‘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 describe a continuing state, so do not usually have a continuous form. Typical examples are: believe, belong, consist, contain, doubt, ft, 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 Compare these uses: State Event Jack is noisy. Jill's being noisy. Deirdre has a Porsche. We're having an interesting conversation! I think | like you! David's thinking about getting a new job This fish tastes awful! Tm just tasting the soup. Tfeel that you are wrong. I'm feeling terrible. This bag weighs a ton! We're weighing the baby. It depends what you mean. Bill, I'm depending on you to win this contract for us. ‘The differences here apply to all verb forms, not just to present verb forms.Other uses of present Other uses of present simple ‘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 snide 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. Making declarations ‘Verbs describing opinions and feelings tend to be state verbs T hope you'll come to my party I bet you don't know the answer! Thereby declare this hospital open! Headlines ‘These are written in a telegram’ sty , and references (o the past are usually simplified to present simple Ship sinks in midnight collision Instructions and itineraries Instructions and recipes can be written in present simple instead of in imperative forms. This style is more personal, First you roll out the pastry Iineraries are descriptions of travel arrangements. On day three we visit Strasford-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 conies to an end. LAt the end of the play both families realise 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GRAMMAR 1 PRESENT TIME 1 Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence. a) Thaven't decided yet about whether to buy a new car or a second-hand one. But {think about itl'm thinking about it. ) All right, you try to fix the television! But/ hope/l'm hoping you know what you're doing, ©) Every year / visit/l'm visiting Britain to improve my English. 4) Its time we turned on the central heating. It gets/lt's getting colder every day. ©) Of course, you're Mary, aren't you! / recognisel! am recognising you now. 4) The film of 'War and Peace’ is very long. It lasts/It is lasting over four hours. 2) I-can sce from what you say that your mornings are very busy! But what do you dolare you doing in the afternoons? h) I'm going to buy a new swimming costume. My old one doesn't fitisn't fitting any more, i) That must be the end of the first part of the performance. What happens/is happening now? i). What's the matter? Why do you look/are you looking at me like that? 2 Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence. a) I work in this office all this yearfall the time. b) Emerson is currentlyfor long top of the driver's league. ©) Lam not making much money these daysiso far this year. 4) The food tastes even worse nowipresently. You've put too much salt in. ©) Normaltyipreviously we get in touch with customers by post. 4) Pete was ill but he is getting over his illness soon/now. g) I'm feeling rather run down latelyiat present, doctor, h) T always stay on duty since/until six o'clock. i) I'm ofteniforever picking your hairs out of the bath! i) Fortunately the baby now/recently sleeps all night.Put each verb in brackets into the present simple or present continuous. a bear. b) British people apparently. 6) Thope Sarah will be here soon. 1 4d) Please be quiet, David. You ©) Hey, you! What 1) Could you come here please? 1 you now. ) Jane is away on holiday so Linda work. h) To be honest, L next week, (hear) that you have been promoted. Congratulations! (drink) more and more wine, (depend) on her. (foreverfinterrupt) (youlthink) you're doing? (vant) to talk to (handle) her (doubt) whether Jim will be here i) You've only just started the job, haven't you? How, (you/get on)? i) Pay no attention to Graham, He. Gust/be) sarcastic, Put each verb in brackets into the present simple or present continuous. I work in a large office with about thirty other people, most of whom I «Koa. (know) quite well. We (2). (spend) most of the day together, so we have all become friends. In fact, most of my colleagues are so interesting, that I @), (think) of writing a book about them! @ (take) Helen Watson, for example. Helen (5), (run) the accounts department. At the moment she (6). (go out) with, Keith Ballantine, one of the sales representatives, and they (7). (seem) very happy together. But everyone - except Helen apparently - ® (know) that Keith (9), (10), (happen) to know that Susan (11) 'L can't stand people who never (12) time! she told me. ‘And besides, I know he (13) Helen. He (14). ‘And plenty of other interesting things (15). instance, every week we (16). (fancy) Susan Porter, But T (dislike) Keith. (stop) apologising all the (deceive) poor (see) Betty Wills from the overscas department! (currently/go on). For (experience) more and more problems with theft - personal belongings and even money have been stolen. When you an, (realise) that someone in your office is a thief, it 18), (upset) you at first. But I (19), {alsoitry) to catch whoever it is before the police are called in, I'm not going to tell you who T (20). (suspect). Well, not yet anyway!5 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using one of the words in bold. Do not change the word in bold. a) Charles and his father are exa looks/looking Charles Laks. justexactly. like. 'b) Take all your possessions and walk slowly to the exit. belongs/bclonging ‘Take everything _and walk slowly to the exit. ) I'm finding it really enjoyable to work here. enjoy/enjoying 1 here d) I take work home regularly because of my new responsibility at work. ‘means/meaning My new responsibility at work work home regularly tly alike in appearance. his father. &) In my cycling group there's George, Tom, Harry and me. consists/consisting My. George, Tom, Harry and me. 1) In your opinion, who's going to win the Cup? think/thinking Who do win the Cup? 2) I'm seeing how wide the door is measure/measuring L the door. hh) Neil always forgets his wife's birthday. remembers/remembering, Neil his wife's birthday. i) Its ability to catch fish is the key to the polar bear's survival. depends/depending ‘The polar bear's to catch fish. J) What's on your mind at the moment? think/thinking What at the moment?6 Most of these sentences contain an error. Where there is an error, rewrite the sentence correctly. 2) Tm depending on you, so dont make any mistakes! (no errors ») Is this total including the new students? Dates. this. total. aclade the. new.. seiderts?. ©) Excuse me, but do you wait for somebody? 4) These potatoes are tasting a bit funny e) How are you feeling today? 1) [look forward to hearing from you. g) Ihave a feeling that something goes wrong. hy What's that you're eating? i) Are you hearing anything from Wendy these days? i) T think you're being rather mean about this. 7 Complete the expressions using the words from the box. coming making = ssyimng = asking taking —_shooting talking listening a) Tim PIYENG cose tO concentrate, b) Are you ‘ff now, or can we talk? ©) Go on, Im 4) Tthink we're al cross purposes ©) You're for trouble Wes along nicely. 8) You don't seem to be. much interest. bh) You're. a fuss about nothing. Which expression means one of the following? ‘Are you in a hurry to leave? We're talking about different things without realising it. Ir you say or do this you will get into difficulties.