GRAMMAR SECTION

Present tenses 1

Present tenses Grammar

PY Nient r . mple; present continuous; state verbs; the verb to be
fi Present simple
verb / verb + -s She works in London.

do/does not + verb He doesn't work in London.

Context listening
? do/does . verb? Where do you work?
You are going to hear Millie talking on her phone to her friend Lisa. Its Saturday morning. Before you
We use the present simple
listen, answer these questions.
to say when things happen if they take place regularly.
1 Where is Lisa? ") Where is Millie? They eat lunch at two o'clock
3 Why do you think Millie is phoning Lisa? to talk about permanent situations:
work in London.
to state general truths:
Those bags sell really fast.
The moon goes round the earth.
to talk about habits and how often they happen:
You buy new clothes every Saturday.
to describe the plots of books and films:
The story begins and ends in Spain. The year is 1937.

fl Present continuous
Lisa + am/is/are + verb + -ing He's working in London this week.

Elikai Listen and check if you were right. - am/is/are not + verb + -ing I'm not working in London this week.
am/is/are ... + verb + -ing? Are you working in London this week?
n OE Listen again and answer these questions. Write complete sentences. We use the present continuous:
1 What's Millie doing this morning' She's looktng round the shops. to talk about the present moment:
2 What does she do nearly every Saturday" I'm wearing a pair of old jeans.
3 What's she looking for? I'm looking at a blue bag right now.
to suggest that an action is temporary, often with words like now, at the moment, at present or just
4 What's Lisa wearing'
They're eating lunch at the moment
5 What's she doing this morning? I'm working in London this week (= I don't usually work in London)
6 What does she do whenever she goes to town? for an action around the time of speaking, which has begun but is not finished:
7 What's Millie looking at right now? I'm cleaning my room.
8 What does Lisa want Millie to do now? I'm looking round the shops. (Millie isn't looking round at this moment — she has stopped to talk to Lisa —
but she plans to continue looking round later.)
4 for changing or developing situations:
Look at your answers to Exercise 3 and answer these questions.
Navy blue bags are getting really fashionable.
1 Look at answers 2 and 6. What tense are they' The Earth's temperature is rising
2 Look at answers 1, 3,4, Sand 7. What tense are they? with a word like always or continually if we want to criticise or complain:
You're always buying new clothes! (= you buy too many)
3 Which sentences are about regular actions?
Het always complaining about things.
4 Which sentences are about actions at or around the time of speaking? with always when something unexpected happens several times:
5 Look at answer 8. Does it fit the pattern' I'm always meeting my neighbour John near the station. I guess he works somewhere near there.

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1 Present tenses Present tenses

n State verbs
These verbs are nearly always used in a simple rather than a continuous tense. They are mostly about thoughts,
Grammar exercises
feelings, belonging and the senses:
... that leather bag you want to get (riot you
n Choose the correct sentence from each pair.

You don't deserve to hear it. (not you-tr.—A dcs— .06 ty) a My brother lives with us until he can find a flat of his own.
The following are some important state verbs:
I, My brother is living with us until he can find a flat of his own./
thoughts: believe, know, mean, realise, recognise, remember, suppose, understand, feel (= believe),
think (= believe): 2 a Megan goes to Hong Kong every January.

I think you're wrong b Megan's going to Hong Kong every January.

We feel this decision is right I don't have enough money for a long holiday this year.
3 a
feelings: adore, dislike, despise, hate, like, love, want, wish, prefer
b I'm not having enough money for a long holiday this year.
They despise me because of the way I'm living.
belonging belong have (= possess), own, possess: 4 a Everyone needs a break from work sometimes.
It belongs to my father. b Everyone is needing a break from work sometimes.
The manager has the biggest company car
senses: smell, taste, hear, see: 5 a What period of history do you study this term?
This sauce tastes great. I, What period of history are you studying this term?
I hear what you're saying to me, but I don't agree. The team manager looks bad-tempered in public, but he's always being very kind to young players.
6 a
Do you see anything you want to buy here?
We use can with these verbs to show we are talking about this moment: I, The team manager looks bad-tempered in public, but he's always very kind to young players.

I con see you're tired.

I can hear someone in the next room.
n Complete these sentences with the present simple or present continuous form of the verbs.

other state verbs: need, contain, deserve,fit seem, look (= seem), look like, matter, weigh: 1 My father knows (know) all about mending cars, but nothing about bicycles.
This medicine contains aspirin.
2 This pie (smell) a bit odd. What's in it?
Mark weighs 70 kilos.
3 I (like) the jacket of this suit, but unfortunately the trousers
A Think is not a state verb when it refers to what someone is doing, not what they believe:
(not fit) me any more.
I'm thinking about my holiday.
4 You're very quiet this evening. What (you / think) about?
A Have can be continuous when it does not mean 'possess':
Steve is having a difficult time at college this term. 5 Who (be) that man? Why (your sister / be) so rude to him?
Can I phone you back later? We're having lunch right now She (have) such beautiful manners normally.
A Taste and smell can be continuous when they refer to what someone is doing
I'm tasting the sauce. flFill in the gaps with the present simple or present continuous form of the verbs.
A Listen to, watch and look at are not state verbs and can be continuous: 1 Alex: Why are you wearing (you / wear) my coat?
We're listening to music and Diane is watching a DVD upstairs. Ben: Oh, I'm sorry. It (look) like mine in this light.
A See can be continuous when it means 'meet with': 2 Carl: I (have) no idea what this sentence (mean).
Lara's at the medical centre. She's seeing a doctor about her sore throat.
Can you translate it?
A Weigh can be continuous when it refers to what someone is doing
Donna: No, sorry. I (not understand) it either.
The shop assistant is weighing the cheese.
3 Eddie: (you / see) those men near the door? They (look)
4 The verb to be at us very strangely.

The verb to be is nearly always used in a simple rather than a continuous tense. When it is continuous it Fergus: Yes. You're right. (you / recognise) them from anywhere?
emphasises that a situation is temporary. It often describes a person's behaviour: Eddie: No, but they certainly (seem) to know us. They (come)
You're being so impatient! (Millie doesn't believe that Lisa is normally an impatient person.) across to speak to us.
My brother is being very nice to me this week. I wonder what he wants! 4 Gina: What (you / do) in the kitchen? Our guests (wait) for
Francis is filling in a form online, so we're all being quiet as we don't want him to make any mistakes.
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.

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1 Present tenses

4 Complete the email using the present simple or present continuous form of these verbs. Past tenses
behave come cost eat enjoy feel go have like love pay realise say Past simple; past continuous; used to and would; be/get used to
seem serve show smile stay take visit + -mg or noun
•

Dear Stephanie,
Context listening
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) O You are going to hear Jack talking to his grandmother
less here than back home. For example, this weekend we (4) in a motel beside about something he did last week. Before you listen, look at
a lake and we (5) only $65 per night for a room with a beautiful view. questions 1-5. Guess which things Jack his mother and his
grandmother did. Write), M or G.
The only thing we (6) (not) much is the food. Restaurants (7)
1 go to London
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 2 see a famous footballer
us. Apart from that, we (11) a wonderful time. We (12) lots of 3 go up to town alone
interesting little towns and we absolutely (13) the scenery. 4 worry about school work

People here (14) in a very friendly manner towards strangers. All the shop 5 go to a club
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, ntalO Listen and check if you were right.
when you (19)
here, you (19) C101 Listen again and answer these questions.
its a really great place.
1 What does Jack say about
We (20) lots
a a coach' We caught the coach, it was °nisi 10 return.
of photos to show you.
b a film'
Much love,
2 What tense does he use'
Mick and Mary 3 What does Gran say about
a autographs'
b going to town?
pop concerts?
4 Does she do these things now?
a 0 Cambridge First candidates made mistakes in the following sentences. Choose the 5 Did she do them regularly in the past?
correct verb forms.
4 C103 Listen again and complete these sentences with the words that the speakers use.
I want / am wanting to help out at the camp this summer.
2 Most Spanish companies belong / are belonging to multinationals nowadays. 1 We did some revision for our exams while we

3 I think / am thinking about interviewing my grandfather's friend, who collects vintage cars. 2 When we for the cinema, we saw a really famous footballer.

4 My father went to that university, so he knows / is knowing all about it. 3 He a burger and all the crowds past but nobody
noticed him except me.
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. El Which tense is in the gaps in Exercise 4?

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 Past tenses 2 2 Past tenses

Grammar nused to + verb and would + verb

+ used to + verb He used to read comics.
El Past simple
— did not use to + verb We didn't use to read comics.
+ verb + -at I wanted it. ? did ... use to + verb? Did you use to read comics?
— did not + verb I didn't want it.
+ would + verb He would read comics.
? did ... + verb? What did you want?
liegu ar verbs add -ed or -d to the verb: — would not + verb We wouldn't read comics.
want —0 wanted hope —0 hoped ? would ... + verb? Would you read comics?
Many common verbs are irregular (> See Web page Irregular verbs):
We use used to and would to talk about past habits when we are emphasising that they are no longer true
think —0 thought make —0 made
I used to collect all the autographs of film stars when I was a teenager. (= she doesn't do this now)
To be is irregular I would go up to town on my own. (= she doesn't do this now)
am /is (not) —• was (not); are (not) —o were (not)
Used to can describe actions and states, but would can only describe actions:
We use the past simple All the teenagers used to / would scream at pop concerts.
for completed actions and events in the past: They used to be crazy about the Beatles. (not would-be-m=0
We had an exam on Thursday.
We caught the coach. A Notice the position of frequency adverbs (> see Unit 8) with used to:
for a sequence of actions or events: I often used to study on my own (not r .3ed to uf., .01y)
I went round the shops, then I went to the cinema. A Used to is much more common than would.
for permanent or long-term situations in the past
I really enjoyed myself when I was a teenager. 4 be/get used to + -ing or noun
for repeated events:
Jack's grandmother went to lots of concerts. Be used to means 'be accustomed to It can be past, present or future, unlike used to, which is a past tense.
She always asked for an autograph when she met someone famous. I'm used to working at weekends. (z I often work at weekends, it's normal for me now)
The question form is:
> See also Unit 3 for further uses of the past simple.
Are you used to working at weekends?
El Past continuous Get used to means 'gradually become accustomed to It can be past, present or future, unlike used to, which
is a past tense.
+ was/were + verb + -ing They were waiting My new school starts at 7.30. I'm not used to starting classes so early but I guess I'll soon get used to doing it.
(= My previous school started later, but I'll soon become accustomed to the change and it won't bother me.)
— was/were not + verb + -ing She wasn't waiting.
Be/get used to can be followed by -ing or by a noun/pronoun:
? was/were ... + verb + -ing? Were you waiting? He wasn't used to criticism and found it hard to accept.
(= People hadn't criticised him before so he didn't like it.)
We use the past continuous: we were travelling
for an activity beginning before a past action and continuing MEM My parents are getting used to a quiet house, now the children have all left home.
until or after it. The action is usually in the past simple we did some revision (= When the children first left, my parents found the house strangely quiet, but it's gradually becoming normal
We did some revision while we were travelling. for them.)
we were queuing
When we were queuing for the cinema, we saw a famous footballer.
for two things happening at the same time we saw a famous footballer
He was buying a burger and all the crowds were walking past.
he was buying a burger
for repeated events, with a word like always or continually,
the crowds were walking oast
especially if the speaker is criticising the activity:
She was always worrying about her homework. (= jack's grandmother thinks she worried too much.)
for unfulfilled plans, with verbs like hope, plan, etc:
I was hoping to find a new jacket. (= but I didn't find one)
A State verbs are nearly always used in the past simple, not the past continuous (> see Unit 1, 83):
I didn't know him. (not I wan's,. know;o8

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 Past tenses 2 2 Past tenses

Grammar exercises flChoose the correct form of the verbs in this text.
My granny is 93 and she's come to live with us at our house. We're all pleased because we love
U Complete the text with the past simple form of these verbs. having her near us. She's a very independent person and until this year, she (1) refused/ was
refusing to move to the flat on our ground floor. But last month she suddenly (2) changed/ was
be begin come drink ear explain feed find get give go have know learn changing her mind and 1(3) asked / would ask her why. She explained that for years, nobody in
meet read seem speak spread write her village (4) would lock/was locking their front doors and the place (5) used to feel/ would
feel safe, but last month (6) she met/was meeting a neighbour in the street when she
(7) was walking / would walk home from the shops and (8) heard / was hearing some bad news.
.4 C ----- _ leammimpit , Thieves (9) were breaking/got used to breaking into people's houses while they (10) were
sitting/ would sit in their back gardens.
The mystery of Kaspar Hauser She (11) realised/was realising that she (12) wasn't wanting / didn't want to live alone any
mom. She (13) isn't used / didn't use to being in the town yet, but it's not as difficult as she
The mystery of Kasper Hauser (1) began in Nuremberg,
(14) was thinking / thought it might be, and she loves seeing us more often.
Germany, about 200 years ago. One morning, the people of the
town (2) a young man standing alone in the square.
He was holding a piece of paper in his hand.The paper 4 Fill in the gaps with a suitable form of beget used to.
(3) only that he (4) the son of a soldier.
Kaspar (5) how to say a few words and when given 1 Rita's very tired this morning. She isn't used, to (not) going to bed late.
a paper and pencil he (6) his name, but he 2 Don't worry about the children: they going to school by bus.
(7) completely ignorant about everyday life. At first
3 My new boss giving orders, not receiving them.
he (8) only bread and (9) only water,
but he gradually (10) used to ordinary meals. He also 4 She (not) drinking very strong coffee and it made her ill.
(11) to talk properly.
5 (you) our climate or do you still miss the sunshine?

The real truth about his birth remains a mystery, but it is probable that his father kept him 6 I had never stayed in such an expensive hotel before, but I soon it.
in one small room for the whole of his early life. He (12) him on bread and
(13) him water to drink. Kaspar never (14) out, he never Ei 0 Complete these sentences by Cambridge First candidates with the past simple or past
(15) to anyone or (16) other children. In spite of this extraordinary continuous form of the verbs.
childhood, Kaspar was not stupid. He (17) books and (18) discussions
1 Don't ask me about the concert!! was workul (work) in the stadium cafe when the band
with teachers and philosophers. News about Kasper (19) through Europe and
was playing (play)
visitors (20) from abroad to meet him.
2 I (look) round the palace when a man (stop) me to ask for directions.
3 The lights (go) out while she (have)a party in her house.
flFill in the gaps with the past simple or past continuous form of the verbs. 4 She (go) quietly out of her bedroom and (stand) behind the door so
1 My parents got (get) to know each other when they Wert studying (study) at university. she could hear what they were saying.
2 Doctor Fisher (travel) widely as a young man and (always keep) 5 I (hope) my colleagues would say 'happy birthday' when I got to work, but nobody
a diary. (say) anything.
3 I (see) my brother and his friend when I (wait) for the bus, but
they (not see) me. 6 0Correct the mistakes with used to in these sentences by Cambridge First candidates.
4 Lily (fill) in the application form and (give)it to the When I was a child I atrmsed to go camping. used,
receptionist.
2 My parents used to often take me to the zoo.
5 While I (wet*) in Rome I (meet) a girl who
3 They didn't used to help their parents with housework, but now they do.
(look) just like your sister.
4 We use to go to the beach every day last summer.
6 Simon (buy) a new laptop because his old one (always crash).
7 I (miss) your text because my phone (charge) in another room. 5 Helen is a teacher at a primary school, so she used to teach children.

8 Anna's feeling depressed because she (hope) for a pay rise last week, but she 6 I would like to be a sports instructor because I was used to train tennis
(not get) one. players before I came to England.

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