Present simple and present continuous – revision Present simple Form: Positive Negative: I/You/We/They start at 8:00. I/You/We/They don’t start at 8:00. She/He/It starts at 8:00 She/He/It doesn’t start at 8:00. Question: Do I/you/we/they start at 8:00? Yes, I do. No, I don’t. Does she/he/it start at 8:00? Yes, she does. No, she doesn’t. Use: 1 Facts which are always true Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. 2 Habitual actions (routines, habits ) I usually go to work by car. 3 Permanent situations and states My parents live in London. They have been there for 20 years. 4 Future facts My train leaves at 7:00. Common time adverbials with the Present Simple: always, usually, regularly, every morning, often, sometimes, twice a week, from time to time, occasionally, rarely, seldom, once a month, hardly ever, never. Present continuous Form: Positive: Negative: Subject + to be + verb-ing Subject + not to be + verb-ing I am going outside. I am not going outside. You are going outside…. You are not going outside. … Question: to be + subject + verb-ing Are you going outside? Yes, I am. No, I am not. Is he going outside? Yes, he is. No, he isn’t. Use: 1 An activity happening now I’m doing the washing-up just now. 2 Temporary situations and habits I’m living with some friends until I can find a flat. 3 An annoying habit You’re always borrowing money from me! 4 Personal arrangements for the future We are going to Prague on Saturday. Common time adverbials: just, now, at the moment, at the present. PRESENT SIMPLE AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS (practice) 1 Choose the most suitable tense. a I cannot talk now. I cook/I’m cooking the dinner. b What shall we have? Do you like/Are you liking fish? c The River Po flows/is flowing into the Adriatic Sea. d Do you wait/Are you waiting for the bus to Newcastle? e You always borrow/You are always borrowing money from me! 2 Put each verb in brackets into either the present simple or the present continuous. a What sort of work (you do) ................................? b What (you look) ................................at? (I wear) ................................the wrong clothes again? c Excuse me, (you read) ................................ your newspaper? Could I borrow it? d I (still have) ................................a pain in my leg but it (get) ................................better. e What (the people here do) ................................ in the evenings? f The light from the Sun (take) ................................8 mins 20 secs to reach the Earth. g I (look after) .................................Jack’s dog this weekend. (you want) ................................to take it for a walk? h Who (Sue dance) ................................with? That’s not her brother, is it? i That plant I bought (not grow) ................................very much. And I (water) ................................it every day. j Which hotel (you stay) ................................in whenever you (come) ................................here? k This flower (smell) ................................wonderful. l I ................................ (just taste) the soup to see if it needs more salt. m She ................................ (think) that I would be happier in another job. n We ................................ (think) of buying a new car. o They ................................ (usually have) breakfast at home, but today they (have) ……….at work. p Bob................................ (be) rather difficult at the moment. 3 Put each verb in brackets into either the present simple or the present continuous. Dear Aunt Jean, I ……………..(just write) to tell you how much I ………………..(appreciate) the money you sent me, and to tell you how I …………(get on) in my first term at university. Actually, I……………(really enjoy) myself! I …………….(study) quite hard as well, but at the moment I ……………(spend) a lot of time just making friends. I …………………(still stay) with my friend Sue, and I ……………..(look for) somewhere of my own to live. Only a few of the first-year students …………….(live) in college here, and I ………………(seem) to be spending a lot of time travelling backwards and forwards. I ………..(go) to lectures every morning, and most afternoons I …………….(study) in the library. In fact I ………….(write) this letter instead of an essay on ‘Hamlet’! I …………….(think) I’ll buy some new clothes with the money you sent. Everything …………..(cost) a lot here, and I …………..(save) to buy a winter coat. It ………..(get) really cold here in the evenings. I ……………..(know) lots of other students and generally speaking we …………….(have) quite a good time socially! I …………………(also learn) to drive. See you soon, Katherine 4 Put each verb in brackets into the most appropriate future time form (use either the present simple or the present continuous). a I cannot see you on Thursday afternoon. I (visit) ………..our Birmingham branch. b What time (your plane leave) ……………………………? c Can you call me at 7:00, because we (leave) …………………tomorrow. d According to this timetable, the bus (arrive) …………………….at 6:00. e I have to finish it now because I (meet) …………..Jack in two hours. f When (the concert start) …………………….? – It (start) ………….at seven.