Present simple and present continuous FORM AND USE 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 The earth goes around the sun. 2 Habitual actions (routines, habits) In the summer, Tom usually plays tennis twice a week. 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 Please, don’t make so much noise. I’m studying. . 2 Temporary situations and habits I’m living with some friends until I can find a flat. 3 When we talk about changing situations Is your English getting better? 4 An annoying habit You’re always borrowing money from me! 5 Personal arrangements for the future We are going to Prague on Saturday. Common time adverbials with the Present Continuous: just, now, at the moment, at the present. PRACTICE 1. Choose the form of the verb which best completes the following sentences. a) I cannot talk now. I cook/ am 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/ are always borrowing money from me! f) This cheese smells/is smelling awful. g) We have/are having a meeting. Come and join in. 2. Put each verb in brackets into either the present simple or the present continuous. 1) Listen to those people. What language _________________________ (they/speak)? 2) The population of the world _________________________ (rise) very fast. 3) I don’t understand the word „deceive“. What _________________________ (“deceive”/mean)? 4) Hurry. The bus ___________________ (come). I ________________________ (not want) to miss it. 5) I usually _________________________ (go) to school by bus. 6) Maria is in Canada for three months. She _________________________(learn) English. 7) Water _________________________ (boil) at 100 degrees Celsius. 8) A: What _________________________ (your mum/do)? B: She’s a teacher, but she ____________________ (not/work) right now. 9) George is a vegetarian. He _________________________ (not/eat) meat. 10) She _________________________ (think) that I would be happier in another job. 11) You look sad. What _________________________ (think) about? 12) What time _________________________ (the banks/close) here? 13) (at the movies) It’s a good movie, isn’t it? _________________________ (you/enjoy) it? 14) They usually ______________________ (have) lunch at school, but today they ________________ (have) it at home. 15) He _________________________ (not/understand) the problem. 16) Look! Somebody _________________________ (climb) that tree over there. 17) I _________________________ (get) hungry. Let’s go get something to eat. 18) We _________________________ (go) on holiday to Spain with my parents this year. 19) The next train _________________________ (leave) at two fifteen tin the morning. 20) A: When ______________________ (the lecture/start)? B: It ____________________ (start) in half an hour. 3. Add one of these to each sentence. always, at the moment, never, often, right now, this week, today, usually 1) You’re looking very beautiful. _____________________________________ 2) He’s talking on another line. _____________________________________ 3) I play tennis on Wednesdays. _____________________________________ 4) Gloria goes to foreign films. _____________________________________ 5) He buys his clothes in Oxford. _____________________________________ 6) My cousin is staying at our house. _____________________________________ 7) Mary is shopping; she’ll be back in about half an hour. _____________________________________ 8) I see Joe at the swimming pool. _____________________________________