Preseli simple (1 G0) atiu Guriunuuus: (1am doing) (1) ‘We use the present simple to describe things that are always true, or situations that exist now and, 25 far as we know, will £0 on indefinitely |, iskes me fie minutes to eto sebool + ‘Trees grow more quickly in summerthan in winter. + Liz plays the violin brilliantly. To talk about particular actions or events that have begun but have not ended at he time of speaking, we use the present continuous: 1 Te carisn starting acai, + ‘Who are you phoning?’ I'm trying to get through to Joan.” The shop is so incfient that many customers are taking their business elsewhere. ‘We often use time expressions such as at the moment, at present, currently, just, and still to ‘emphasise that the action or event is happening now: + "Have you done the shopping?” T'mjust going." ‘Notice that the action or event may not be going on at the time of speaking: ‘+ The police are talking co a number of people about the robbery. Wo uso the presont simplo to talk about habits oF things that happea on a regular basis: + leave work at 5.30 most days. + Each July we go to Turkey for a holiday. However, when we describe repeated actions or events that are happening at or around the time of speaking, we use the present continuous: + Why are you jumping up and down? + Tm hearing a lot of good reports about your work these days. ‘We can use the present continuous or the present simple to describe something that we regularly do ata particular time. Compare: + We usually watch the news on TV at 9.00, (= we start watching at 9.00) + We're usually watching the nows on TV at 9.00. (= we're already watching at 9.00) ‘We use the present continuous to imply that a situation is or may be temporary, Compare: ‘+ Banks lend money to make aprofit. (this is what usually happens) ‘+ Banks are lending more money (these days) to encourage businesses toexpond. (implies a ‘temporary arrangement) ‘+ She teaches Maths in a school inBonn. (a permanent arrangement) “+ ‘She's teaching Maths ina schoo! inBonn. (implies that this is not, or may not be, permanent) We often use the present simple with verbs that pesform the action they describe: + Tadmit I ean see as well as Tused to. (= an admission) + [refuse to believe that he didn't know the car was stolen. (= 2 sefusal) Other verbs like this (sometimes called performative verbs) include accept, acknowledge, advise, apologise, assume, deny, guarantee, hope, inform, prediet, promise, recommend, suggest, suppose, warn. We can use modals with performative verbs 10 make what we say more tentative o polite: ‘+L would advise you to arrive two hours before the fight leaves. + Tm atfaid T have to inform you that your application for funding has been tured down,LL 13 EXERCISES suggens vor) 1 complete cach sentence. Useihe present simple orpresent continuous. "Serj jaddany words ousstde the pace, as én theexample. (A& B) 1 en tong Sek mp sh ete Thick she a Neote8. weight, 7 Foal ‘gunptin his spare time. It shis hobby. 3 The airline currently Talf-prive tickets to Japan, but fomoach only. 4 Mier ae ie anand wil tefore she goes. § Beto’ the present threaOl Wat, ified people SstnatlesT be ccuos on teen bowie 7 She has an important project to finish by next week, so she in tB8 eversing’ ** ph" 8 Pips an exelent Linguist. svening FE Fee chanpaes fuerty. 9 "How are you gating on with the book?” Arthe moment L chapter four.’ eof these sats of verbs, using each verb once only. Choose either ‘continuous for all the missing verbs in each text. Use k toadd anywords outside thespaces. (A to E) sayitelvdo _‘lk/threaten/negotiate _recommend/warn/apologise ‘suggest/hope/promise: ‘, « 1 She Fonlyjuse .recorering. from the operation 4 F sill fiavling.it difficult to move about. At the moment she , is, spending. most of her time i POS: Really 2 What 1 fs tat your you che eeuth, Se atdo evertungica Slihcught that you aso advertise in the local newspaper. -accommodat but Temnennn=it ‘won ig before you've got somewhere. 4 The 1s vrak their employers fora pay rise, If there is no agreement by ‘next week, they = vuarke and gyon ---= =~ about blockading ports around the 5 FORTY the delay ig replying to your letter. To place an ord for "Mook you that oo & Jou lepine Mis Jones in our aes depariment Nowovcr, iat davery ime 1s Likely to be about six weeks. yess ith the ers give, singe present continuo ore presen simple, ‘ossible write them both, and consider the difference in meaning. Use Kh toadd any words outside the space. (C& D) ‘Shall I phone at 6.002 'No, we normall dinner at chat tinie. (cook) 4 Since To the lottery, my tephone hast is Pegple sskohow I'm Seg Sia one ae aE ‘Alice == het mother in London most weekends. Ags oR MO Long a ea {Seto ming Taetea aes Ge