FIeSeIt SITIpie (Huu) alu present GuiuuUUS (1 am doing) (2) We often prefer to use the present simple rather than the present continuous with verbs descri Q 5 Lreatyenoy raveuing. + The group currently consists of five people, but we hope to get more members soon. Other common state verbs include agree, assume, believe, belong to, contain, cost, disagree, fel, hate, have, hope, know, like, look, love, own, prefer, realise, regret, resemble, smell taste. However, we can use the present continuous with some state verbs when we want to emphasise that a situation is temporary, for a period of time around the present. Compare: + Teonsider him to be extremely fortunate. (This is my view) and + T'm considering taking early retirement. (This is something 'm thinking about now) + The children love having Jean stay with us. (They love it when Jean stays) and + The children are loving baving Jean stay with us. (lean is staying with us now) ‘With some verbs used to describe a temporary state (e.g, ache, fel, hurt look (= seer), there is little diferonce in meaning when we uso the present simple and present continuo! + What's the matter with Bil?) He looks / is looking awful. ‘When have has a non-state meaning - for example when it means ‘eat, ‘undergo’, “take’ or ‘hold’ - we ean use the present continuous: + ‘What's that terrible noise?" "The neighbours are having a party." ‘gWeuse the present continuous when we talk about changes, developments, and trends: 1+ The growing aumber of visitors is damaging the footpaths. + Tm beginning to realise how dificult it is to be a teacher. When we tll a tony or joke ne ofen serie the main events using the present (pas) simple and longer, background events sig the presen (or a) continued + She gues (or wen) up to this man and loks (orlooked) sight into is eyes. She earyag (orsas cargo) a bag fil of shopping. We cam also us the preset imple and presen continous ke hs commonties (for ekamle, on sport evens) and inv aston Ao + King sons to the left hand court and Adams makes a wonderful return, Shes playing magnificent tconis in this match... + You hold the can in one hand. Right, you're holding it in one hand; now you take offthe lid with the other. When we want to emphasise that something is done repeatedly, we can use the present continuous with words like always, constantly, continually, or forever. Often we do this when we want to show that we are unhappy about it, including our own behaviour + They're eonstandly having parties until the early hours of the morning, We use the past continuous (see Unit 6) in the same way’ ‘+ He was forever including me in his erazy schemes. ‘The present simple is used to report what we have heard or what we have read: + This newspaper article explains why unemployment has been rising so quickly. ‘We also use the present simple in spoken English in phrases such as T gather, Thear, I see, and T ‘understand to introduce news that we have heard, read or seen (eg. on television): ‘+ gather you're worried about the new job? + The Prince is coming to visit, and I hear he's very re.24 22 23 24 EXERCISES Complete the sentences with eppropriate verbs. Use the same verb for each sentence in the pair. Choose the present continuous ifpossible; ifnot, use the present simple. (A) tak us fortune at the moment to send our daughter to dance classes bi a Fortune to fly rst clas to Fapan. dal sitting dowa at the end ofa long day and reading 2 good book. b Is a wonderful book. 1 ‘every moment of it 3 a We've always wanted a house in the country, but we on where it should be. b Whea they agree with each other on so many important issues, I can't understand why they ‘now oa this relatively minor matter. 4 a With growing concerns about the enviroament, people to use reoycled paper products, bb He doesn’t like publicity, and to stay firmly in the background. 5 a ‘Con speak to Dorothy? 'She ‘a shower. Con I take a message?” b My brother three children, all girls. 6 a Although he theoe cars, all of them are extremely old. bb In the north of the country, fewer and fewer people the houses they live in. Choose the present simple or present continuous for the verks in these tens. (B) 1 Fletcher (pass) to Coles who (shoot) just over the bar. United (attack) much moce inthis half. 2 Aman (come) home late one night after the office Christmas party. His wife (wait) for him, and she. (ay) to him. 3 Now that the rice (cook) you ‘(chop up) the carrots and tomatoes and you (put) them in a dish Expand one ofthe sets ofnotes below to complete each dialogue. (C) continually/change/mind forever/moaniwork _forever/ask me/money cconstantly/critcise/driving _always/complain/handwriting 1 A: Loan'treadthiss: You'e always complaining about soy handwriting. 2a: Can borrow £1024, You're 43a: That was a dangerous thing 10 doly, You're. 44; [think Ill say here after ally, You're... 5: Thad a bad day at the office again.g, You're. How might you report the news in these headlines using the phrases given? (D) MORE CASH FOR HEALTH SERVICE TSrizestand liga ‘QUAKE HITS CENTRAL IRAN) =" paar. QUEEN TO VISIT INDIA IN SPRING? (SCIENTISTS FIND BRIGHTEST STAR) Example: | see that the Queen's ging to vist India. next spring.