r\.

,)

It

.I
-l'lrr'
Tlrc

i
I

Present coittiltLloLls and present sirnple

A.

prcsint c()ntinrrotrs

co,ltimlous is tl',l,.cscnt tcnse of .be * thc ing-f-orrir: I'trr gcttittg tltc lunch rrady. saralr istr,t ruorki*! to(it"r, Wrat arc you lookinp ar? .-Wt'rc lrlaying cards.
p'r<:scnt

I am playing
cy ar e p lai,in hr:/sb.c/it is playing
y <>tt / w c / th
g1

L)I\ I'rr piaying ol\ you'rc playing OR he'r playing

I'nn rrot playirrg yr>u,/we /they aren't plil'i,rr51 hc/she/it i,tn't plal,in g

arn I playing? al'e you playing? is lie plrying?

arr

'il''e usc Lhe prc,;cnt r;onrintrous to sry tlr.;tt wc arc ir: tlrc nriddlc ot about use ser Unir 2,
H

actior., For rtrc;-c dctails

-l'l

c 1.,rcscnt

sir rr 1',ic
ar:.

Ir:i rhc preseni simi:1c we us,: thc ver-b withcr:t er:,lhrg: )' gei the lur,th rea,ly at orit cs'clcck, usually, VIte oiay letnis mos't wcek,:ntis. Mast chiilret like ir:-creatn.
E

tr'lay

vcur fliend etc), the verb Ht t,,,a#ti sone helSs.

M1, sister catches
l./

irt in ;h,: third p(lrson sing rl;rr (afrer he, she, it, r i.l,:l; in !.i or es:
tlie. earl.,,

trcti:t.

you/ w e / rl:.ey i:lav helshe/it pia,v5

--l
I

_l
p!lJvtl

tYu

iortn ofclo in ncgativcs arrd questions. We u;* do and Jon't cxccpt;:ir rl,rc us l doe"r and cloesn't. Nrgatives: I,i/e dan't yLay tertnis in wintcr. He rtocstt.'t wani atty iiclrt. tcttttis? l44tal daes lrc wdrt? Qr,r,:stions Do you plt1,
use a

silir;ular, wirere we

l/you/,;rc/thcy do rroc play on- don't piay dr:" I/you/ /rirc)' pleyl ',vc not irt o1 _Ytt..jliocs 1,. _d",'ult':f3f_--_j::lystrc/ir

i
!

praii

We dc not acld s to the verb in r1c:latives and questicrrs. Nc f -+ledoesnlltlays- or -L)ae*he-plays?'

1,{/c ysc

thc :rcscnc sirrric lb:

rcp,-'a,.cci :.crions ai-rcl

lor ti:Orr,-hr.

,1'..1i.r,.

".,..1 5i"1..;5

tssl-\E

\.-.

Present c:ontinuous or simple?

A
N

o*'

() r' so/

trctirtrcs?
example.s:

Look at these

I'rn palntlng a plcturo.

Now

comF,are:
r.rse

ttre prcsent continuous tbr sorrrctlriug happening novr. I?l painting a picture lrreans that I am in the rniddlc oI

'Wc

PRESEN'I (:ONTINUOUS

'We

PILES-lrNT SIMPLE

usc the prcscnr sinrple for rcpcaccd

actiorrs. I paint ptctut'(s nlcans that I tio it again and agaiu.

doing it.
Hcr:e are
s,J;n1e ITtC,ff

exattrples:

It's raining at tlte momertt, Dorr't switch otf the TV. .l'm u,atching it, Look.'[']wt man i.s taking a p.hoto of you.

It always rains at tlrc u,eakcttd. I watch telcvisiort tttost evcnings. Jcrenty is a pl,otograp.lrcr. He ta\es pitotosfor
a netusPdPer

B
'

T'horrghts, fbeiirrgs and srarc:

'We normal-ly use the prescnt siirrple with verbs of rhinl:ing and feeling: I think l,oLt're rig!,t. t'Lc wottts a new bike. Jrlh likes her job. We also use it to calk abouc statcs and pemlane nc facrs (see Unir 3): I know Jane quite weil. Paris lies on the Riuer Selne.

Tcriroorary or pcinrancnti
Cornpare:
PR,ESEI.I'T CONTINUOUS \Me t-lsr: rhe present continuous 6or a

rou;ine or situarion thar we .(;ee f,s temporary, fbr a short pe.iod:

'We use the present simplc for a routirre or sicuacion tirat rve see as pemranent:

PF.ESENT SIMPLE

I'm worleittg at a sports shoyfrrr six weeks. At t\e moment they're livin.p, in a vcry
small-f,at.

I work

at a sports slrcp. It's a penttanent job. They liue in a vcq, nicefat.

Tlic

prr-,s.-'nt

contirluotls ivitli alrvays

ln this spe:ial pattern always rne:ins 'very ofien' or''coo often': Pete r is ahuays in.vitingJie*ds here. (= He very often invites thcm.) ['m always naking silly mistd:e.s. (= 1 makc siUy mistakes roo ofccn.)
Alrvay's v,'itlr the prJscnt sirnl,lc I'trc;ltls'cvcry tirt:c': Peter always ittuites his pareuts :o stay at Chdstnras. I alit'a7,s nwka silly nislakes u.'ittt't I',n tauing an exattt

--#.r.ffi,*;#;**dia#rarlrsgt$i*Lst*ilqrpiffi-aTi**mr,i.r.du{+.ffi1+i***"*.;**-

'rl-

:'

D EXET|SE '10: Use either the SIMPLE PRESENT ' the verbs in parentheses
l.
her hair.

or the PBESENT PROGRESSIVE of

she

Diane can't come to the phone because

(wash) is wathin4

3. Kathy 4.

(y.t,

unully*) .--

in the fronr row during in the last row.

to concentrste.

class, but today she (sdt) Please be quiet, I (qy)

1xru,

5. (I-&k,

ahtay*)

your apartment

---when yotr leave?

for a reply.
(s/rirre)

the door to

6. I wrote
.rtilJ*)

ro my friend lasr rveek. She hasn't answered my letter yet- [ (zlcir,

7. After three days o[ rain. I'm glad that the sun

again today.

..

8/ Every morning,

the.sun

(shine)

in my hedroom

9. A: l,ook! It (snazo) B: It's beautiful! This

is the first time I've ever seen snow.

lt (snau,

not*)

in my country. 10. Mike is a student. btrt he Go,

not*)

school right now because it's summer. tle (attend)

-_

___

___

ro

college from Sepremtrer to May every year, but in the summers he (haoe, tLtually*)
he
a iab at the

pdit office. In fact.

ktorh)

there this summer.

SIMPLE PP.ESENT
( a ) Water cor'srsss ol'hvdrogen and 0xygen.
(b

(c

) Ivlost animals Eift only lor fr.rod ) I'he'*'orld & rrrund.

I stady for two hours every

The simple present is used lo

express hahitunl or ecemdus uc-

night,
Ivl;- classes 6eFir at nine. lle always ears a sandwich for

tit,iry.

lunch-

(el

(h) I don't recogtize thai man. ( i) I1.e needs a pen right now.

I f,cue only

dollar right now

*-l Ccrtain vrrh*s are ,,,,, ,* thc [.rogrcssite tenses. tScc j Chart I -9. r \\'rth thcsc vcrt's, i rhe simple l,rcscnt mav indi- |
catc a situat i,rn th:rt exists right n,rw, rt lhe momcnt ol
i
I

spcrkinp

__j

PRESENT PROGRESSEVE

{i) (k)
,(

John & sleepiq righl now. I need an umbrella because it

'fhe present pr,,gressive

ir

l)

rcilnrg,
John and Mary phone.

ue rc&ingon ihe

ex presscs an activitY thnr is i}' frir gress ul lh{ marrtcilt o/spetr&ine. It bcgan in rhc recent past. is cutt'

tinuing ar prcsent. and will

prohahll' cnd at some groint in
thc future.

(m) I c* ra*ing lle

(n (o

courses thig smester. John is t yine to improve his

Often thc activity is of

general

nature: somelhing generilly in progress this week, this rnonth.

this year.
Note. (o): The senlence means that writing c hook is a gtneral

work habits. She i, urntmg anothcr book this

Yea r.

activitli she is engaged in at pre.senr, but it does not mran

that at the moment ol'speaking pen in hand-

she is sitting at her desk with

E':cercises
Presr'--nc

!....

continuolls or sinrplc? (A, B)

ptrr:

Complctc ttrc convcnatio:r bctrv(:cn tv/o students cailcd Duncap apd parrl. continuous orsimplc of tlre vcrbr;. D uncan: D_Agtguw,itilg for somcone? Paul: Ye.s - for Nr:i[. Wc o rual,(: liomc togctltcr ruost days. Wc l--_in the samc strcct. Duncan: I'm not surc, t,r'-t, I r_--hc

in tlrc prcscni

o o

3---

Paul:

Yes,

Duncan:

What sie
drys

I 4------

--

co

Mr Davis abour somerhing.

. Fic told me. What abour you?
l'rere?

for the sccrctary. I can'c hnd her

anfwhere.
a

you w'ait walk 1 live 2 rhink 3 talk 4 knorv 5 yorr do 6 look

rveek.

7 8

rvork
waste

Present continuous or simpie? (A-C)

Co:,nplete the sentences. Put in the vecbs on the righr. Ll I t-untiW- to my par:cnts. I writt-to them every weeken d. I It r:trtside. It down quite -hard, iook.
O

wnte. \vntc sltorvr colllc

st2rt s tart rcad

Norrnally

I
- ?.c

Usually I er.erI day. On SundaTs I lour or five. We * e garagc ncxt r:o our housc. 'Wc sorncwherc to put the car. I haven't got a car at th: moment, so I - to rvork on Usually the bus this week. I to wt-,rk. The sun in the east, relnember. It's behind us, so
'fr/e

sevcn rhis week. lVe're ve.y busy just now. rv/o ,re'^/spapcrs, but not ihc same oncs

bry
build
\VA Il
T

go clrivc
ris c

holiday. ---

Hocels

west. -- camping cvcry year. It's a good cheap too much.

cravel go cost

Present cont:inuous or 5inlsrle v,rith always (D)

Wrice the sencenccs wicir arhvays. n Thar lroy ta-lks too much. @ D Yotr slara tlrc door afier 1'orr evcry time. You alwa),s slam the door dter 1 MrsJamesleavcs earl;' c'uery' day 2 Y'ou vcry oftcn losc y<,Lrr ke ys. 3 Yor: take timc offw,:rk ,:oo ofrcn. 4 I go the.wlong way h,:rc every time 5 Lizz tha.nks nrc politely cvery rinrc. -6 The lJensons argue so r-'rucir.

yotr:, -

St]trts,111.1 ;1i.1i()rrS

Compar,:: A statc nleens sonrcthing stayilrg tlrc samc.

STATE,S

An action rncarls solrrctlting happcrrirrg.

ACTIOi\IS

Tlte doot is blue. ['lrcfanner owns the lturd. I'lre bo^- contains old tnagazitt,:t. State verb:. callnot usualiy be cor'ltirntotts. N o r -l?r qfr m t e rl s*tn i rry-the 4a n d,'

Otherstatc verbs are: seetrl, cl>nsist o( krrow, urtderscand, rernernl-re::, lo'ire, like.
B

I'm painting tlte :loor. 'fht'fanner is buyittg tlte lattd. tIe puts tlre ttta.qazittes itt tltc box. Actiou vcrb.s can bc cithcr sinrplc r:r continuoLrs, c.g. Hc pilts cvcrytlrittg au'ay <:tt Hc is puttitrg cvtr;,thit\q aruay. exist, bclong, depend on, deserye, rnatter, ntean,

\/crtrs \\,i t l'r rli tllrcnt rlieanings

Someti:res on.e meaning c[a verb is a st-ate
STATES
er-rd

the other is an action. Compare:

ACIIONS

I think you're right. (= believc)

We huue three cars. (=

.['tr thinking
I,Ve're
h

about

tlte problem

o'rn)
vras t'rorn irr)

aviig ltnch. (= eating)

Jrf it

an idiot.

I comtefr<tnr Sweden.

(=live in,

Jrf it

being an idior. (= behaving) I'tn coningfrom Swcden. (= travelling tiorn)

We usc sirnplc tcnses for thes,: scetes. With actions, we cal'r use ciche r the sir:rple or the contlnuoui. [{ere are sonle more exattrples to ccrnlpare:
STN TES

ACTION!
probletn . (= I u nde rsta nd . . .)
James is seeitg a doctor. I see Sirnon qrtite oJtett.

I
'

:;ee yot^tr

[-hi s pi,:ture lo oks nic e.

l'm looking at this picture.

I aiway5Iook at tlrc sporls neu,sf rst. She appeared /u,as appearing in aflnt. 1'lrcy weiglred / u,cre u,cighing nry bap. Hc smelt / tuds sntclliilg thc milk.

Slte appears very tteruous. Tlrc b ag w eighcd fv c kilo s . 'f'he tuilk snrelt slrange.

T'lrccoetfits allight, C

I'ntlitting
i.ts

a lock

tt,

tlrc witdo'.t,.

Stetc vcrtls irr thc cor)cilrLto

But wc can use sorne scate verbs in rhe continuous whcn we talk abouc a sltort period of cirite. Compar,:: coNTrNUous (a short Period oftime) SIMPLIi (a pennanent state) I' nt Io ving / enj oying thi s party. Ilove/enjoy parties. I'in liking school a lot better now. I lik,- sthool This tip is costing ne a lot oJmoney. tlolidays cost a lot of nrcft?y.
IJuc irr rher;c exarrtples

wc catl u:ie eithcr tltc sinrpie crr corlciiluor.rs vvirh lictlc ciifferctrce in rncrning: WeJecl a bit sad I ot< LVe'reJceling abit sad Yotr Iook well. ott 1(ott're loobing wcll. 'l-his toctlt is lturting/aching. Tltis tootltlsrts/achcr. oR
.

:..

v I

NONPROGRESSTVE VER.BS
NOt.'FRC,CRESSIl'E
{a) Ali &rotlts this grammar Some verbs are r.arerryesti?e: they are not usd in any of the progressive tenses. These verbs describt states (i.e., condirions rhat exist)l they do nat describe ecrivirice thai are in progress In (s): "Ali knows" descrihes e mcnrst stste thEt exisrs.

PRCGRESSE1IE

(b) Kim r: recdiag ehout this grammsr.

COi1PARE: In ft): "Kim is reading" is an activity in prr> gress. Progressive tenscs can be used with the verb tut not r*'ith rhe verb &*<rur.

rei

CE!iF{CFI

NO}'fRffi RESSTVE YERtsS

(l) PossEssroN
(,1) SENSE

PERCEPTIONS

rr.Lrtx with en rctcriek art a-Lc common$'used rs prcgressivc verlrr, =rirh r cxamplcti
NONPROCRESS
rhiah

diJTe

r-c*cc ia

mdning,

es

in the foll.oring

I4ir*

[!'E

(ensrra3 rrd$)

PROC RESS

M (oc#y k gaa3rca)

hau
tata rlrr.ll
9C

br ie e kir'd msn. ile f:er r crr.

ThkfdodE*eco{i.
Ti*se lloecr*

i:*.r

re:I

gord.

ftil
lrrl*

iruncrfly. Do you ra* it)

The cat's
She

q*ar
s*qh

k*s

furjrlr

I -.a rF.ir*irrr lbxxt thir g6anaar. I e: ieegr rrcqbte. Sfie & laoirg r grxrd time. Thc ch:f & *rqfu rhe r...:ce. Don ir rr*cJf*g, thc roaca. Thc docror ir r:eir3 r patient.
Suc

sofr.

n/rdirg

lhe

ct('r

fur.

cold. t'll lrd her my corr.

e

Heryrrob<aalccp.
A phno ir hcevy. Ir eeigfu
I

ee

&e#in4: mrt

tht rindrm.

k{.

ai'iungry.

Thc ector & egpe*ir1on rhe srage. The prcr & oe!*iry tlrt be nanas_ Tom & Sarirg foolish.*r

tl

EXERCXSE

{2: Use either the SIMPLE PRESENT or the PRESENT pROGRESSIVE the verbs in parenthiqes: l.
I csn't afford that ring. tt
(co.rt)

of

--.-

a-&-=-----too

much.

(toear)..-

a ratncoal

a walerpro(,{ hat on

rainy da}-s.

(untc')
his pcncil. r{'an-Nine

in hcr hook. Carlos {htte) ___

(scrutch) -

- -.

-,,

. .-.

his hrad. Ahmcd

ro he daydreaming, hut pe rhaps he (r,tirA)

. - hard

ahour verb tenses. !ilhar (rilirrfr,

(da)

luu)

Ahmed

5.

There's a book on m], desk, but it(belong, not)

.6. Dennis ([t)

(need)

to me.

the roofo[his house roday, and he

some help. Can you hdtp

h;ml

7. Barbara (runr, ofun)

class. This aflternoon she (ielp)

other students in her math

Steve with his rharh

assignment because he (wdersand, rut)

at Janet. She (iooA)

the

material they (work)

irn in their class this rvcck.

8. Right now I (hoA)

angry. I wonder what's the matter. She {haz,el

--

any fun right now.

9. A: Who is that woman who (srcn$

the windorv?

next to

B: Which woman2 (Talh,you)

!*'oman who (wear)

about the
the blue and gold dressl

A: No, I (ta[k,

not) Ihe rvoman s'ho (zr:cor)

about her- | (mean)

the bluc suit-

B: Oh. |

(hnotL,, not\ her.

I (recognize. not)

10. A: Close your eyes. Now listen carefully. What {hear.

? What (do,

_,-ou)

I)

B: | (beliexe)

you (ru6)

the top o[ your desk with your - hand.

11:

C-lose, but noi exactllr right.

Try again. ({'i-sten, you)

carefulll''?
B: Ahal

\bu

(nr&)

1,our hands together.

A: Rightl

lixercises
States and acrions (A)
Say

O 3 4 5

1 2

t,Vhac does 'dentist'11r_e1a?

which verbs cxpress sratcs and rvhich cxPress ectlolts. t rppkc ro orrr ncvr nci5lhborrrs. -tt;lipn They scern vcry nicc. The husband b:rildr houses. Our old house cloesn'E exist any n1orc. I h:rve ro go ro the dcritisr.

V'erbs

with different nleanings

(B)

Gavin is visiringJudy and baby Emma. p,r in rhe correcr form of tire verb. Gayin: Hello,Judy. I rang at about ten, but chere was no reply. Oh, that was pr,>bably w-hen lo-_wauil*tg_che 0 saw,/was see iltg .Jrdy: doctor. Gavin: 'Where's litrle, Emnra? ._-._ Judy: Shc's asleep. Shc la very good 1 s./ s lJelltg girl at che mornent. I 2 at these 2 look/'rn looking photos ofher:. Gavin: Oh, she's lovely. i 3 she 3 think,/'nr thinking 4---l>eautiful. 4 looks/'s iooking Judy: Thatjecket was roo big rhen. Ir 5 dicin'r firlwasn'c s--_prop,erly. fitcing Gavin: In this one:;lr.t: 6----her tea. 6 has,/'s iraving 7 Judy: .{nd in this onr: she about 7 thinks/'s rhinking something. I'nr noc sure wha.t. Gavin: You 8-lcrs ofphoros ofher have./'re havinq
d.ready. ucly: -f

tr{ark cook tlris c,ne, look. Shc cried all rhc cime rhe nurse 9- h,:r. When she was born, shc I )--four kilos, you

rveighed/r,,,as rvc : Ill

rvc r , hi
r

know.

10 weighcd,/,.vas 1L see./'nr seeing

lsurte verbs

in the corrtirruous

(C)

Write a sentcnce whictr (irll,>lvs on. rlhoosc from these sentences. I thir.k ic's going tc-r suir me. And I'vc srill goc a clra'cc to \\,rn 1t. I've never wanted t.o phange it. it uses a.lot oIpctrol.
It'$ too cxpensive'to D
1

buy.

piay ir c.rcry wcekcrrd.

I cnjoy tlrc game. _Lplay_fityc-tl--uskend. J'hc car costs a lor r>f money. ----I'he car is cc,sting a l,tt c't'rnoney. I'rn liking rrly ocw j,:ir. ---I lil:c my jot . --

"/

2
3 4
5

..d

c D