lingua house

TM

Innovation in Learning

A A A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

The present
Lesson code: NHJS-CI3B-A6LN-B INTERMEDIATE

1 Simple vs. continuous

Present simple
We use the present simple to talk about repeated actions or permanent situations in the present:
I always travel to work by car.
I live in Madrid. I sometimes play football on Sundays.

Present continuous
We use the present continuous to talk about actions happening now or around the present time:
I'm learning English at the moment.
I live in Madrid, but I'm staying in Barcelona this week.
Only verbs of action can be used in the continuous form, e.g. I'm working, she's singing, etc. Some
verbs such as believe, know, love are states, not actions. State verbs can normally only be used in
the simple form (I love, not I'm loving).
State verbs: want, like, love, hate, prefer, know, realise, understand, believe, remember, seem,
suppose, mean...
Some verbs can be action or state verbs, with a change in meaning:
STATES
I think you need to relax more. (= I believe, in my opinion)
I see that you are very tired. (= my observation)
She is stupid. (= her general character)
ACTIONS
What are you thinking about? (think = `use your brain')
`Where is Anne?' `I'm seeing her right now.' (= `I'm meeting her')
She is being stupid. (= `she is behaving in this way right now')

Dialogue
A: What do you do?
B: I'm a salesman. I live and work in Rome.
A: Interesting. So, what are you doing here in London?
B: I'm just visiting. I love this city.
LE

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex 1/4

AB

Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI

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 lingua house
TM
The present
Innovation in Learning

A A A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

2 Practice 1
Put the verbs in brackets in the present simple or present continuous:

1. I often (go) to work by bus.

2. Where (you/live)?
3. Be quiet! Paulina (study) for her exam.
4. Don't turn off the radio. I (listen) to it.
5. Tom (work) as an architect for a large firm in London. This month, his company
(design) a new office building for one of its main clients.
6. I usually (play) golf on Saturdays, but today I (play) tennis.
7. Pablo is a journalist - he (write) articles for a well-known newspaper. Right now, he
(write) about the economic situation in his country.
8. Look! Sarah (drink) a glass of wine. She (not/usually/drink) alcohol at
this time of day.

3 Practice 2
Watch the video. Answer the questions about each clip. To access the video, scan the code on the
right with your mobile device or click the link: http://linguahouse.com/r/2M.

go to school take notes drive kids to school examine a brochure

give classes look and turn make an omelette protect the public
walk down the street work as a chef work as a printer write on the board

1. What do they do? They go to school.

What are they doing? They are taking notes.

2. What does she do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What is she doing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. What does he do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What is he doing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4. What does he do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What is he doing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. What do they do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What are they doing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6. What does he do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What is he doing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LE

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex 2/4

AB

Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI

O
c
Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT
 lingua house
TM
The present
Innovation in Learning

A A A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Now answer the questions about you:

1. What do you do?

2. What are you doing?

4 Practice 3 - State verbs

Put the verbs in brackets in the present simple or present continuous:

1. We (need) to wait. I (not/know) how long.

2. I (not/like) this dress. I (prefer) that one.
3. I (not/understand) what that (mean). Can you explain it?
4. Janet (be) single. She (not/see) anyone at the moment.
5. Tom (think) of emigrating to Australia.
6. Right now, I (not/see) a problem. I (think) everything is fine.
7. Why (she/be) here? I (not/remember) inviting her.
8. I (see) that you (be) very busy at the moment. I'll come back later.
9. Don't use this tool. It (seem) to be broken.
10. (you/realise) what that (mean)?
11. You (be) normally a very polite person. Why (you/be) so rude right
now?
12. Josh (love) Alice. Unfortunately, Alice (not/think) much of him.

5 Practice 4
Complete the questions below using the present simple or present continuous. Then give true answers.

1. You / often / wear / jeans?

2. You / wear / jeans / right now?
3. It / often / rain / in your country?
4. It / rain / at the moment?
5. You / ever / work / on Saturdays?
6. You / work / today?
7. You / sometimes / think / about moving to another country?
8. You / think / about moving to another country / at the moment?
9. You / see / the dentist / this week?
10. You / sometimes / play / tennis?
11. You / play / tennis now?
LE

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex 3/4

AB

Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI

O
c
Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT
 lingua house
TM
The present
Innovation in Learning

A A A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

6 Present continuous with `always'

We often use the present continuous with always to talk about something that happens again and
again. The meaning is like the present simple, but it usually describes a habit that is irritating.
She's always talking about people behind their backs.
He's always arriving late.
I'm always losing my keys!

We can also use the present continuous with always to emphasise other repeated actions and
behaviour.
We're always looking for new employees. (= We often look for new employees)
I'm always reading something. (= I read very often)
Joe is a very generous person. He's always lending his friends money. (= he lends money to his
friends very often)

7 Practice 5
Complete the sentences below with a suitable verb and `always', like in the example.

forget browse buy eat look for

make misunderstand rain smile talk

1. Peter is always forgetting his keys. It's a real problem.

2. Anna on the phone. Her phone bill must be very expensive!
3. Jeff is a very cheerful person. He .
4. You'll need an umbrella. It in London.
5. Simon the Internet. He needs to get out of his room.
6. You what I say. Try to listen more carefully.
7. The company have too many customers, so they new staff.
8. Joe a chocolate bar. He really enjoys food!
9. You the wrong milk! I don't drink full-fat milk.
10. I the same mistakes! It's so irritating.

Do you have any habits that are irritating?

LE

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex 4/4

AB

Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI

O
c
Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT
 lingua house
TM
The present - Key
Innovation in Learning

A A A A ENGLISH GRAMMAR

2- Practice 1

1. go 2. do you live
3. is studying 4. am listening
5. works; is designing 6. play; am playing
7. writes; is writing 8. is drinking; doesn't usually drink

3- Practice 2

Play the video. To scan the QR code, you will need a QR code reader app installed on your mobile device and an
Internet connection. Alternatively, click the video link or play the downloaded file. Students can work individually
and check in pairs if done in the classroom.
2. She gives classes. She is writing on the board.
3. He works as a chef. He is making an omelette.
4. He works as a printer. He is examining a brochure.
5. They protect the public. They are walking down the street.
6. He drives kids to school. He is looking and turning.

4- Practice 3 - State verbs

1. need; don't know 2. don't like; prefer 3. don't understand; means

4. is;isn't seeing 5. is thinking 6. don't see; think
7. is she; don't remember 8. see; are 9. seems
10. Do you realise; means 11. are; are you being 12. loves; doesn't think

5- Practice 4

This exercise can be done in the form of a speaking activity. Students take turns to ask each other questions and
give answers.

1. Do you often wear jeans?

2. Are you wearing jeans right now?
3. Does it often rain in your country?
4. Is it raining at the moment?
5. Do you ever work on Saturdays?
6. Are you working today?
7. Do you sometimes think about moving to another country?
8. Are you thinking about moving to another country at the moment?
9. Are you seeing the dentist this week?
10. Do you sometimes play tennis?
11. Are you playing tennis now?

7- Practice 5

2. is always talking 3. 's always smiling 4. 's always raining

5. is always browsing 6. are always misunderstanding 7. are always looking for
8. is always eating 9. 're always buying 10. 'm always making
LE

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex i

AB

Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI

O
c
Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT