9.1 The simple present and present progressive tenses (1), 9.1C Stative and dynamic verbs [> LEG 9.3, App 38) Study: | 1 We call a few verbs like love stative because they refer to ‘states’. A state has no beginning and no end. We dor't ‘control’ it, so we don't normally use stative verbs in progressive tenses: ‘She loves her baby more than anything. (Not “is loving’) 2 Most verbs in English are dynamic, We can use them in two ways: = in the simple present tense to describe habits, etc. [> 9.18): ! often make cakes. — in the present progressive to describe deliberate actions in progress f> 9.28]: I'm making a cake. 3 We can describe three classes of verbs: a Dynamic verbs which have simple or progressive forms (most verbs in English): Joften listen to records. (simple present tense) I'm listening to a record. (present progressive tense) b Verbs which are always stative: This coat belongs to you. (simple present tense) (Not “is belonging’) ¢ Verbs that have stative or dynamic uses: 'm weighing myselt. (a deliberate action: present progressive tense) I weigh 65 kilos. (a state) (Not “I'm weighing 65 kilos.*) 4 There are five groups of stative verbs referring to: a feelings (like, love, etc.); b thinking/believing (think, understand, etc.) ¢ wants (want, prefer, etc.) d perception (hear, see, etc. [> 11.2B]) e being/having/owning (appear, seem, belong, etc. [> 10.4) Tick the sentences that are right. Cross out the verbs that are wrong and correct them. Ya You're never ill. envy you. ¥ 1b You're never ill.'m envying you 2a | understand English well, 2b I'm understanding English well. 3a You're knowing what | mean. 3b You know what I mean. —_ 4a Is he seeming unfriendly? __ 4b Does he seem unfriendly? _ 5a I prefer fish to meat. _ 5b I'm preferring fish to meat. 6a Do you see that bird over there? _ 6b Are you seeing John tomorrow? _ 7a Why is he smelling his coffee? __ 7b Something smells strange. _ 8a She's weighing herself again. 8b She weighs 75.5 kilos. _ 91D Context Write: Put in the simple present or the present progressive tenses. CHOMP CHAMP! ‘(you sit) .. Ate. yt. Ad... comfortably? Good! | (hope) you *(study) this text carefully because | “(have) news for you. The Guinness Book of Records “(not include) records for eating any more. People who &(t1y) to swallow 47 hard boiled eggs in half a minute will have to do it for pleasure and not to get into the record book. ‘We "(regard) .. these records as unhealthy,’ said the book's editor, Mr Donald McFarlan. However, one record-holder will remain. He is Michel Lotito of Grenoble (‘Monsieur Mangetout'). Since 1966, he has chomped his way through 10 bicycles, 7 TV sets and a light aircraft. He's likely to remain world champ, unless you "(wanf) .. 10 challenge him, of course! aa RE 1239 Verbs, verb tenses, imperatives 9.2 9.2A Study: @ Write: 9.2B Write: 124 The simple present and present progressive tenses (2) ‘Spelling: how to add ‘-ing’ to a verb: ‘wait/waiting’ [> LEG 9.10] | 1 We add -ing to most verbs, without changing the base form: waivwaiting: Walt forme. + | am waiting for you. | 2 fa verb ends in -e, omit the -e and add -ing: use/using: Use a broom. + lam using a broom. 3 A single vowel followed by a single consonant doubles the final consonant: sisitting: ‘Sit down, — lam sitting down. [> compare 6.54] 4 We double the last consonant of two-syllable verbs when the second syllable is stressed: begin/belginning. Compare the unstressed final syllable: ‘iffer/‘differing: Begin work. — Iam beginning work. 5 -icchanges to ~ick: picnic/picnicking; -ie changes to -y: lie/lying: Lie down. Iam lying down. ‘Add -ing to the verbs in these sentences. 1 I'm mtg the beds. (make) 4 I'm always....... things. (forget) 7 I'm... the 9.04. (catch) 2PM soon a SaNdWICh, (@at) 5 FM... 0 My Coat. (PUt) BUM nn Of thirst, (die) 3PM none aletter. (write) 6 I'M... abroad. (travel) 9 Tm nnn YOUr Cae. (carry) Uses of the present progressive tense: ‘I am worl [> LEG 9.11] ig/he is working’ There are four basic uses of the present progressive tense. We use it for: 1 Actions in progress at the moment of speaking: He's working at the moment. 2 Temporary situations/actions, not necessarily in progress at the moment of speaking: My daughter is studying English at Durham University. 3 Planned actions (+ future adverbial reference): We're spending next winter in Australia. 9.94) 4 Repeated actions with adverbs lke always, forever. She's always helping people. Use the present progressive in the sentences below. b Number the sentences 1, 2, 3 or 4 to show uses of the present progressive. Don't rush me. .f. ce rng 0. What ._ as fast as I can. (Vwork) 7 Itlooks awful. (you/drink) to see the boss. (She/still wait) to catch his train. (He/hurry) ~aren't you? Calm down! (You/constantly/panic) more and more politically aware these days. (Young people/become) _ nowadays? (Johnido) ~ ... for the British cycle team. (He/ride) wee Our holiday here very much, (Welenjoy) ‘people by asking personal questions. (He/alwaysiupset) senna tomorrow? (he/artive) to lock the front door. (Shefforeveriforget) .. tteatment on my bad back for a tew weeks, (have) sve (He/alwaysilie) "the 1,500 metres in the next Olympics. (She/run) What... 10 What time 13 You can't believe a word he says.9.2 The simple present and present progressive tenses (2) 9.2C The simple present and the present progressive tenses in typical Write: 9.2D Write: contexts [> LEG 9.12} a Use the correct present tense form, b Say what the context for each extract could be, written andlor spoken. 1 Let me explain what you have to do. First you (take) Athe......... the photos and (sort) BFE soe, HEM into categories. Then you (fle) them according to subject. 2 We (hope) «ne you (enjoy) oe this marvellous weather as much as we are. We (sunbathe) and (go) swimming every day. Next week we (go) snorkelling. 3. The play is set in London in 1890. The action (take) .. sw place in Sir Don Wyatt's mansion. When the curtain (go) .. up, the hero and heroine (sit)... in the lounge. They (argue) Context 4 The house is in a mess because we've got the workmen in. The plumber (put) ssenmnnnennes MW bath, the electricians (FeWite) ..nennsenn hE system, and the carpenter (build)... us some new bookshelves! 5 Dear Jane, Sorry to hear about your problem at work 1 (think) you (do) .. the right thing, but | (doubt) : whether your boss really (Know)... his job from what you (tell)... . me! 6 Pym (pass) su to Smith, who (CUM) sso straight at the central defence and (shoot) soos aN Gomez (push)... it over the bar for a corner. Put in the simple present or present progressive. Note where both forms are possible. L(study)\.aan, (open) * (ask)’. you. | (miss) ".... ‘The strangest bookmarks! the moment and I (work) @ have this job. | (not have to) interesting work because people (always come in) ®. lot about different subjects. | (enjoy) ® it very amusing, too. People (use) " the strangest things as bookmarks. | have found a rasher of bacon (uncooked!). Matchsticks (be) *.... bus tickets. My colleagues (always find) _ things too ~ even a £10 note, but | haven't been so lucky! {often (think) "...usnnnsnne which I found. On the back were the words: 'I (love) ".. A HOLIDAY JOB WITH A DIFFERENCE! English at Exeter University. I'm on holiday at in a public library. I'm lucky to get up early. The library at7. It's and me to help them, so I (earn) *. a the job and (find) at 10 and (close) * ‘common and so (be) . of the photo of a beautiful woman ... you and I'l never forget you.” 125