lA

present simple and continuous, action and
non-action verbs
present simple: I live, he works, etc.
I I \vork in a bank. She studies Russian . l) 10 >))
\Ve do n 't have any pets. Jack doesn 't w ear glasses.
\Vhere d o you live:> Does your brother have a car?
2 She usually h a s cereal for breakfast.
I'm never late for \Vork.
\Ve only eat out about once a nlonth.
1 We use the present sin1ple for things that are ahvays true or
happen regularly.
• Re1nen1ber the spelling rules for third person singular, e.g.
lives, studies, ivatches.
• Use ASI (Auxiliary, Subject, Infinitive) or QUAS I
(Q uestion word, Auxiliary, Subject, Infinitive) to help you
vvith word order in questions. Do you knoiv David? What:
time does the filrn start?
2 \Ve often use the present si1nple \Vith adverbs of frequency,
e.g. usu.ally, nevet, or expressions of frequency, e.g. eve·1y day,
once a week.
• Adverbs of frequency go be.fore the main verb, and after be.
• Expressions of frequency usually go at the end of the
sentence or verb phrase.
present cont inuous: be+ verb+ -ing
A \V ho are you waiting for? lJ 11 >))
B I'm waiting for a fr iend.
A l s your sister still going ou t \virh Adam?
B N o, they broke up. She isn't going out \Vi th anyone at the
n1on1ent.
• \Ve use the present continuous (not the present s imple) for
actions in progress at the tin1e of speaking, e.g. things that
are happening now or around no\v. These are no rmally
temporary, not habitual actions.
• r~emember the spelling rules, e .g. livinB, Slu.dyina, Bettino.
• \Ve also use the present continuous for future arrange1nents
(see 1B).
action and non-action verbs
A \Vhat a r c you cooking:> (: 12 >))
B I'm 1naking pasta.
A Great! I love pas ta.
A What are you looking fo r?
B My car keys.
A I'll help you in a n1oment.
B But I need thcn1 nov.r!
• Verbs \Vhich describe actio n s, e.g. cook, niake, can be used
in the present s irnple or continuous. I'm makinB the lunch.
I usually niake the lunch at the iveekend.
• Verbs \vhich describe s t at es or feelings (not actions), e.g.
love, need, be, are 11on-action verbs. They are not usually
used in the present continuous, even if \Ve n1ean 'now'.
• Co1111non non-action verbs are a.Bree, be, believe, belon8,
depend,JorBet, hate, hear, know, like, love, rnatter, rnean, need,
p1·efet, realize, recoBn.ize, reme1nber, seern, suppose.
p Verbs than can be both action and non-action
A few verbs have an action and a non-action meaning,
e.g. have and think.
I have a cat now. = possession (non-action)
I can't talk now. I'm having lunch. = an action
I think this music's great. = opinion (non-action)
What are you thinking about?= an action

a Con1plete the sentences \ Vi th the present sirnple or b @ the correct forrn, present si1nple or continuous.
present continuous forn1s of the verbs in brackets. I don't believe I'rn not believinB that you cooked th is
We don't 80 to Chinese restaurants very often. (not go) meal yourself.
1 These days, nlost children too n1any fizzy 1 Come on, let's order. The \vaiter comes / is corning.
drinks. (have) 2 Kate doesn't ivant / isn't 1vantin8 to have dinne r no\v.
2 yo u _ _ _ _ anyvita1ninsatthe She isn't hungr y.
n1on1ent ? (take) 3 The head chef is i 11, so he doesn't 1.vork / isn't 1vorkin.g
3 Don't eat that spinach if you _ ___ it. (not like) today.
4 your boyfriend ho'v to cook 4 The bi 11 see1ns /is seerninB very high to n1e.
fish? (know) 5 \Ve've had an argun1ent, so we don't speak/
5 We _ _ __ takea\vay pizzas during the \veek. (no t get) aren't speaking to each other at the moment.
6 What you r nlother ? Tt s1nel ls 6 My mum thinks J is thinkina 111y diet is awful these days.
great! (n1ake) 7 Do ive need J Are ive needing to go shopping today?
7 You look sad. \Vhat _ ___ you _ _ __ 8 Can l call you back? I have / I'm having lunch right no,v.
abo ut? (thi nk) 9 1 didn't use to like oily fish, bur no'v I love/ l'1n lovinB it!
8 T he diet in 1ny country _ _ _ _ v.rorsc. (get) 10 \\t hat do y ou cook/ are you cookin.g? It sn1ells delicious!
9 Hov.1 often you seafood? (ear)
~ p.7
I 0 T_ _ _ _ usually _ _ __ fish. (not cook)
6 GRAMMAR
present simple and continuous, action and non-action verbs
a 1 9 l)) Listen again to son1e of the th ings S teve said. ~ the form of the
verb he uses.
1 T his \.veek for example I cook / l'rn cook in fl nearly every day. \Ve usuall)' close /
are usuall)1closing on S undays and t-.1ondays, but this Monday is a pub Iic
holiday.
2 T he British a l ~1ays say/ are saying t hat everything is lovely.
3 Actually, I think Tprefer / I arn pref errirzB that honesty, because it helps us to
know \.Vhat people Ii ke.
4 Unfort unately, I t hink the)' Bet / they're BettinB \Vorse. People eat / are eating
n1ore unhealthily.
b \Vith a partner, say \vh y yo u think he has chosen each forn1 .
c > p.132 Grammar Bank lA. Learn n1ore abou t the present simple and the
present conti nuous , and practise thern.

d M ake questions to ask your par tner \Vith the present sin1ple or continuous.
Ask for n1ore in formation.
On a tvpical
, dav
, 1\t the n1omcnt / no,vadays
- What / usually have fo r breakfast? - / need to buy any food today?
- / drin k Coke o r fi zzy drinks? Ho\v - / \vant anything to eat r ight no,v?
rnany glasses / drin k a day? What.?
- \Vhere / usually have lunch? - / take vitarnins or food
- \Vhat / usually have fo r lunch su pplements at the n1oment?
during the \Veek? - / tr y to cut do\.vn on anyt hing at the
- / ever cook? \Vhat / make? rnornent?
/ prefer eating at hon1e or eating - / the d iet in your co untry/ get
o ut? better or \.Vorse?

7 SPEAKING

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

1 Men are better cooks than women.
2 Both boys and girls should lea rn to cook at school.
3 Cheap restaurant s usua lly serve bad food.
4 On a night out with friends, where and w hat you eat isn't important.
5 Not all f ast food is unhealthy.
6 Every country thin ks that their cuisine is the best in the worl d.

a ti 13 l)) Listen topeople d iscussing sentence l. \Vho do yo u agree with

t\VO
more , the man or the won1an? Why?

b 14l)) Listen to the phrases in the Useful la11g11age box . Copy t he intonation.

p Useful language: Giving your opinion (1)

For example...
I agree. I'm not sure.
I don't agree. (I think) it depends. In my opinion ...

c In sn1all g ro u ps, say \v hat you think about sentences 2-6. Try to use the
Usef11l lang11age phrases .
lA GRAMMAR present simple and continuous,
action and non-action verbs

0 ~tl1e correct form of the verbs. Complete the dialogue with the correct
Pavel What 1do you study I ~-e-y_o_u~s.,..tu_d.,_y.,..in-$) form of the verbs: present simple or present
.
continuous.
Elvira Humanities.
Maggie Hello Jo, what a surprise! What
Pavel 2 1do I I'm doing Fine Arts. Where 1 are you doinB (do) here?
3 do you come I are you coming from?

Jo The same as you probably!

Elvira I'm from Madrid, in Spain. 21 (buy) a few
Pavel And how many hours of classes things for dinner.
4
do you have I are you having a week? Maggie How are t hings? Are you still working
Elvira 5 lt depends I It 's depending on the at the same place?
week, but usually about 20 hours. Jo Yes, but I 3_ _ _ __ __
6 Do you know I Are you knowing about
(not like) it very much. My boss
the party tonight? 4 (depend) on me
Pavel 1
Do you mean I Are you meaning for everyt hing. The worst thing is that
the one for new students? I can't go, she always 5 (get)
because 81get ready I I'm getting ready the credit and I 6_ __ _ __ _
to move into my flat tomorrow. (do) all the work!
Elvira Where 9do you live I are you living at Maggie That 7_ _ _ __ _ _ (sound)
the moment? t errible. s you
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ (have to) go back
Pavel 1stay I I'm staying in a student
10

hostel. to work this afternoon?

Elvira What 1'do you do I are you doing on Jo No, I only work until lunchtime on
Sunday afternoons? If you 12want I Fridays because I always
are wanting, we could meet and look 9 (have) lunch with
my f riend Paula. She 10_ __ __ _
around the city.
(not work) on Fridays, so we usually
Pavel I'm busy in the afternoon, but what 11 (meet) at
about Sunday morning? t hat nice little Italian restaurant
Elvira Fine. Where shall we meet? in town. 12 you
____ _ __ (want) to come?
Maggie I'd love to but I 1" - - - - -- -
(need) to get home. My sister
1
4
(stay) with us
for a few days. Some other t ime!

G Practise the dialogues in a with a partner.

English File 3rd edition Teacher's Book Intermediate Photocopiable ©Oxford University Press 2013
lA COMMUNICATIVE Spot the difference
Student A
Describe your restaurant picture to B. Find five differences. Mark the five differences in your
.
restauran t picture.

Res auran --

~[-

- - --- - - - ----- - - ----------------------------------------- - ----

Student B
Describe your kitchen picture to A. Fi11d five differe11ces. Tv1ark the five d ifferences in your
kitcl1e11 picture.

Res auran

II" .- •
-L~,
---- -

\ I '.

'' ''

English File 3rd edition Teacher's Book Intermediat e Photocopiable © Oxford Universit y Press 2013
 2 Ways of working
A Working hours
‘I’m an office worker in an insurance company. It’s a
nine-to-five job with regular working hours. I need my swipe
card to get into the office. The work isn’t very interesting, but
I like to be able to go home at a reasonable time.’
Note

Note
You can also say clock BrE: flexitime
in and clock out. AmE: flextime

‘I’m in computer programming. There’s a system of flexitime

in my company, which means we can work when we want,
within certain limits. We can start at any time till 11, and Swiping a card
finish as early as 3 – as long as we do enough hours each
month. It’s ideal for me as I have two young children.’
‘I work in a car plant. I work in shifts and I have to clock on and clock off at the beginning
and end of every shift. I may be on the day shift one week and the night shift the next
week. It’s difficult changing from one shift to another. When I change shifts, I have problems
changing to a new routine for sleeping and eating. When the company is selling lots of cars,
they ask us to work overtime – more hours than usual for more money.’
‘I’m a commercial artist in an advertising agency. Unlike most other people in my
department who commute to work every day, I work from home and avoid the long
journeys that some commuters experience every day. That’s the benefit of teleworking or
telecommuting – working from home and using the computer and phone to communicate
with other people.’

B Nice work if you can get it

All these words are used in front of job and work.
satisfying, stimulating, fascinating, exciting – the work is interesting and gives you
positive feelings
dull, boring, uninteresting, unstimulating – the work is not interesting
repetitive, routine – the work involves doing the same things again and again
tiring, tough, hard, demanding – the work is difficult and makes you tired

C Nature of work
+ noun
human contact
long hours
My work involves teamwork
I like / dislike / prefer / enjoy + -ing
working with figures
dealing with customers
solving problems

12 Business Vocabulary in Use Intermediate

 Exercises
2.1 Look at the six expressions (a–f) from A opposite. Which person (1–6) is most likely to do each
of the things described?
a work in shifts 1 A designer in a website design company. Has to be in the office,
b work under but can decide when she wants to start and finish work each day.
a flexitime 2 A manager in a department store in a large city. Lives in the
system country.
c telecommute 3 A construction worker on a building site where work goes on
d commute to 24 hours a day.
work 4 A worker in a chocolate factory in the three months before
e clock in and out Christmas.
at the same time 5 A technical writer for a computer company. Lives in the country
every day and visits the company offices once a month.
f work overtime 6 An office worker in a large, traditional manufacturing company.
2.2 Look at the words and expressions in B and C opposite. Five people describe their jobs. Match
the jobs (1–5) with the descriptions (a–e) and put the words in brackets into the correct
grammatical forms.

1 accountant 2 postwoman 3 flight attendant 4 software developer 5 teacher

a ‘Obviously, my work involves (travel) a lot. It can be quite physically

(demand), but I enjoy (deal) with customers, except when
they become tired and anxious about arriving. This doesn’t happen often, but it can be very
frustrating for us and the other passengers.’
b ‘I love my job. It’s very (stimulate) and not at all (repeat): no
two days are the same. The children are fine: you see them learn and develop. The parents can be
more of a problem.’
c ‘I was good at maths at school and I like (work) with figures. But my job
is much less (bore) and routine than people think. The work
(involve) a lot of human contact and teamwork, working with other managers.’
d ‘You’ve got to think in a very logical way. There’s a lot of teamwork between the developers.
The work can be mentally (tire), but it’s very satisfying to write a program
that works.’
e ‘Of course, it involves getting up quite early in the morning. But I like (be) out in
the open air. And you get a lot of exercise. I walk two or three miles every day.’

Over to you
If you work, answer these questions.
• Do you have a nine-to-five job? Do you have
to clock on and off? Is there a flexitime
system in your organization? Are there people
who do shiftwork in your company?
• Could you do your job working from home? If
so, would you like to?
• What do you like most about your job?
What do you like least?
If you don’t work, answer these questions.
• What sort of working hours would you like
to have when you start working?
• Would you like to work from home?
• What kind of job would you like? Complete
this sentence in five ways to talk about
yourself.
I’d like a job that involves …

Business Vocabulary in Use Intermediate 13