Unit 1.

Lesson B
The present tense, tend and will
To talk about current habits, you can use the simple present or the verb tend.
Mostly I call on my cell. I’m on the phone all the time. My friends don’t use IM.
Remember that when the subject of the verb is he, she, or it, the verb ends in -s. The negative
form is doesn't or does not.
My son tends to text. He doesn’t use IM.
The verb tend has two possible negative forms.
My son tends not to email. My son doesn't tend to email.
You can also use the modal verb will. Here, will does not have future meaning.
In conversation, will is often contracted to 'll after pronouns.
My son tends to text. He doesn’t use IM. Occasionally he’ll email someone.

You can use the present continuous for a “longer” activity that happens at the same time as
another habit.
When I’m traveling, I normally use my laptop to make calls.
You can use always and constantly with the present continuous for a habit that is noticeable or
more frequent than is usual.
My kids are constantly texting.
In conversation. People often use will / ’ll in statements to talk about their habits. Questions and
the negative forms will not / won’t are rarely used in this meaning.

Q How do you normally catch up with your friends? By phone?

A I don't tend to spend a lot of time on the phone. Mostly I catch up with my friends on Saturday
night. We'll go out for pizza or go to a movie or something. When my friends are working on the
weekend, we don't get together. So then we'll just call each other to catch up sometime on
Sunday or during the week.

Q How much time do you spend on your social networking site?

A Well, I tend to go on it at night when I get home from my classes. I'll update stuff and post
some photos, and I'll check out my friends' profiles. Sometimes I'll do it when I'm watching TV.

Q What do you mostly use your cell phone for? Texting?

A Yeah, I'm constantly texting my friends and sending them photos and stuff. I mean, I'll use my
phone to make appointments or call a store or something. But mostly when I'm trying to get hold
of my friends, I text.

Q Do you use a lot of emoticons – those little symbols – when you text?
A I use them occasionally. My mom is constantly sending them to me. It's funny. She'll send
little hearts, and smiley and sad faces.

Q How do you and your family tend to stay in touch?

A Well, with my grandparents we tend to video call. They live out of state, so they don't see us
very often. But for the rest of the family, we'll meet on the weekends, usually on Sundays. Then
my sister and I call almost every day.

Q How often do you use the Internet to make phone calls?

A Actually, I use it a lot now. It's cheaper, and it's convenient. I have an app on my phone so I
can use it anytime. When I'm traveling, I use it to call my parents.

Example
Classmate's post
"I tend to stay in touch with my college friends in person. We’ll meet after class or we’ll go out
on the weekends. We’re constantly texting each other to make arrangements. With my family, I
tend to call, especially my mom.  She likes to talk and when I’m away at college, we often call
each other over the Internet. She likes to see me as often as she can. My dad tends to email me. 
He doesn’t like to talk on the phone much!" 
Sample comment
"Don’t you use a social networking site?  I couldn’t live without mine! We couldn’t do without it
when we’re trying to make plans to go out."
Mostly I text my friends and family. My dad will text me when he's working late, for example,
and ask me to start dinner. Every once in a while he'll call when he needs to speak to me about
something. My sister and I are constantly texting each other, but she normally uses her social
networking site to contact her friends. However, with my professors I normally use email.
Grammar Extra
Frequency expressions
In the simple present, frequency adverbs usually go after the subject in affirmative statements
and after don’t and doesn’t in negative statements.
My sister rarely uses email.
She doesn’t often use a computer.
In the present continuous, frequency adverbs go after am, is, and are (not).
My kids are constantly texting.
They’re not always talking on the phone.
Frequency adverbs usually go after modal verbs, although other patterns are possible.
I’ll usually log on to my social network site after dinner.
These adverbs can go before the subject: sometimes, usually, often, normally, generally,
occasionally.
Occasionally my son will email a family member.
Longer expressions often go at the end of a sentence: once/twice a day, all the time, every once
in a while.
We talk on the phone twice a week.
Common errors: Don’t put an adverb between a verb and its object.
I often check my email late at night. (NOT I check often my email.)
State verbs
In general, use these verbs in the simple form – not the continuous form – when they describe
states: agree, believe, know, mean, like, love, hate, look, seem, feel, sound, and understand.
I know I don’t need a new phone, but I really want a red one.
“He doesn’t seem happy.”
“I agree. He looks a little upset today.”
What kind of music do you like? (NOT What kind of music are you liking?)

Some verbs have a different meaning in the simple and continuous forms: have, see, think.
Do you have any children?
but Are you having a nice time? (at a party)
I see the problem.
but I’m seeing someone right now.
What do you think of this class?
but You look happy. What are you thinking about?
In conversation: People often use love and like in the continuous to talk about news.
“I’m loving my new job.”

19/03/2022