Unit 1 – present tenses

It’s a good idea to compare and

contrast the present simple and
continuous to understand them
better.
Let’s look at:
1. When we use the present simple and continuous.
2. How we make sentences in the present simple.
3. How we make sentences in the present continuous.
4. Action and state verbs.

When do we use them?

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 Function: When do we use them?
present simple and present continuous

I live in Lisbon, but I’m staying with a friend in the countryside at the moment
because I’m repainting my apartment. I’m from the UK, so I usually visit my
parents in London every three months.

Look at what the present simple present continuous

woman says and for habits/repeated for actions happening
match the for permanent states for temporary states
actions now or around now
sentences in
bold to the uses. I live in Lisbon. I usually visit my I’m staying with a I’m repainting my
parents in London friend in the apartment.
every three countryside.
months.

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 Function: When do we use them?
present simple and present continuous

I live in Lisbon, but I’m staying with a friend in the countryside at the moment because I’m repainting my
apartment. I’m from the UK, so I usually visit my parents in London every three months.

present simple present continuous

for actions happening now
for permanent states for habits/repeated actions for temporary states
or around now

I live in London. I usually visit my parents I’m staying with a friend I’m repainting my
in London every three in the countryside. apartment.
months. Now Now

Look at the
timelines to help
three I’m staying with a friend.
you. months
I visit my parents. I’m repainting my apartment.

How do we make
sentences in these
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education      Gold Experience 2nd Edition B1 structures?
 Form: How do we make sentences?
Using the verb live in all the examples, complete the gaps in the tables.

present simple: positive present continuous: positive and negative

I/You/We/They live in Lisbon. I am/am not (’m/’m not)
He/She/It lives
_____________ in Lisbon. He/She/It is/is not (’s/isn’t)
______________________ living here.
You/We/They are/are not (’re/aren’t)
present simple: negative

I/You/We/They don’t live

__________________ in London. present continuous: question
Am
__________ I
He/She/It doesn’t live in London. (question
Is he/she/it living here?
_______
word)
present simple: question Are you/we/they

Do
___________ I/you/we/they
(question
live here?
word) Does
__________ he/she/it

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 Form: How do we make sentences?
Using the verb live in all the examples, complete the gaps in the tables.

present simple: short answers present continuous: short answers

I/you/we/they do.
___________________ I am.
Yes, he/she/it is.
he/she/it does. Yes,
you/we/they are.
___________________
I/you/we/they don’t.
No,
he/she/it doesn’t.
___________________ I am not/’m not.

is not/isn’t.
No, he/she/it ___________________

you/we/they are not/aren’t.

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 Form: How do we make sentences?
present simple: positive In the third present continuous: positive and negative
person we add I am/am not (’m/’m not)
I/You/We/They live in Lisbon.
-s/-es/-ies to the
He/She/It lives in Lisbon. verb. Be careful He/She/It is/is not (’s/isn’t) living here.
with spelling You/We/They are/are not (’re/aren’t)
present simple: negative
changes here. Careful
I/You/We/They don’t live in London. present continuous: question
with
He/She/It doesn’t live in London. Am I spelling of
This is the (question Is he/she/it the -ing
present simple: question infinitive of living here?
form.
word)
you/we/
(question Do I/you/we/they live
the verb Are
they
word) here?
without to. present continuous: short answers
Does he/she/it The present
I am. continuous
present simple: short answers
Yes, he/she/it is. follows the
I/you/we/they do. pattern
Yes, you/we/they are.
he/she/it does. verb to be
I am not/’m not. +
I/you/we/they don’t.
No, No, he/she/it is not/isn’t.
-ing.
he/she/it doesn’t.
you/we/they are not/aren’t.

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Things to consider…
We now know that in the positive in the third person (he/she/it), we add -s, -es, or -ies in the
present simple.
Add -s to the verb (most common).
e.g. She drives a car. He works in a bank.

drive + -s = drives work + -s = works

Add -es with verbs ending in -o, -ss, -ch, -sh, -x.
e.g. She does exercise. He catches the bus.
…but when do we add -s,
-es or -ies? It depends on
do + -es = does catch + -es = catches the spelling of the verb.
Look…
Change -y to -ies when the verb ends in a consonant + -y.
e.g. The baby cries a lot. She flies a lot for work.

cry – -y = cr + -ies = cries fly – -y = fl + -ies = flies

Action and state verbs…

consonant -y consonant -y

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 Action and state verbs
Look at what the boy
At the moment, I have a bad back, so I can’t go. says.

1. We do not use state verbs in continuous structures. They are always This sentence talks
in simple tenses. about a temporary
2. We can also use time expressions to describe actions happening now action, one that is
changing, but notice
or around now with state verbs in the present simple. that it is in the present
3. Some verbs can be state verbs or action verbs depending on the simple, not continuous.
This is because have in
context, e.g.
this context is a state,
I was thinking about Laura when she walked in. not an action verb.

Think here is an action verb. You can imagine the speaker’s brain
working.
I think he’s German. Let’s practise!
Think is a state verb here meaning the same as believe.
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 Practice activities
Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets to complete the gaps. Justify your choices.
get
1. I usually……………………..(get) take away for dinner in the evenings, but at the moment,

am/’m cooking
I…………………………….(cook) more.

are not/aren’t travelling

2. Sophia and Frederick……………………………………..(not travel) anymore. I saw them yesterday at the gym.
doesn’t have is/’s looking
3. Liz………………………………..(not have) a lot of work at the moment, so she………………………….(look) for other ways
to spend her time.

does your sister do

4. What……………………………………….(your Does she work
sister/do) for work? ……….................................(she/work) in fashion?

Are you performing am/’m taking

5. A: …………...........................(you/perform) at the moment? B: No. I……………………………(take) a break for
a couple of months.
cries is/’s crying
6. My baby sister……………………….(cry) all the time. In fact, she……………………………(cry) now!

Do your parents live

7. A: ……………………………………….(your don’t
parents/live) on the same street as you? B: No, they……………………….. .

doesn’t like
8. Ted………………………………..(not orders
like) meat. He usually………………….(order) vegetarian options when we go out.

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