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5 Present continuous or simple?
PRESENT CONTINUOUS We use the present continuous for something happening now. / am speaking to you live means that Kitty is in the middle of a live broadcast. Here are some more examples. It's raining at the moment. I'm watching this programme. Look. That man is taking a photo of you.
PRESENT SIMPLE We use the present simple for repeated actions. / often speak live to the camera means that she does it again and again.
It always rains at the weekend. I watch television most weekends. He's a photographer. He takes lots of photos.
B Thoughts, feelings and states
We normally use the present simple to talk about thoughts and feelings. / think it's a good programme. Kitty likes her job. We also use it to talk about states (see Unit 7) and permanent facts. Reporting means a lot to her. Paper burns easily. We also use the present simple in I promise, I agree, I refuse, etc. I promise I'll write to you. It's all right. I forgive you.
C Temporary or permanent?
PRESENT CONTINUOUS We use the present continuous for a routine or situation that we see as temporary (for a short period). I'm working at a sports shop for six weeks. At the moment they're living in a very small flat.
D Always
PRESENT CONTINUOUS We can use always with the present continuous to mean 'very often', usually with the added meaning of too often'. Tom is always inviting friends here. (= He invites them very often.) I'm always making silly mistakes. (= I make silly mistakes too often.)
PRESENT SIMPLE We use the present simple for a routine or situation that we see as permanent.
/ work at a sports shop. It's a permanent job. They live in a very nice flat.
PRESENT SIMPLE Always with the present simple means 'every time'.
Tom always invites us to stay at Christmas. (= He invites us every Christmas.) / always make silly mistakes in exams. (= I make mistakes in every exam.)
5 Exercises
1 Present continuous or simple? (A-B)
At work Mark is talking to Alan in the corridor. Complete their conversation. Put in the present continuous or simple of the verbs. Mark: (►) Are you looking (you / look) for someone? Alan: Yes, (►) / need (I / need) to speak to Neil. He isn't in his office. Mark: (1)……………………………. (he / talk) to the boss at the moment. (2)…………………………….. (I / think) (3)…………………………… (they / discuss) money. Alan: Oh, right. And what about you? (4)…………………………….. (you / look) for someone too? Mark: Yes, Linda. (5) ......................................... (you / know) where she is? Alan: Oh, she isn't here today. She only (6) (work) four days a week. (7) ................ (she / not / work) on Fridays. She'll be here on Monday. Mark: Thank you. (8) .......................................... (you / know) a lot about Linda. Alan: Well, most days (9) ....................................... (I / give) her a lift, or(10) ............... (she / give) me one. (11) ……………………..(she / live) quite close to me. (12) ....................................... (it / save) petrol. Mark: Yes, of course. Good idea. Yes, (13) ........................................ (1/ agree). Well, (14) ........... ............... (I / waste) my time here then. I'll get back to my computer.
2 Present continuous or simple? (A-C)
Complete the sentences. Put in the present continuous or simple of the verbs. ► I'm writing (I / write) to my parents. / write (I / write) to them every weekend. 1 ....... (it / snow) outside. ......................................... (it / come) down quite hard, look. 2 Normally ....................... (I / start) work at eight o'clock, but .................. (I / start) at seven this week. We're very busy at the moment. 3 I haven't got a car at the moment, so ........................................... (I / go) to work on the bus this week. Usually .............................. (I / drive) to work. 4 The sun ....................... (rise) in the east, remember. It's behind us so ........ (we / travel) west. 5 I'm afraid I have no time to help just now .......................................... (I / write) a report. But ....................... (I / promise) I'll give you some help later. 6 .................. (I / want) a new car ............................................ (I / save) up to buy one.
3 Always (D)
Complete the sentences. Use always and the present continuous or simple. ► Melanie: Tom talks too much, doesn't he? Rita: Yes, and he's always talking about football. ► Laura: You forget your keys every time. Trevor: I try to remember them, but / always forget. 1 Claire: Sarah takes the train every day, doesn't she? Mark: Yes, ..................................................................................................................... the train. 2 Vicky: Rachel misses lectures much too often in my opinion. Emma: I agree. .............................................................................................................. lectures. 3 Mike: Every time I drive along here, I go the wrong way. Harriet: But it's very simple, isn't it? Why ......................... the wrong way? 4 David: Trevor and Laura argue much too often, I think. Melanie: I know ....................................................................................................................................
10 Exercises
1 Past continuous or simple? (A-B)
David is always having accidents. His girlfriend Melanie is talking about some of the accidents. Write her sentences from these notes. Each sentence has one verb in the past continuous and one in the past simple. ? when / he / carry / a suitcase / he / drop / it / on his foot When he was carrying a suitcase, he dropped it on his foot. ? he / break / his leg / when / he / ski He broke his leg when he was skiing.
1 he / sit down / on a chair / while / I / paint / it
2 as / he / run / for a bus / he / collide / with a lamppost
3 his hair / catch / fire / when / he / cook / chips
4 when / he / hold / a beautiful vase / he / suddenly / drop / it
5 he / sit / in the garden / when / a wasp / sting / him / on the nose
2 Past continuous or simple? (A-B)
Put in the correct form of the verb. Rita: I hear the lights (►) went (go) out in your flats last night. Emma: Yes, (►) / was watching (I / watch) a documentary on TV when suddenly (1)……….. ........................ (we / lose) all the power. But (2)…………………………...(it / come) on again after about ten minutes. Vicky: Rachel (3)…………………………… (come) down the stairs when the lights (4)…………………………… (go) out. She almost (5)…………………………. (fall) over. Daniel: Matthew and I (6)……………………. .........(play) table tennis at the time. Andrew: (7)………………................. (I / work) on the computer. (8) (I / lose) a whole hour's work. But this morning (9) (I/get) up early and (10)……………………… (do) it again.
3 Past continuous or simple? (A-C)
Find the second part of each sentence. Put each verb into the correct form. ? Vicky (have) a beautiful dream when she (touch) the wire. ? When Andrew (see) the question, when I (find) a £10 note in it.
1 The train (wait) when the alarm clock (ring). 2 I (read) a library book the crowd (rush) in. 3 Sarah (have) an electric shock he (know) the answer immediately. 4 When the doors (open), they (see) that the sun (shine). 5 When the campers (wake), when we (arrive) at the station. ? Vicky was having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang. ? When Andrew saw the question, he knew the answer immediately. 1 2
3 .................................................................................................................................................... 4 ...........................................................................................................................
