Grammar: present tenses

he goes / he's going

Compare the present simple and present continuous:

He goes to the beach every Sundoy. He\ going to the cinema now.
We usually use these verbs (state verbs) in the present simpte- not in the
present continuous believe, hote, know, like, love, need, remember, understand,
want: I don't understand. (Not I' m net anderstatdiry.)

P For a list of some common state verbs, see Appendix 8, poge t7o.

Z Match the questions and answers.

o Do they often change their website? n a Yes, I am.

r Are Rob and Alex waiting for us? T b No, I don't.

2 Do you have breakfast every day? x c Yes, he is.
j Are you working? tr d No, he doesn't.

4 Does he live in London? n e Yes, they are.

5 ls Paul using the computer? ! f No, they don't.

3gb Choose and complete the sentences.

o Hannah usually ..........99H very healthy food, but she .......?.g.q!.i.!.9........ u

big bar of chocolate at the moment. (eats, 's eating)

r He in the studio now. He sometimes ............. there
in the mornings. (works,'s working)
2 | can't see very wetl because | ....... ..... my glasses. | .............
them allthe time. (don't wear, 'm not wearing)
j No, | ....... ..... TV at the moment. | ............. this programme
every day. (don't watch,'m not watching)

4 We often in the park, but we by the river

now. (run,'re running)

5 They every match, of course, and they ............ now.

(don't win, aren't winning)

63
*tr Grammar: present tenses

lpc Circle the correct answer.

o @tnre you wanting a magazine?
r Mark's in that shop. He looks for /He's looking forsome trainers.
2 Kate doesn't like /Kate isn't liking oranges.

3 They're at the supermarket. They get /They're getting some milk and eggs.

4 What's this? What do you reod /are you reading?

S You're lying! I don't believe /|m not believing youl

39d Comptete the conversations. Use the present simple or present continuous of the
verbs in brackets.
A: (o) ....D..o..9: .y.9.!9!!.e..!.9... (Natalie / do) any sport?
B: Yes - swimming and running. She's at the pool now. She (r)
(have) a swimming lesson.

A: My dad isn't at work today, so he (z) .......... ...... (help) me with my

computer project.
B: Lucky you! My dad (t) . (not know) anything about
computers, so he never (+) .......... ...... (hetp) me!

A: (s) .......... ...... (you / look) for this?

B: Oh yes! Thanks. I usuatty (6) . (keep) it in my bag.

39e Complete the e-mail. Use the present simple or present continuous of the verbs
in brackets.

Hi, Sophie!
How are things? How are your mum and dad? | miss you
| (0) . ...l:i!:g. .... (like) Brighton - it's very lively. we
(l) .. .... (not live) very near the sea, but our house is
nice.
Mathew and Laura's new school is all right. They (2) ..
(get) a lot of homework and they (3) .. .... (have) a lot of
tests - one every week. They (4) .. ... (hate) that!
Dad's new job
is good. He's at home more. At the moment he
(5) .. .... (paint) the kitchen. Laura (6)
(make) a cake and Matthew (7) .. .... (play) in the garden.
It's nice and quiet here!
How are you? (8) .. (you / need) a holiday near the
sea? Come and see us soon!
Love,
Bryony

6q
ChgCk 6 Present simple or present continuous
Complete the sentences. Use the present Circle the correct answer.
continuous of the verbs in brackets. r3 A: Who do you talk / are you talking to?
1 .......... lunch? B: Lucy. She's in town.
(Mark / have)
t4 A: There are some cheap T-shirts here.
2 David in the B: I don't need / l'm not needing any
library. (work) T-shirts at the moment.
3 Lisa ........ .. the r5 A: ls that a nice caf6?
computer. (not use) B: Yes. We go /We're going there every
4 Emma and Kate day.
in the cafeteria. (sit) 16 A: Do you understand /Are you
5 to music? un d erstan d i n g question 5?
(you I listen) B: No.

6 | ............. something for 17 A: ls Luke ready?

my History project. (read) B: No, not yet. He gets / He's getting
r dressed.
= l-;'
Complete the conversation. Use the p;;;;;i r8 A: ls this a good present for Jack?
continuous of the verbs in the box B: No! He hates / He's hoting iazz.
-cooii r9 A: Why are you laughing / do you laugh?
i do mlt not watch piinf *Ttcrr-l
B: Read this article in the paper!
A: What (Z) .......... you .................... ?
zo A: Are they good friends?
Are you busy?
B: Yes. They do /They're doing
B | (8) ........ some
everything together.
spaghetti. I'm hungry. Do you want some?
A No, thanks. ls Joe here?
Yes. He and Ben are in the sitting room.
i !P"
ii;i;i;"--7 i.-l
B
A (q) .......... they....... a DVD?
B Yes, they are. Sarah and Nina are there
too, but they (ro)
it. Sarah (rt) ......... i glf- cir s cjt
something for the school play.
A (tz) ........ Nina .................... her? Exercise 37
B No, she isn't. Nina can't paint at all. Exercise 38

i Is: 73,14,75,7 6,tT, i Unit39

t8,19,20
Exercise 39

Now do Check 6

65
 Grammar: present tenses ' ,

Present simple or present continuous

Compare the present simple and present continuous:
He usuolly goes to the cinema on Saturdays, but todoy he3 staying in.

mffia Circle the correct answer.

o Why do you wear I re you weann coat? lt's hot today.

t Do tigers live I Are tigers living in Africa?

2 We hove f 're having abig party in the garden every
summer.
j I don't eot f 'm not eating a lot of chocotate because
it's bad for you.
4 Listen, I think someone calls I 's colling us.

5 This month they make f 're making a new film starring

Johnny Depp.
6 She usuatly goes I is going to see her cousins once a
month.

7 Martha cooks f 's cooking lunch at the moment.

8 Fitm stars usually buy I are usually buying their clothes
at expensive shops.

e8b Comptete the conversation. Use the present simple or present continuous of the
verbs in brackets.
Lisa: potty! What a surprise! What (o) .....9.19..y9.y.!.9.i.!.9..... (you / do) here in York?
Polty: Hi, Lisa! | (r) ......... ....... (buy) a new guitar. Do you remember the
band I'm in? well, we (z) . (ptay) at the sports ctub in
Hathern every SaturdaY night.
Lisa: Great! That's fantastic!
Polty: Yes. What about you? What (f) ........ (you / do) these days?
Lisa: | (+) ........ (stitl / study) architecture - this is my final year.
At the moment | (S) ........ (work) in an architect's office to
get some work experience. Listen, I sometimes (6)
. (go)
home to Hathern at the weekend. Can I come and listen to you and your
group?
Potly: Of course! There's a great atmosphere at the club! Everyone knows the
songs and people (z) . (dance) too. We usually
(8) .......... ...... (start) playing at eight o'clock.
Lisa: l'il definitely see you soon, then, Potty!

rfl
45
I ii Grammar: present tenses

State verbs
State verbs describe states, not actions. We usually use them in the present simple, not
the present continuous. Here are some common state verbs:
* attitude verbs: like, Iove, hate, wont, prefer, need, wish: I like this soup. I need some
coffee right now.
+ mentat/thinking verbs: believe, think, know, remember, understand: He thinks l'm
French. l'm sorry, I don't understond.
+ sense/perception verbs: heor, see, smell, toste: Do you see that man over there?
+,i others: be, have (= 'posse ss'), belong, own, cost, meon: That book belongs to Jim.

S** Circle the correct answer.

s{1 s
Dear Anne,
We(0)have/@afantasticho|iday.We(1)stay/,restayingin
a villa in Tuscany. lt (2) belongs /'s belonginglo Ciuseppe, a friend of
my father's, and it (3) has /'s having a big swimming pool. Ciuseppe
(4) makes / 's making dinner at the moment and it (5) s mells /
's smelling really good. | (6) love /'m loving ltalian food!

| (7) don't know /'m not knowing how long we can stay here, but we
(8) don't want / aren't wanting to leave, that's for sure!
Tessa

.;;+;iilr Complete the conversations. Use the present simple or present continuous of the
verbs in brackets.
o A: | ..........!!.119. that ring. ls it new? (like)
B: lt's not mine. lt.......p.9.!9!.9.?........1o my grandmother. (belong)
r A: What's up? You . (not dance)
B: lt's this music. | .............. salsa. (hate)
2 A: I met Paolo today. He says you ......... ... him. (know)
B: Paolo? | .............. anyone called Paolo. (not remember)
3 A: What in my room? (you / do)
B: You my dictionary and | .............. it. (have, need)
A | .............. that's Jack over there. (think)
B Where? I .............. him. (not see)
A an e-mailto ,|enny? (he / write)
B Yes. He to invite her to his party. (want)

I+6
Chgck 6 Present tenses
Circle the correct answer. Complete the article. Use the present simple or present
continuous of the verbs in the box.
r He doesn't understand I isn't
unde rstan d in g when peo p [e , go not have try want work '

speak quickty.
z Can you be quiet? We try I 're Life's very busy for Betinda Lee these days. At the
trying to do some work. moment she [11) .. ... on a new f iLm with Oscar
3 They have f 're having a meeting winner Tom McCail.. She [12] .. .. much time
every Tuesday. to relax, but she 113) . .... to the gym every day
and she always t14l . .... to see her f riends at
4 Does Ellie wont I ls Ellie wonting
to come with us tonight? the weekend.

5 Do you read I Are you reading

She and her husband [15] ..... to sel.[ their
house because they're going to move to Hotlywood next
anything at the moment?
year. We wish them lots of Iuckl

Write sentences. Use the present

simple or present continuous.
ls
6 Excuse me. what time / the
+ Complete tfr. qu.r,ions. Use the present simple or present
continuous of the verbs in brackets.
museum / close / on Sundays?
t6 .......... .. to watch a DVD? (you / want)
77 Listen. Why ....... ..... a funny noise?
(my computer / make)
7 Listen! someone i sing / a song
r8 dinner? I'm hungry. (mum / cook)
79 ls that Paul's car? Or to his dad?
people / not eat / late at night in (it / betong)
Britain 20 Why....... ..... up posters everywhere?
(those people / put)

ls
she / carry / a briefcase / to work
every day Total: I zo

I can't find my glasses. you I sit I

on them?
,t. 6,. 8, 9, t3, !4 Unit z6 Exercise z6
7,!o,7r,77, Unit z7 , Exercise z7
t8,20
2,3, 5 Unit z8 Exercise z8
!, 41 72,75, 76, Unit z9 Exercise z9
t9
ri:;
.r't"''
a:1tr.

47
 Present tenses
Present simple or present continuous?
Compare the uses of the present simple and present continuous:

We use the present simpte: We use the present continuous:

for habituaI and repeated events/actions: for actions in progress at the moment
It roins o lot here. of speakin g: Oh no! lt\ raining!
with adverbs of frequency (e.g. always, with always,to show that something
never), to say how often something happens often and is surprising or
happens: I alwoys get up at 6 a.m. annoyingz l'm olwoys losing my keys!

for situations/states that are true at the for situations/states that are true for a
present time or usually true (permanent): timited period (temporary): I'm living in
I live in Berlin. My brother goes to Hamburg at the moment. HeB doing
college in York. a work placement this month.

for facts that are always true: The sun for situations/states that are changing:
rises in the east. Our summers ore getting hotter.

?+"' See Appendix 4: Spelling rules for present simple verbs, poge t69, Appendix 5:
Spelling rules for verbs + -ing, poge ryo ond Appendix 7: Verb forms, poge ryo.

';+x Complete the sentences. Use the present simpte or present continuous of the
verbs in brackets. '.
o The bus ......!.9.f.:1.'!.:!9P....... outside the
cinema. (not stop)
r Fiona .. todav. She's at home.
(not work)
2 The boys are outside. They
in the garden. (sit)
j | ................. Spanish very wetl, but I

understood what he said. (not speak)

4 My sister .. a [ot. She's got
lots of books. (read)
5 ls Emma on the phone to Kate again?
She........ to her! (atways / tatt<)

6 | .............. ... work at seven. (always / start)

7 Who ....... that awful noise?
I can't stand it! (make)
8 .. very cold here in the winter? (it /

44
 Grammar: present tenses

u6h Circte the correct answer.

A: what's the matter? (o) Do you gr, l@tired?
B: Yes, a bit. And I'm cold.
A: Have you got a hat? | read somewhere that our body (r) /oses I 's losing a lot of
heat from the head. And you probably need something to eat. We (z) use I
're using a lot of energy during exercise. Would you like some chocolate?
B: No, thanks. | (l) never eat f 'm never eoting chocolate. But l'[[ put my hat on!

A: Hi, Ben!
B: Hi, Adam! | haven't seen you for ages! How are you?
A: l'm fine. | (+) live I 'm living in Cardiff for a few months. | () help I 'm helping
my uncle with his new house.
B: Reatty? My cousin (6) lives I 's living near Cardiff. She () works f 's working in
a hospital there.

A: There are a lot of new shops near you, arenlt there?

B: Yes, we (8) become f 're becoming quite trendy! New people (g) move I
are moving in and a lot of new shops (ro) open I ore opening.llike it, but I

hate the traffic.

;:
-: State verbs
t& Verbs that describe states are not usually used in the continuous form. Common
state verbs include:

Mental/Thinking verbs agree, believe, know, remember, think, understand

Attitude verbs hate, like, [ove, need, prefer, want, wish
Sense/Perception verbs hear, see, smet[, taste
Appearance, quatities appear, look (= seem), seem' sound
possession be, betong, contain, have, own
Being,
Otherverbs cost, fit, mean, owe

l'm sorry, I don't understond. Your job sounds reolly interesting.

Does this car belong to youT I owe Jessica fryo.
e Some state verbs can be used in the continuous form when they describe actions.
They include: be, hove, see, smell, taste and think Comparez lthink (= believe)
you're right. fm thinking about (= considering) if. I see (= understand) what
you mean. I'm seeing (= meeting) Tom tomorrow.
s WiIh feeland look, we can use either the simple or the continuous form with no
change in meanin g: I feel/'m feeling ill. You look/'re looking tired.
/h *
/_: L
We often use con with sense/perception verbs: I con't heor you.
* 5ee and heor are state verbs, but look and listen describe actions. Compare:
Do you see that girl over there? I'm looking at your photos.
I can hear voices next door. Please be quiet. l'm listening to some music.

45
 Grammar: present tenses

E-fA Complete the sentences. Use the present simple or present continuous of the
verbs in the box.

cost cry not agree not enjoy prefer understand wait

o ...P.g.... you ....!.!.!....f:.!gl!..... how this works?

1 I'm sorry, but | ....... with you.
2 Excuse me, how much these DVD ptayers ........................... ?

3 What's the matter, Becky? Why ........... you ............ ?

4 | .............. soul music to rap.

5 Hurry up! Nikki and Anna ....... for us!
6 Actually, I'm unhappy because | ........... my course.

27b Circte the correct answer.

o We hove l@dinner at the moment.
1 l'm not eating a[[ the yoghurt! | taste f 'm tasting it to see if it's still OK.
2 Do you see I Are you seeing that blue car over there? lt's Ben's.

3 l'm al[ right. I think I 'm thinking about what I have to do tomorrow.

4 This soup tastes f 's tasting awfu[!

5 | love this shampoo. lt smells I 's smelling of coconuts.

6 Sophie thinks I 's thinking I watch too much television.
7 My college hos I is having some very good sports facilities.
8 |took this photo last week. This is me and this is Kim. She smel/s I 's smelling
the flowers.

27c Complete tt .on'u.rsations. Use the present simple or present continuous of the
"
verbs in brackets.
A: (o) .........?9..y9.t!.y.9.!.1........ (you / want) to come to the cinema with us
tomorrow evening?
B: Thanks, but I can't. | (r)......... (see) Nicole anci Ke[[y then.

A: ls your driving test today? (z) ....... (you / feel) nervous?

B: Yes, a bit. | (t)........ (think) it's goingto be quite difficutt.

A: ls Mark here?
B: Yes. He (+) ....... (listen) to some music in his room.
A: (l)
Oh yes, I can hear it. lt ....... (sound) good.

A Are you OK? You (5) .......... (took) a bit worried.

B l'm OK. | () ........ (think) about how to help my brother. He's
got a lot of problems at college.
A Maybe he (8) ....... (need) professional hetp. There are some
good advisors there.

Za6
 ffiffisffiffiff ffmffises
'n.. ;i'i,,i.

'".n Present simple or continuous?

Present simple
'ffi We use the present simpte to talk about permanent situations: I live in London but I
come from Canoda.
qF We also use the present simple:
- for habitual actions or routines, or events or actions that happen regularty, often
with a time expression or an adverb of frequen cy: We see eoch other every day.
She olwoys catches the 8.oo train. lt snows here in the winter.
" for a general truth or statement of fact: Water boils ot too degrees Centigrade.
Cats don't like water.
- in instructions and directions: To get to my house, you take the first turning on
the left.
* in fitm reviews and ptot summaries: Bullock gives a plausible performence in the
lead role. The thrills ore non-stop as the bus speeds out of control.
in sports commentaries to describe what is happening as the commentator
speaks: Beckham posses the ball to Cole - and he scores!
+$+J These adverbs of frequency and time expressions are often used with the present
simple:
' never, hardly ever, rorely, seldom, occosionally, sometimes, frequently, often,
usually, always: I sometimes work late.
" every day/week, in the morning/evenings, on Mondays/Tuesday, once a week/
yeor: I get up early in the morning.

Present continuous
ffiWe use the present continuous for activities and situations that are temporary:
l'm only staying here for a short time.
$ We also use the present continuous for:
actions in progress at the moment of speakin g: 'What ore you doing?' 'l'm taking
a breok.'
situations that are changing: Troffic is getting worse every yeor.
annoying habits, with always: You're always forgetting your keys!
'rgr These time expressions are often used with the present continuous:
olways, still, currently (usually after the auxiliary verb): l'm still working for the
some company.
at present, of the moment, (right) now: lonice is living in Modrid of present.

$+$r' For odverbs of freguency, see llnit n.

fti'ffI See Appendix z: Spelling rules, poge 2oo.

4o
 Grammar: present tenses

r8a Circle the correct answer.

o|@f'musuallydrivingtoworkbutthisweek|takel@
the bus because my car is at the garage.
Make sure you lock I 're locking the doors and windows before you leave
the house.
She plays I 's playing tennis once or twice a week but she doesn't ploy I
isn't playing this week because she's hurt her wrist.
A: Where does Evan come I is Evan coming from?
B: l'm not sure, but his parents live I ore living in New Zealand.
The fitm begins I is beginning with a death and ends I is ending with a
dramatic car chase through the streets of New York.
And the Ferrari takes I is toking the last corner at high speed, races I is racing
towards the finish line and crosses I is crossing itt What a race!
A: What do you do I are you doing?
B: lwait I 'mwaitingfor the bus. ltruns f 'srunning [ate.
You always leave f 're olways leoving ihe ligl''ts on! lt doesn't matter how many
times I remind f 'm reminding you.
There is so much fast food available that people forget I are forgetting how to
cook.
9 lf you don't wotch f aren't wotching the television, would you turn it off?
1() According to recent research, too little sleep couses I is causing young people
to gain weight.

rBb Comptete the information from a website. Use the present simple or continuous
of the verbs in the box.

gain go on learn offer organise perform remain study take

This year the InternationaI SchooI for Languages has about roo part-time
students who (o) ........919.!9f!!.9........evening classes and a further 3oo who
G) ........... ...... fult-time. Many of them (z) .......... ....... a
new language to improve their job prospects or to prepare for university. The
European [anguages (f) .......... ....... very popular but Chinese and
Japanese (+) .......... ....... in popularity.

The schoot (S) ........ an excellent range of learning facilities and

(6) .......... ....... sociaI activities [ike excursions to locaI areas of interest.

Every year our students () .......... ....... extremely welI in their

examinations and many (8) .......... ....... to study at top universities in
the country.

47
Gram mati present tenses

Complete the fact sheet. Use the present simple or continuous of the verbs in
brackets.

Grocnnpny
Th e ta n d sca pe (o) ............fi:g.:............
(rise) from the lowlands in the east to the
Himalayas in the west. High plateaux and
mountains (r) ........
(occupy) one third of the area. The
coastline on the Yel[ow Sea is flat at
the mouths of China's two major rivers,
the Yangtze and the Huanghe.
U nfortu nately, rapid ind ustrialisation

(z) .......... ...... (destroy) much of

the plant and animal life in the country.

EcoruomY
Most people (l) .......... ...... (tive) in rural regions. Rice production
(+) .......... ...... (provide) enough food for the locaI population and
surpluses are exported. However, the economy (S) .......... ...... (devetop)
rapidly and as a result, China (6) .......... ...... (open up) to world markets.
China () .......... ...... (export) many inexpensive processed goods,
including machinery and textiles, and income from foreign trade and tourism
(B) .......... ...... (increase).

State verbs
Action, or'dynamic", verbs describe activities, e.g. run, drive, Iisten, watch. They can
be used in the simple or continuous form.
State verbs describe a state, not an activity. They cannot normally be used in the
continuous form. They include:
- menta[/thinking verbs: ogree, believe, disagree, doubt, expect*, forget*, know,
reolise, remember*, suppose, think*, understand
* attitude verbs: dislike, hate, like, love, need, prefer, want
- sense/perception verbs: heor, see*, smell*, taste*
- appearance, qualilies: oppear*, look* (= sem), resemble, seem, sound
being, possessio n: be*, belong to, consist of, contain, hove*, include, own,
possess
- other verbs: come*, cost, depend*, fit, matter, meon, owe, weigh*
The verbs marked with an asterisk (*) can be used in the continuous form, but with
a change of meanin g: I think you're right. (= This is my opinion.) I'm thinking
of buying o new Car. (= I'm considering it.)
He\ nice. (= lt's one of his character
traits.) Hel being nice. (= He's behaving in a nice way at the moment.)
With verbs like feel and look (- seem), we can use either the simple or the
continuous form with no change in meanin g: I feel/m feeling ill.

42
 Grammar: ptwtttters I

lgil Complete the sentences. Use the present simple or continuous of the verbs in
the box.

appear (xz) be b{ng-+o come have (xz) taste weigh

o wtro ....d.99.f..... that beautifut house on the hilt ........P.e.!9.?.9..!9.........

?

r That soup .. delicious! What have you put in it?

2 My sister doesn't resemble me. For a start, she ......... blond hair.
3 lt ............ ..... that she's changed her mind about taking the job.
4 | can't believe you ........ so unreasonable! What's wrong?
5 We ......... lunch. Can I phone you back in half an hour?
6 Now all new cars .. with one year's free insurance.

7 Atex is working. He .......... ....... on stage in a ptay by Agatha Christie.

8 How much . an adult African elephant ................
?

r9b Complete the article. Use the present simple or continuous of the verbs in
brackets.

Singer and songwriterJames Sharp t0) .......... ...L9.:.............. IhaveJ a new

hobby - goLf. He [1] ............. .... [have) lessons every day and spends
so much time on the course that his girLfriend, actress and model. Sophie
Ctarke, I2l .......... ....... ltninkl of taking up the sport as we[[ so she
can spend more time with him!
What (31 ,., ..... he ....... lthinkJ of the rumours that he
and Sophie are p[anning to get married?'Every day | (4] ........
[see) things written about me that aren't true. One day they say we're
getting married and the next that I t5l .....--- [see) another
woman. ljust try to ignore al.L of it.'
James's new atbum came out last month and so far the critics have been
positive. The atbum t6) .......... ....... Iinctude) a mixture of famitiar
and new musical stytes and [7J .... [contain) remixes of
some otd favourites. James is pteased with the reviews but it's his fans
that [8] .. lmatterl most to him. However, if they
(91 .......... ....... Ihope) for something that (10] ........
(soundl Like his last atbum, they may be disappointed.
So is James worried? Not at aLL. 'l need to grow as an artist and that
t11l
r' " """"""'1."' (meanJ taking risks. I hope that never changes.
Somehow, we [12] ......... [not think) his fans wi[[ be
disappointed.

t+lZ