Unit 3 Present Continuous (I Am Doing) Present Simple (I Do)

Present continuous (I am doing) or
present simple (I do)?

a) Study this explanation and compare the examples:
Present continuous (I am doing) Present simple (I do)
Use the present continuous to talk about Use the present simple to talk about things in
something which is happening at or around the general or things which happen repeatedly :
time of speaking:
I do
Past now future
I am doing
 Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Past now future  Excuse me, do you speak English?
 The kettle is boiling. Can you turn it off,  Tom plays tennis every Saturday.
please?  What do you usually do at weekends?
 Listen to those people. What language are  Most people learn to swim when they are
they speaking? children.
 Where’s Tom? He’s playing tennis.
 (you find a stranger in your room) What are Use the present simple for a permanent
you doing here? situation:
 Silvia is in Britain for three months. She’s  My parents live in london. They have been
learning English. there for 20 years.
 That machine doesn’t work. It hasn’t
Use the present continuous for a temporary worked for years.
situation:
 I’m living with some friends until I can find a
flat.
 That machine isn’t working. It broke down
this morning.
b) Some verbs are used only in simple tenses. For example, you cannot say ‘I am knowing’. You can only say
I know.here is a list of verbs which are not normally used in continuous tenses (but there are exception):
Want Like Belong Know Suppose Remember
Need Love See Realize Mean Forget
Prefer Hate Hear Believe Understand Seem
Have (when the meaning is ‘possess’).

Think (when the meaning is ‘believe’).
 Do you like London? (not ‘are you liking’)
 He doesn’t understand. (not ‘he isn’t understanding’)
 These shoes belong to me. (not ‘are belonging’)
 What do you think Tom will do? (= What do you believe he will do?)
But: What are you thinking about? (= what is going on in your mind?)
EXERCISES
1. In this exercises you have to decide whether the verbs in these sentences are right or wrong. Correct
those which are wrong. The verb is underlined.
Examples : I don’t know your telephone number. Right.
Please don’t make so much noise. I study. Wrong (am studying)
1. Look! Somebody is climbing up that tree over there. .............................
2. Can you hear those people? What do they talk about? .............................
3. Are you believing in God? .............................
4. The moon goes around the earth. .............................
5. Look! That man tries to open the door of your car. .............................
6. I’m thinking it would be a good idea to leave early. .............................
7. The government is worried because the number of
People without jobs is increasing. .............................
8. I’m usually going to work by car. .............................
2. Now you have to put the verb into the correct form, present continuous (I am doing)
or present simple (I do).
Examples : Please don’t make so much noise. I am studying (study)
How many languages does Tom speak? (Tom/speak)
This machine doesn’t work (not/work). It hasn’t worked for years.
1. I ........................................(not/belong) to a political party.
2. Hurry! The bus ..................................(come). I ....................................(not/want)to miss it.
3. The River Nile ..............................(flow) into the mediterranean.
4. The river .......................................(flow) very fast today – much faster than usual.
5. ...................................................... (it/ever/snow) in India?
6. We usually ............................................ (grow) vegetables in our garden but this year we
..................................... (not/grow) any.
7. A: Can you drive?
B: No, but I .................................................. (learn). My father ................................... (teach)me.
8. You can borrow my umbrella. I .............................(not/need) it at the moment.
9. (at a party) I usually .................................(enjoy) parties but I ........................................(not/enjoy) this
one very much.
10. George say’s he’s 80 years old but I ..................................(not/believe)him.
11. Ron is in London at the moment. He ...............................(stay) at the Hilton Hotel. He usually
...................................(stay) at the Hilton Hotel when he’s in London.
In these sentences think about whether the situation is temporary or permanent.
12. My parents .............................................(live) in Bristol. They were born there and have never lived
anywhere else. Where ...........................................(your parents/live)?
13. She ......................................(stay) with her sister at the moment until she finds somewhere to live.
14. A : What ..............................................(your father/do)?
B : He’s a teacher, but he ..........................................(not/work) at the moment.

Unit 3 Present Continuous (I Am Doing) Present Simple (I Do)

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Present continuous (I am doing) or

present simple (I do)?

Have (when the meaning is ‘possess’).

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