Exercise 1
Which description (1-5) fits each sentence (a-j)?
1 A routine or habit
2 Something happening now
3 An official scheduled or timetabled event
4 A future personal arrangement
5 Something permanent or always true
a David goes for a run every day.
b I’m meeting George and Phil at the jazz concert.
c Look! The dog’s digging a hole in your garden again.
d She comes from Barcelona.
e She’s playing tennis with John later.
f The train leaves at 20.08.
g We’re going out at eight thirty tonight.
h If you put oil in water, it floats.
i The film starts at seven exactly so don’t be late.
j Ice melts in hot weather.
Exercise 2
Write the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the present simple or continuous.
a If I say I love you, I (mean) it!
b Please be quiet. You (make) so much noise I can’t concentrate.
c Sam (play) a lot of football these days. He wants to get fit.
d T e rehearsal (finish) at four so I’ll be back at half past.
e (you / believe) in life after death?
f They (speak) Spanish and Catalan in Barcelona.
g What language (she / speak)? I can’t understand what she’s saying!
h Sid’s really clever. He (understand) quantum physics.
i The sun (set) in the west.
j What (you / do) later? Do you fancy going out?
Exercise 3
Complete the dialogue between two friends at a party. Use the present simple and continuous forms of the verbs in brackets.
Jackie: Lisa! Great to see you again. I a………………………. (not / think)
I’ve even spoken to you since Richard’s wedding last month.
How b………………………. you ………………………. (get on)?
Lisa: OK, thanks. What about you? c………………………. you still ………………………. (go out) with Jonathan?
Jackie: No, I’m not. He d………………………. (go out) with Carol now.
Lisa: I e………………………. (not / believe) it! Carol from the toyshop?
Jackie: Oh, no. This is a different Carol. She f………………………. (come) from Brazil. She’s unbelievably pretty and very nice. Look! She g………………………. (stand) over there next to Julian.
Lisa: The one who h………………………. (laugh)?
Jackie: Yes, that’s the one. Anyway, l i………………………. (get) used to the idea now. I can’t love Jonathan if he j………………………. (not / love) me, and after all there are plenty of other nice men about.
Exercise 4
Choose the correct quotation in each pair.
a A I’m loving deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
B I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
Douglas Adams
b A I am never forgetting a face, but in your case I’ll be glad 10 make an exception.
B I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll be glad to make an exception.
Groucho Marx
c A It’s not that I’ m afraid to die, I’m just not wanting to be there when it happens.
B It’s not that I’m afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.
Woody Allen
d A Coffee in England always tastes like a chemistry experiment.
B Coffee in England is always tasting like a chemistry experiment.
Agatha Christie
Answers
Read the note to find out why.
1
a 1 -> A f 3 -> C
b 4 -> F g 4 -> F
c 2 -> D h 5 -> B
d 5 -> B i 3 -> C
e 4 -> F j 5 -> B
2
a mean -> B
b ‘re making -> D
c ‘s playing -> E
d finishes -> C
e Do you believe -> G
f speak -> B
g is she speaking -> D
h understands -> G
i sets -> B
j are you doing -> F
3
a don’t think
b are getting on
c Are going out
d ‘s going out
e don’t believe
f comes
g ‘s standing
h ‘s laughing
i ‘m getting
j doesn’t love
4
a B b B c B d A
Notes
A
Use the present simple to talk about routines and habits.
B
Use the present simple to talk about things that are permanent or always true, and in zero conditional sentences.
C
Use the present simple to talk about official scheduled or timetabled events, e.g. train timetables.
D
Use the present continuous to talk about things that are happening at the moment of speaking, or in the process of changing or developing.
E
Use the present continuous to talk about things that are temporary.
F
Use the present continuous to talk about personal future arrangements, especially when you give the time and/or place.
G
Usually use the present simple (not the present continuous) with certain verbs, e.g. agree, believe, hate, know, like, love, prefer, understand, etc.
Review
Present tenses
Present simple
– You use the present simple to talk about people’s routines and habits.
David goes for a run every morning. We always spend the summer in Greece.
– You also use the present simple to talk about things that are permanent or always true, and in zero conditional sentences.
The office opens at eight every morning. Water boils at 100°C.
If I say I love you, I mean it.
– You use the present simple to talk about official scheduled or timetabled events, e.g. train timetables, television listings, etc.
This train arrives in Newcastle at 08.28. The film starts at seven.
– You usually use the present simple (not the present continuous) with certain verbs, e.g. agree, believe, feel, hate, hear, know, like, love, prefer, see, smell, taste, understand, etc.
She doesn’t understand the question.
NOT She isn’t understanding the question.
I don ‘t believe in life after death.
NOT I’m not believing in life after death.
Present continuous
– You use the present continuous to talk about things that are happening at the moment of speaking, or in the process of changing or developing.
Look! The dog is digging up your flowerbed!
MP3 players are getting cheaper.
– You use the present continuous to talk about things that are temporary.
Jane’s drinking lots of fruit juice. She’s on a diet at the moment.
I’m reading a great book by William Dalrymple.
– You use the present continuous to talk about personal future arrangements, especially when you give the time and/or place.
We’re meeting Tony and Rupert outside the post office.
I’m playing squash with John this evening.
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