PRESENT SIMPLE VS PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Compare the present simple and continuous.

3

A ROUTINE VS MOMENT OFSPEAKING

1. James works for an investment magazine. Every month he writes articles about new investment opportunities.(we are talking about something that James does as a routine)

2. Take these figures to James. He needs them for an article he's wríting.(we are talking about something he is doing at the moment of speaking)

B GENERAL ACTIVITIES VS CURRENT PROJECTS

1. l work for 'Teletraining'. We make training videos.(we are talking about a general activity)

2. At the moment we're making a training video for British Telecom..(we are talking about a specific current project )

C PERMANENT VS TEMPORARY SITUATIONS

1. Peter deals with enquiries about our carfleet sales.

(this is seen as permanently true )

2. I am dealing with enquiries about fleet sales while Peter is away on holiday.

( this is seen as a temporary situation )

D FACTS VS SLOW CHANGES

1. As a rule, cheap imports lead to greater competition.

(we are making a statement about a general fact that is always true )

2. Cheap imports are leading to the closure of a number of inefficient factores.(we are talking about a change that is taking place at the moment )

STATIVE VERBS

There are a number of verbs which describe

states rather than actions. They are not

normally used in the continuous form.

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean.

STATIVE VERBS

Verbs of thinking: believe, doubt, guess, imagine, know, realize,suppose, understand

Verbs of the senses: hear, smell, sound, taste

Verbs of possession: belong to, have (meaning possess), own, possess

They are not normally used in the continuous form

These are usually found in the simple form because they do not refer to actions

STATIVE VERBS

Verbs of emotion: dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish

Verbs of appearance: appear, seem

Others: contain, depend on, include, involve, mean, measure, weigh, require

They are not normally used in the continuous form

These are usually found in the simple form because they do not refer to actions

EXERCISE 4FACTS VS SLOW CHANGES

A

Political parties cannot last for ever. Normally they(1) enjoy (enjov) a period of great popularity in their early years; then they(2)_____ (go) through a period of stability and (3) _____ (put) their ideas into practice. After that, they(4) ______(run) out of ideas, and the opposition (5) ______(take) power.

Now the present government(6) _____(become) old and tired. It (7)________(make) mistakes and it(8)________ (lose) popularity, and the opposition party (9)_________ (start) to look like a possible alternative.

go

put

run

takes

Is becoming

Is making ‘s losing

is starting

B FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE VERBS IN THE BOX, USING THE PRESENT SIMPLE OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS.

In many ways, the economic outlook is good. Unemployment(1) is falling and is now down to 8% from 14%. The economy(2) _______ at a rate of 2.5%. However, the real danger is that inflation (3) _____ to rise. This is dangerous because every time that inflation (4) _____ up, people always ________ higher wages, and this in turn (6) _____ the problem worse

Is growing

Is beginning to

goes

demand

Makes

Fall grow begin go demand make

EXERCISE 5

STATIVE VERBS PUT ONE OF THE VERBS INTO THE PRESENT SIMPLE

AND THE OTHER INTO THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS We are interviewing (interview) people from

outside the company for the new post in the export department, but I think (think) we ought to give the job to Mr Jackson.

At the moment we ________(carry) out a survey to fínd out what sort of after-sales service our customers ________ (want). are carrying

want

EXERCISE 5STATIVE VERBS

We've got a competition on at work to do with our new range of cosmetics. The marketing people _____ (try) to fínd a brand name that _____ (sound) natural and sophisticated.

_____(you/know) what Mrs Ericson _____ (do)? She's not in her office and nobody has seen her since lunch.

are trying

sounds

Do you Know is doing

EXERCISE 5STATIVE VERBS

Could you help me? I _____ (try) to translate this letter from a Spanish client and I don't know what this word _____ (mean).

I _____ (apply) for a transfer to our London office, but I dont know if I'll be successful. It all _____ (depend) on whether or not they have any vacancies.

Their new 'Own brand' instant coffee _____ (taste) very good, so it’s not surprising that it _____ (become) more and more popular.

‘m trying

means.

‘m applying

depends

tastes

‘s becoming

MAKE UP SENTENCES USING THE FOLLOWING MAKE UP SENTENCES USING THE FOLLOWING PROMPTS. THE PROMPTS. THE FIRST VERBFIRST VERB SHOULD BE IN SHOULD BE IN THE THE PRESENT SIMPLEPRESENT SIMPLE, AND THE , AND THE SECOND SECOND

VERB IN THE VERB IN THE PRESENT CONTINUOSPRESENT CONTINUOS

1. come from/but/liveI come from Austria, but at the moment I'm living in Switzerland.

2. speak/and/learn

I speak Spanish and Frend and at the moment I’m learning English.

3. NORMALLY/LIKE MY WORK/BUT/NOT ENJOY

4. go on a lot of training courses/and/do a course in CAD

I normally like my work, but I’m not enjoying it at the moment.

I go on a lot of training courses, and at the moment I’m doing a course in CAD.

5. WORK FROM 9 TO 5/BUT/STAY LATE

6 travel a lot/and/visit Australia

I usually work from 9 to 5, but at the momentI’m staying late.

My boss travels a lot, and at the moment heis visiting Australia.

7. HAVE SEVERAL SUBSIDIARIES IN EUROPEAND/SET UP ANOTHER ONE IN BRUSSELS.

8. normally/export a lot to Greece/but/not get many orders

We have several subsidiaries in Europe, andAt the moment we are setting up another one In Brussels.

We normally export a lot to Greece, but wearen’t getting many orders at the moment.

MAKE QUESTIONS TO GO WITH THE ANSWERS. USE EITHER THE PRESENT

SIMPLE ORCONTINUOUS 1 Where do you come from?

I come from a little town called Zug, near Zurich.

2______________________________________

I'm writing to Markson's to ask for an up-to-date catalogue.

3 ____________________________________

I think he's a consultant.

Who are you writing to?

What does he do?

MAKE QUESTIONS TO GO WITH THE ANSWERS. USE EITHER THE PRESENT

SIMPLE ORCONTINUOUS

4 ______________I usually cycle in, but sometimes I bring the car.

5 ____________________________Our Sales Director goes abroad about three or four times a year.

6_________________________________No, not at all well. In fact, the factory is doing a three-day week.

How do you get to work?

How often does your Sales Director go abroad?

Is business going well?

MAKE QUESTIONS TO GO WITH THE ANSWERS. USE EITHER THE PRESENT

SIMPLE ORCONTINUOUS

7. _______________________Yes, very well. We met in 1998.

8.No, not at the moment. But we‘ll start taking on new staff again in May.

Do you Know each other?

Are you taking on any new staff at the moment?