present simple, present continuous (1) basic uses of present simple and present continuous (© Use present simple for facts. or things that always happen. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 0 degrees Celsius ‘Sea water contains on average 2.7% salt hy weight. '© Use present simple for routines and habits. The birds return to the island every spring. Fiddler crabs turn red when they become angry. © Use present continuous for actions happening at the moment of speaking, and not finished. Sorry 'm busy at the moment. I'm doing my homework. ‘© Present continuous is also used for actinns happening generally around the time of speaking, rather than exactly at the same time. 11m reading a realy interesting hook state and action verbs ‘Some verbs have meanings which refer to states or conditions, and others have meanings which refer to actions. State verbs are either only used in simple form, or have a different meaning when used in continuous form. state verbs normally in present simple © belong, consist of, contain, cost, depend on, deserve, matter, ov, possess, resemble Does this belong to you? Fresh fruit contains a range of vitamins. © believe, Imagine, know. prefer, realize, understand, mean ‘Some people still believe that the Earth is flat. © seem This seems to be what we're looking for ‘© cost is sometimes used in continuous to describe a process that Is still going on. We're having a house built, and it’s costing a fortune! © realize, regret, understand ‘These are normally used with state meanings In present simple, but can be used In continuous to show a changing situation, usually with an adverbial which shows that change Is happening. Some people don't realize how dangerous cars can be. People are slowly realizing the cost of global warming. Do you understand this point? We're understanding more and more about the universe. verbs with state and action meanings state action © do What do you do? (= what's your job) What are you doing? (= explain your actions) © be, have This house is over 100 years old. He ts belng very sly! Do you have a car? fm having a great time here. ‘@ Imagine, suppose, think, expect I suppose thisis fim. You're supposing he is guilty. (= make an assumption) imagine you fee! the same. Ghosts! No, you're imagining things! What do you think? (= have an opinion) What are you thinking? {'m thinking of changing jobs. (= considering) don't expect him to understand ‘Are you expecting someone?© hope, wonder hope you haven't been woiting long. ‘We're hoping to continue the talks next week. (less definite) © enjoy, like, love Normally state verbs, but often used in continuous for actions going on at the moment enjoy /Tove qoing for long walks ‘Are you enjoying the party? rv loving every minute of my new jobl © appear Your visa appears to be out of date Tain bs appearing in Harnlet at the Grarid Theatre, © look With the state meaning of ‘seem’, look can be used in present simple only. This book looks interesting. In descriptions of appearance, look can be used in bath simple and continuous. Jin tooks il. Helen is looking well. © see, hear 1 see / hear you've had your hair cut. Jane is seeing Harry. (= spending time with) | didn't hear any noises. You're hearing things! (= imagining) © feel, see, smell, taste The room smells avetul! 'm smelling the flowers (an active choice) © ache, feel, hurt Verbs that describe how the body feels can use either simple or continuous forms with little change in meaning. (My foot hurts. (My foot Is hurting. 1 eel sick. I'm feeling sick ‘© weigh, measure This bag weighs more than 25 kilos. fm welghing the parcel before | post it. 1t'm smelling the cheese. It smells off to me. What are you doing? Note that what is said here about present simple and present continuous is g continuous use in other tenses. ally ve for simple and @ present simple, present continuous (1)1 Underline the correct form. a. Some kinds of fish coutaba / are containing high levels of dangerous metals. b Scientists nowadays slowly begin to understand / are slowly beginning to how the brain works. derstand more about € What do you think / are you thinking of Kate's new hairstyle? It's unusual, isn't it? Loud music can be really annoying, Some people don’t realize /aren’t realizing what a inulsance it can be, You can’t really have seen a UFO! You i ‘Technicians report that they have / are havin ditticulty installing the new computer system. No wine for me! I take / I'm taking antibiotics for an ear infection. Jn career terms, having a good degree appears /is appearing to make little difference. ‘The National Theatre considers / is considering putting on a new production of Uncle Vanya. Does this wallet belong /Is this wallet helonging to you? -- sere 2 Underline the present simple / co of the line where necessary. inuous verb errors in the text. Writ a correction at the end 15 Tiptree et Warwick eve 7AL Friday, 'Sth October Mi everyone, Lhave problems getting a new phone connection ire, So instead a Unt having of strefing @-mails 0s usual, I'm ac-tudthy Sitting down to write a b letter. I'm imagining you'll be surprised to get this as I've never been e much of a letter-wr iter. I'm putting the return address in 0ig a = letters at the top, because to tel you tHe truth I'm beginning to feel e — quite lonely bere. WE, perhaps I'm not meaning that Exacthy. THEE are plenty of f people for me to talk to. Ln fact I settle in to the student lite quite 9 well, but E don't really know anegone yet. I'VE got a room ina house h =. i 4 tong way From College, and I'm seeming to spend a tong time! on 4He bus. A lot of students hore Cyt’, So L'm trying to Pind 0 cheap bike, andl T also think of moving néarér to college whtn I can Pind Somewhive. Sorry - an intérruption, someone knocks at th door. More ter, Laer. One of he girls doumstairs has a party, ond I'm invited. m And *he phone line bas been Fixed, so T'm expecting you'll get an &= n a mail Prom mC very Soon! In act, I consider tring up this ICt#Cr, So ° uSt ignor€ Everything Eve said.PTC etry 3 Complete the text with the present sin European traffic accident rates fail ta meet targets le oF present continuous form of the verb in brackets. Although the number of denths caused in traffic accidents in the EU a (go dawn) qoing down experts b (still ty). to find ways of reducing the number throughout the EU to around 25,000 fatalities per year by 2010. Tralic safety ¢ mpruve) but experts d (believe) that achieving the 2010 goal wil prove alffoutt, Recent statistics e (show) ‘41.600 people were killed In road accidents. Although progress has been made, most experts fF agieey g (means) of traffic h (increase), 4 (look) — (romain). an that this figure will hve fallen ta nly arnund 37,000 by 2010, which that the EU target will be missed by about 7,000. On the other hand, as the amount itis possible to argue that the situation is not really as vad as it _-_ « However one j (Interpret). the statistics, It ‘uc that as time goes on. it (become) reduce the figures, especially since accident-reduction schemes m (ens!) countries have tried and failed to reduce the number of accidents, and In the EU as a whole, only Sweden pursue). - ~~ te goal of cera accidents. Accident reduction fs more vifficult for newer EU members fc very rapid grown in teattic and p (have) tticutty who o (currently face) 2 In bullding new roads and in Introducing ¢afety measures at a fast enough rate. To complicate matiors. most new ‘members q (have) + (suggest) that any satety programme mst niso et about changing the way crivers s{behave) - Despite what people often t (say) itu (seem) ; tobe Ue younger feneration that v (cause) smostsecidents. la ine with this research, many countries w (Introduce) ‘on the main causes of accidents: speed. reckless overtaking, alcohol, and overconfidence, very litle experience in dealing wath the demands of heavy vatfic. Exports ‘tougher driving tests, and x (concentrate) PRE One LEN Lad A. Write four sentences about yourself enjoy hope regret think (of sing) 8 Use a dictionary and write an example for each of these verbs, using present simple. belong consist of contain cost depend on deserve matter own possess resemble that in 2005 in the EU harder and harder to Alot ot maney. Mary © present simple, present continuous (1)