Simple present: / live, he works, etc.

1 We use the simple present for things that are always true or happen regularly.

  • Remember the spelling rules for third person singular (e.g., lives, studies, watches).
    • I work in a bank.
    • She studies Russian.
    • You live in a nice neighborhood.
    • He works with me.

 

  • Remember to use the proper auxiliary verb: use do / don’t with I – You – We – They; use does / doesn’t with he – she – it
    • We don’t have any pets.
    • Jack doesn’t wear glasses.
    • I don’t like spicy food.
    •  Tina doesn’t swim very well.

 

  • Remember the word order for questions: (question word) + auxiliary + subject + base form of verb. Do you know David? What time does the movie start?
    • Does your brother have a car?
    • Where do you live?
    • Do you know David?
    • How does she go to work?

 

2 We often use the simple present with adverbs of frequency (e.g., usually, never…) or expressions of frequency (e.g., every day, once a week.)

  • Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb, and after be.
    • She usually has cereal for breakfast.
    • I’m never late for work.
  • Expressions of frequency usually go at the end of the sentence or verb phrase.
    • We only eat out about once a month.
    • She visits her parents every weekend.

 

Present continuous: be + verb + -ing

  • We use the present continuous (not the simple present) for actions in progress at the time of speaking, e.g., things that are happening now or around now. These are usually temporary, not habitual actions.
  • A: Who are you waiting for? 
  • B: I’m waiting for a friend.
  • A: Is your sister still going out with Adam?
  • B: No, they broke up. She isn’t going out with anyone right now.

 

  • We also use the present continuous for future arrangements
    • I am meeting my friends for dinner tonight.
    • We are flying to Paris next week.
  • Remember the spelling rule
For most verbs, simply add -ing to the base verb

play → playing

read → Reading
If the verb ends in -e, drop the -e and add -ing.

make → making

write → writing
If the verb has one syllable and ends in a CVC pattern, double the last consonant and add -ing.

run → running

sit → sitting
If the verb ends in -y, just add -ing without changing anything.

enjoy → enjoying

study → studying

Action and nonaction verbs

    • Verbs that describe actions (e.g., cook, make, work…) can be used in the simple present or continuous:
      • I’m making lunch.
      • I usually make lunch on the weekend.
      • Verbs that describe states or feelings are called non action verbs (e.g., love, need, be…). They are not usually used in the present continuous, even if we mean “now.”
      • Common nonaction verbs are: agree, be, believe, belong, depend, forget, hate, hear, know, like, love, matter, mean, need, prefer, realize, recognize, remember, seem, suppose.

 

      • A: What are you cooking? 
      • B: I’m making pasta.
      • A: Great! I love pasta.
      • A: What are you looking for?
      • B: My car keys.
      • A: I’ll help you in a minute.
      • B: But I need them now!

 

However, there are a few exceptions. Let’s take a look at them:

    • Have: 
    • When “have” means possession (to own something), don’t use the continuous form: Josh has a new car.
        • When “have” means “to eat” or “to drink”, you can use the continuous form: I’m having an apple for lunch.
      • Think:
        • When “think” means to have an opinion or to believe, don’t use the continuous: I think Kim is a great teacher.
        • When “think” means to consider something, you can use the continuous: I’m thinking about buying a new cell phone.
    • Be:
      • We can use the continuous form of the verb be to say how a person is behaving at the moment: I can’t understand why he’s being so selfish. He isn’t usually like that.

📝 Complete the sentences

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb. Use Present Continuous or Present Simple.

  1. Are you hungry? Do you _____________________ (you / want) something to eat?
  2. Alan says he’s 90 years old, but nobody _____________________ (believe) him.
  3. She told me her name, but _____________________ (I / not / remember) it now.
  4. You’ll like Sophie when you meet her. She ____________ (be) very nice.
  5. Don’t put the dictionary away. _____________________  (I / use) it.
  6. Don’t put the dictionary away. _____________________  (I / need) it.
  7. Air _____________________ (consist) mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.
  8. You’re normally very patient, so why ____________ (you / be) so unreasonable about waiting  ten more minutes? 
  9. Who is that man? What _____________________ (he / want)?
  10. Who is that man? Why _____________________  (he / look) at us?
  11. Who is that man? (you / recognise) him?
  12. _____________________(I / think) of selling my car. Would you be interested in buying it?
  13. I can’t make up my mind. What _____________________ (you / think) I should do?
  14. Gary wasn’t well earlier, but _____________________ (he / seem) OK now

1) Do you want

2) believes 

3) I don’t remember 

4) is

5) I’m using

6) I need

7) consists 

8) are you being

9) does he want

10) is he looking

11) Do you recognise

12) I’m thinking

13) do you think

14) he seems

📝 Choose the correct

Choose the correct form, simple present, or continuous.

1 Come on, let’s order. The waiter comes / is coming.

2 Kate doesn’t want / isn’t wanting to have dinner now. She isn’t hungry.

3 The head chef is sick, so he doesn’t work / isn’t working today.

4 The check seems / is seeming very high to me.

5 We’ve had an argument, so we don’t speak / aren’t speaking to each other right now.

6 My mom thinks / is thinking my diet is awful these days.

7 Do we need / Are we needing to go shopping today?

8 Can I call you back? I have / I’m having lunch right now.

9 I didn’t use to like oily fish, but now I love / I’m loving it!

10 What do you cook / are you cooking? It smells delicious!

  1. is coming
  2. doesn’t want
  3. isn’t working
  4. seems
  5. aren’t speaking
  6. thinks
  7. Do we need
  8. I’m having
  9. I love
  10. are you cooking

📝 Let's exercise!

🎧 Listen to the audio

🏠 Audio Homework 1

Write 3 phrases using action verbs and 3 phrases using nonaction verbs and send an audio to your teacher reading them.

🔊 Learning Through Text (LTT)

Listen to the audio and complete the gaps.
Mathew: Hello, John, what a surprise! What are you doing (do) here? John: The same as you probably! _____________ (buy) a few things for dinner.
Mathew: How are things? Are you still working at the same place?
John: Yes, but I _____________ (not like) it very much. My boss _____________ (depend) on me for everything. The worst thing is that he always _____________ (get) the credit, and I _____________ (do) all the work!
Mathew: That _____________ (sound) terrible. _____________ you _____________ (have to) go back to work this afternoon?
John: No, I only work until lunchtime on Fridays because I always _____________ (have) some beers with my friend Paul . He _____________ (not work) on Fridays, so we usually _____________ (meet) at that nice little Italian pub in town. _____________ you _____________ (want) to come?
Mathew: I'd love to but I _____________ (need) to get home. My sister _____________ (stay) with us for a few days. Some other time!

🎧 Listen to the audio

Mathew: Hello, John, what a surprise! What are you doing (do) here?

John: The same as you probably!  ‘m buying (buy) a few things for dinner.
Mathew: How are things? Are you still working at the same place?
John: Yes, but I don’t like (not like) it very much. My boss depends (depend) on me for everything. The worst thing is that he always  gets (get) the credit, and I do (do) all the work!
Mathew: That sounds (sound) terrible. Do you have to (have to) go back to work this afternoon?
John: No, I only work until lunchtime on Fridays because I always have (have) some beers with my friend Paul . He doesn’t work (not work) on Fridays, so we usually meet (meet) at that nice little Italian pub in town. Do you want (want) to come?
Mathew: I’d love to but I need (need) to get home. My sister is staying (stay) with us for a few days. Some other time!

 

 

 

 

 

📝 Choose the correct

Choose the correct form of the verbs.

 

Jason: What 1 do you study / are you studying?

Elena: Humanities.

Jason: 2 I study /  I’m studying Fine Arts. Where 3 do you / are you coming from?

Elena: I’m from Madrid, in Spain.

Jason: And how many hours of classes 4 do you have / are you having a week?

Elena: 5 lt depends / It’s depending on the week, but usually about 20 hours. 6 Do you know / Are you knowing about the party tonight?

Jason: 7 Do you mean / Are you meaning the one for new students? I can’t go, because 8 I get ready / I’m getting ready to move into my apartment tomorrow.

Elena: Where 9 do you live / are you living right now?

Jason: 10 I stay / I’m staying in a student dorm.

Elena: What 11 do you do / are you doing on Sunday afternoon? If you 12 want / are wanting, we could meet and look around the city.

Jason: I’m busy in the afternoon, but what about Sunday morning?

Elena: Fine. Where should we meet?

Jason: What do you study / are you studying?

Elena: Humanities.

Jason: I study /  I’m studying Fine Arts. Where are you / are you coming from?

Elena: I’m from Madrid, in Spain.

Jason: And how many hours of classes do you have / are you having a week?

Elena:  lt depends / It’s depending on the week, but usually about 20 hours. Do you know / Are you knowing about the party tonight?

Jason: Do you mean / Are you meaning the one for new students? I can’t go, because I get ready / I’m getting ready to move into my apartment tomorrow.

Elena: Where do you live / are you living right now?

Jason: I stay / I’m staying in a student dorm.

Elena: What do you do / are you doing on Sunday afternoon? If you want / are wanting, we could meet and look around the city.

Jason: I’m busy in the afternoon, but what about Sunday morning?

Elena: Fine. Where should we meet?

📝 Translation

Translate the phrases below.

  1. Estou comprando algumas coisas para o almoço.
  2. Meu chefe depende de mim para tudo agora.
  3. Você precisa voltar ao trabalho agora de tarde?
  4. Minha irmã está ficando com a gente por alguns dias.
  5. O que você fará no domingo à tarde?
  1. I’m buying some things for the lunch.
  2. My boss depends on me for everything now.
  3. Do you have to go back to  work this afternoon?
  4. My sister is staying with us for a few days.
  5. What are you doing on Sunday afternoon?

💬 Conversation

War


1 – How do you feel regarding the current conflicts in the world? 

2 – How would you feel if Brazil was in war? Why?

3 – How could you best help your country in a war scenario? Why?

4 – How would you feel if you had to go to war? Why?

5 – How often do you read international news about foreign countries?

🏠 Audio Homework 2

Send an audio to your teacher telling what you understood from the LTT exercise of this class.

🏠 Send your homework here 👇