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Unit

Present continuous (I am doing)

1A

Study this example situation:
Sarah is in her car. She is on her way to work.
She’s driving to work. (= She is driving …)
This means: she is driving now, at the time of speaking.
The action is not finished.
am/is/are + -ing is the present continuous:I
he/she/it
we/you/they

B

am
is
are

(= I’m)(= he’s etc.)(= we’re etc.)

drivingworking
doing etc.

I am doing something = I started doing it and I haven’t finished; I’m in the middle of doing it.
Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying to work. (not I try)
‘Where’s Mark?’ ‘He’s having a shower.’ (not He has a shower)
Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more. (not It doesn’t rain)
How’s your new job? Are you enjoying it?
What’s all that noise? What’s going on? or What’s happening?
Sometimes the action is not happening at the time of speaking. For example:
Steve is talking to a friend on the phone. He says:
I’m reading a really good book at the moment.
It’s about a man who …

Steve says ‘I’m reading …’ but he is not reading the book at
the time of speaking.
He means that he has started reading the book, but has notfinished it yet. He is in the middle of reading it.
Some more examples:
Kate wants to work in Italy, so she’s learning Italian.
(but perhaps she isn’t learning Italian at the time of speaking)Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope to finish it next summer.

C

You can use the present continuous with today / this week / this year etc. (periods around now):
a: You’re working hard today. (not You work hard today)
b: Yes, I have a lot to do.
The company I work for isn’t doing so well this year.

D

We use the present continuous when we talk about a change that has started to happen. We often use
these verbs in this way:getting, becoming
starting, beginningchanging, improving
increasing, rising, falling, growing

Is your English getting better? (not Does your English get better)
The population of the world is increasing very fast. (not increases)
At first I didn’t like my job, but I’m starting to enjoy it now. (not I start)

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Unit

Exercises
1.1

1What’s happening in the pictures? Choose from these verbs:
cross
1

hide

scratch2

1 She’s taking
2 He
3
1.2

take

tie

3

4

a picture.
a shoelace.
the road.

1.4

5

6

4
5
6

his head.
behind a tree.
to somebody.

The sentences on the right follow those on the left. Which sentence goes with which?
1 Please don’t make so much noise.
2 We need to leave soon.
3 I don’t have anywhere to live right now.
4 I need to eat something soon.
5 They don’t need their car any more.
6 Things are not so good at work.
7 It isn’t true what they say.
8 We’re going to get wet.

1.3

wave

Write questions. Use the present continuous.
1 What’s all that noise? What’s happening?
2 What’s the matter?
3 Where’s your mother?
4 I haven’t seen you for ages.
5 Amy is a student.
6 Who are those people?
7 I heard you started a new job.
8 We’re not in a hurry.

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

I’m getting hungry.
They’re lying.
It’s starting to rain.
They’re trying to sell it.
It’s getting late.
I’m trying to work.
I’m staying with friends.
The company is losing money.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

f

(what / happen?)(why / you / cry?)(she / work / today?)(what / you / do / these days?)(what / she / study?)(what / they / do?)(you / enjoy / it?)(why / you / walk / so fast?)

Put the verb into the correct form, positive (I’m doing etc.) or negative (I’m not doing etc.).
1 Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying (I / try) to work.
2 Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining (it / rain) any more.
3 You can turn off the radio.
(I / listen) to it.
4 Kate phoned last night. She’s on holiday with friends.
(She / have)a great time and doesn’t want to come back.
5 Andrew started evening classes recently.
(He / learn) Japanese.
6 Paul and Sarah have had an argument and now(they / speak)
to one another.
7 The situation is already very bad and now(it / get) worse.
8 Tim(work) today. He’s taken the day off.
9
(I / look) for Sophie. Do you know where she is?
10 The washing machine has been repaired.
(It / work) now.
11
(They / build) a new hospital. It will be finished next year.
12 Ben is a student, but he’s not very happy.
(He / enjoy) his course.
13(The weather / change). Look at those clouds.
I think it’s going to rain.
14 Dan has been in the same job for a long time.
(He / start) to get boredwith it.

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Unit

Present simple (I do)

2
AStudy this example situation:
Alex is a bus driver, but now he is in bed asleep.
He is not driving a bus. (He is asleep.)but He drives a bus. He is a bus driver.
drive(s), work(s), do(es) etc. is the present simple:
I/we/you/they
he/she/itBdrive/work/do etc.
drives/works/does etc.

We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We use it to say that something happens all thetime or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:
Nurses look after patients in hospitals.
I usually go away at weekends.
The earth goes round the sun.
The cafe opens at 7.30 in the morning.
We say:I workthey teach

but
but

he works
my sister teaches

you goI havebut
but

it goeshe hasFor spelling (-s or -es), see Appendix 6.

C

We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences:dodoes

I/we/you/they
he/she/it

work?
drive?
do?

I/we/you/they
he/she/it

work
don’t
drive
doesn’tdo

I come from Canada. Where do you come from?
I don’t go away very often.
What does this word mean? (not What means this word?)
Rice doesn’t grow in cold climates.
In the following examples, do is also the main verb (do you do / doesn’t do etc.):‘What do you do?’ ‘I work in a shop.’He’s always so lazy. He doesn’t do anything to help.

D

We use the present simple to say how often we do things:
I get up at 8 o’clock every morning.
How often do you go to the dentist?
Julie doesn’t drink tea very often.
Robert usually goes away two or three times a year.

E

I promise / I apologise etc.
Sometimes we do things by saying something. For example, when you promise to do something,
you can say ‘I promise … ’; when you suggest something, you can say ‘I suggest … ’:I promise I won’t be late. (not I’m promising)‘What do you suggest I do?’ ‘I suggest that you …’
In the same way we say: I apologise … / I advise … / I insist … / I agree … / I refuse … etc.

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Unit

Exercises
2.1

2Complete the sentences using the following verbs:
cause(s)close(s)1 Tanya speaks
2 Ben and Jackschool.
3 Bad driving
4 The museum
Sundays.

connect(s)go(es)

live(s)speak(s)take(s)5 My parents
in a very small
flat.
6 The Olympic Gamesplace
every four years.
7 The Panama Canalthe
Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

German very well.
to the same
many accidents.
at 4 o’clock on

2.2

Put the verb into the correct form.
1 Julia doesn’t drink (not / drink) tea very often.
2 What time(the banks / close) here?
3 I have a car, but I(not / use) it much.
4 Where(Maria / come) from? Is she Spanish?
5 ‘What(you / do)?’ ‘I’m an electrician.’
6 Look at this sentence. What
(this word / mean)?
7 David isn’t very fit. He(not / do) any sport.
8 It(take) me an hour to get to work in the morning. How long(it / take) you?

2.3

Complete the sentences using these verbs. Sometimes you need the negative.
believe

eat

flow

go

grow

make

1 The earth goes round the sun.
2 Rice doesn’t grow in cold climates.
3 The sunin the east.
4 Beeshoney.
5 Vegetariansmeat.
6 An atheist
in God.
2.4

rise

tell

translate

7 An interpreter
from one language into another.
8 Liars are people who
the truth.
9 The River Amazon
into the Atlantic Ocean.

You ask Lisa questions about herself and her family. Write the questions.
1 You know that Lisa plays tennis. You want to know how often. Ask her.
How often do you play tennis ?
2 Perhaps Lisa’s sister plays tennis too. You want to know. Ask Lisa.
your sister
3 You know that Lisa goes to the cinema a lot. You want to know how often. Ask her.

?
?

4 You know that Lisa’s brother works. You want to know what he does. Ask Lisa.
?
5 You’re not sure whether Lisa speaks Spanish. You want to know. Ask her.
?
6 You don’t know where Lisa’s grandparents live. You want to know. Ask Lisa.
?
2.5

Complete using the following:
I agree

I apologise

I insist

I promise

I recommend

I suggest

1 Mr Evans is not in the office today. I suggest you try calling him tomorrow.
2 I won’t tell anybody what you said.
.
3 (in a restaurant) You must let me pay for the meal.
.
4
for what I said. I shouldn’t have said it.
5 The new restaurant in Baker Street is very good.
it.
6 I think you’re absolutely right.
with you.

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Unit

Present continuous and present simple 1(I am doing and I do)

3
A

Compare:present continuous (I am doing)present simple (I do)

We use the continuous for things happening ator around the time of speaking.
The action is not complete.

We use the simple for things in general or things
that happen repeatedly.

I am doing

I do

past

now

futurepast

The water is boiling. Be careful.
Listen to those people. What language
are they speaking?
Let’s go out. It isn’t raining now.
‘I’m busy.’ ‘What are you doing?’
I’m getting hungry. Let’s go and eat.
Kate wants to work in Italy, so she’s
learning Italian.
The population of the world isincreasing very fast.

Bnow

futureWater boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Excuse me, do you speak English?
It doesn’t rain very much in summer.
What do you usually do at weekends?
I always get hungry in the afternoon.
Most people learn to swim when they
are children.
Every day the population of the world
increases by about 200,000 people.

We use the continuous for temporary situations(things that continue for a short time):
I’m living with some friends until I find aplace of my own.
a: You’re working hard today.
b: Yes, I have a lot to do.

We use the simple for permanent situations(things that continue for a long time):
My parents live in London. They have
lived there all their lives.
Joe isn’t lazy. He works hard most of
the time.

See Unit 1 for more information.

See Unit 2 for more information.

I always do and I’m always doing
I always do something = I do it every time:
I always go to work by car. (not I’m always going)
I’m always doing something = I do it too often or more often than normal.
For example:
I’ve lost my keys again. I’m always losing them.

I’m always losing them = I lose them too often,
or more often than normal.
Paul is never satisfied. He’s always complaining. (= he complains too much)
You’re always looking at your phone. Don’t you have anything else to do?

6

How long
Present
continuous
have you and(been)
simple… ? 2 ➜Unit
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Unit

Exercises
3.1

3

Are the underlined verbs OK? Correct them where necessary.
1 Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
2 How often are you going to the cinema?
3 Ben tries to find a job, but he hasn’t had any luck yet.
4 Martina is phoning her mother every day.
5 The moon goes round the earth in about 27 days.
6 Can you hear those people? What do they talk about?
7 What do you do in your spare time?
8 Sarah is a vegetarian. She doesn’t eat meat.
9 I must go now. It gets late.
10 ‘Come on! It’s time to leave.’ ‘OK, I come.’
11 Paul is never late. He’s always starting work on time.
12 They don’t get on well. They’re always arguing.

OK
do you go

3.2

Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple.
1 a I usually get (I / usually / get) hungry in the afternoon.
b I’m getting (I / get) hungry. Let’s go and eat something.
2 a ‘(you / listen) to the radio?’ ‘No, you can turn it off.’b ‘(you / listen) to the radio a lot?’ ‘No, not very often.’
3 a The River Nile(flow) into the Mediterranean.
b The river(flow) very fast today – much faster than usual.
4 a I’m not very active.
(I / not / do) any sport.
b What(you / usually / do) at weekends?
5 a Rachel is in New York right now.
(She / stay) at the Park Hotel.
b(She / always / stay) there when she’s in New York.

3.3

Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple.
1 Why are all these people here? What’s happening (What / happen)?
2 Julia is good at languages.
(She / speak) four languages very well.
3 Are you ready yet?
(Everybody / wait) for you.
4 I’ve never heard this word. How(you / pronounce) it?
5 Kate(not / work) this week. She’s on holiday.
6 I think my English(improve) slowly. It’s better than it was.
7 Nicola(live) in Manchester. She has never lived anywhere else.
8 Can we stop walking soon?
(I / start) to get tired.
9 Sam and Tina are in Madrid right now.
(They / visit) a friend of theirs.
10 ‘What(your father / do)?’ ‘He’s an architect.’
11 It took me an hour to get to work this morning. Most days(it / not / take) so long.
12 I(I / learn) to drive. My driving test is next month. My father(teach) me.

3.4

Finish B’s sentences. Use always -ing.
1 a: I’ve lost my keys again.
b: Not again! You’re always losing your keys
2 a: The car has broken down again.
b: That car is useless. It
3 a: Look! You’ve made the same mistake again.
b: Oh no, not again! I
4 a: Oh, I’ve left my phone at home again.
b: Typical!

.
.
.
.

7
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Unit

Present continuous and present simple 2(I am doing and I do)

4
A

We use continuous forms (I’m waiting, it’s raining etc.) for actions and happenings that have started but
not finished.
Some verbs (for example, know and like) are not normally used in this way. We don’t say ‘I am knowing’,‘they are liking’. We say ‘I know’, ‘they like’.
The following verbs are not normally used in the present continuous:
like

want

know

need

realisepreferunderstandbelievesupposebelongfit

recogniseremembercontainmean

consistseem

I’m hungry. I want something to eat. (not I’m wanting)Do you understand what I mean?
Anna doesn’t seem very happy right now.

B

think
When think means ‘believe’ or ‘have an opinion’, we do not use the continuous:
I think Mary is Canadian, but I’m not sure. (not I’m thinking)What do you think of my idea? (= what is your opinion?)
When think means ‘consider’, the continuous is possible:
I’m thinking about what happened. I often think about it.
Nicky is thinking of giving up her job. (= she is considering it)

C

see

hear

smell

taste

look

feel

We normally use the present simple (not continuous) with see/hear/smell/taste:
Do you see that man over there? (not are you seeing)
The room smells. Let’s open a window.
This soup doesn’t taste very good.
You can use the present simple or continuous to say how somebody looks or feels now:
You look well today. or You’re looking well today.
How do you feel now? or How are you feeling now?
but
I usually feel tired in the morning. (not I’m usually feeling)D

am/is/are being
You can say he’s being … , you’re being … etc. to say how somebody is behaving now:
I can’t understand why he’s being so selfish. He isn’t usually like that.
(being selfish = behaving selfishly now)
‘The path is icy. Don’t slip.’ ‘Don’t worry. I’m being very careful.’Compare:He never thinks about other people. He’s very selfish.
(= he is selfish generally, not only now)
I don’t like to take risks. I’m a very careful person.
We use am/is/are being to say how a person is behaving (= doing something they can control) now.
It is not usually possible in other situations:
Sam is ill. (not is being ill)
Are you tired? (not are you being tired)

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Unit

Exercises

4

4.1

Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple.
1 Are you hungry? Do you want (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 Don’t put the dictionary away.
(I / use) it.
5 Don’t put the dictionary away.
(I / need) it.
6 Air(consist) mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.
7 Who is that man? What(he / want)?
8 Who is that man? Why(he / look) at us?
9 Who is that man?
(you / recognise) him?
10
(I / think) of selling my car. Would you be interested in buying it?
11 I can’t make up my mind. What(you / think) I should do?
12 Gary wasn’t well earlier, but(he / seem) OK now.

4.2

Use the words in brackets to make sentences.
1

2
Are you OK?
You look worried.

(you / not / seem / very happy today)

You don’t seem very
happy today.

(I / think)

3

4(this / smell / good)(who / this umbrella / belong to?)I’ve no idea.

5

6(these gloves / not / fit / me)

Excuse me. (anybody / sit / there?)No, it’s free.

They’re too small.

4.3

Are the underlined verbs OK? Correct them where necessary.
OK
1 Nicky is thinking of giving up her job.
I don’t believe it.
2 It’s not true. I’m not believing it.
3 I’m feeling hungry. Is there anything to eat?
4 I’ve never eaten that fruit. What is it tasting like?
5 I’m not sure what she does. I think she works in a shop.
6 Look over there. What are you seeing?
7 You’re very quiet. What are you thinking about?

4.4

Complete the sentences. Use is/are being (continuous) or is/are (simple).
1 I can’t understand why he’s being so selfish. He isn’t usually like that.
2 You’ll like Sophie when you meet her. Shevery nice.
3 Sarahvery nice to me at the moment. I wonder why.
4 Theyvery happy. They’ve just got married.
5 You’re normally very patient, so why
so unreasonable about waiting
ten more minutes?
6 Would you like something to eat?
hungry?

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Unit

Past simple (I did)

5
A

Study this example:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrianmusician and composer. He lived from 1756 to1791. He started composing at the age of five
and wrote more than 600 pieces of music.
He was only 35 years old when he died.
lived/started/wrote/was/died are all past simple

B

Very often the past simple ends in -ed (regular verbs):
I work in a travel agency now. Before that I worked in a department store.
They invited us to their party, but we decided not to go.
The police stopped me on my way home last night.
Laura passed her exam because she studied very hard.
For spelling (stopped, studied etc.), see Appendix 6.
But many verbs are irregular. The past simple does not end in -ed. For example:
write → wrote
Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music.
see → saw
We saw Alice in town a few days ago.
go
→ wentI went to the cinema three times last week.
shut → shut
It was cold, so I shut the window.
For a list of irregular verbs, see Appendix 1.

C

In questions and negative sentences we use did/didn’t + infinitive (enjoy/see/go etc.):
I
she
they

enjoyed
saw
went

did

you
she
they

enjoy?
see?
go?

I
she
they

didn’t

enjoy
see
go

I enjoyed the party a lot. Did you enjoy it?
How many people did they invite to the wedding?
I didn’t buy anything because I didn’t have any money.
‘Did you go out?’ ‘No, I didn’t.’
Sometimes do is the main verb in the sentence (did you do?, I didn’t do):What did you do at the weekend? (not What did you at the weekend?)
I didn’t do anything. (not I didn’t anything)D

The past of be (am/is/are) is was/were:I/he/she/it

was/wasn’t

was

I/he/she/it?

we/you/they

were/weren’t

were

we/you/they?

I was annoyed because they were late.
Was the weather good when you were on holiday?
They weren’t able to come because they were so busy.
I wasn’t hungry, so I didn’t eat anything.
Did you go out last night or were you too tired?

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Exercises
5.1

5

Read what Laura says about a typical working day:I usually get up at 7 o’clock and have a big breakfast. I walk to work, whichtakes me about half an hour. I start work at 8.45. I never have lunch. I finish
work at 5 o’clock. I’m always tired when I get home. I usually cook a mealin the evening. I don’t usually go out. I go to bed at about 11 o’clock, and I
always sleep well.
LAURA

Yesterday was a typical working day for Laura. Write what she did or didn’t do yesterday.
7
at 5 o’clock.
1 She got up
at 7 o’clock.
8
tired when
home.
2 She
a big breakfast.
9ameal
yesterday
evening.
3 She.
out yesterday evening.
4 It
to get to work. 10
at 11 o’clock.
5
at 8.45. 11
well last night.
6
lunch. 12
5.2

Complete the sentences using the following verbs in the correct form:
buy

catch

cost

fall

hurt

sell

spend

1 Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music.
2 ‘How did you learn to drive?’ ‘My father
3 We couldn’t afford to keep our car, so we
4 Davedown the stairs this morning and5 Joe
the ball to Sue, who
6 Katea lot of money yesterday. She
£100.
5.3

5.4

teach

throw

write

me.’
it.
his leg.
it.
a dress which

You ask James about his holiday in the US. Write your questions.
1 YOU:
Where did you go ?
JaMES: To the US. We went on a trip from San Francisco to Denver.
2 YOU:
How? By car?
JaMES: Yes, we hired a car in San Francisco.
3 YOU:
It’s a long way to drive. How longJaMES: Two weeks. We stopped at a lot of places along the way.
4 YOU:
Where? In hotels?
JaMES: Yes, small hotels or motels.
5 YOU:
good?
JaMES: Yes, but it was very hot – sometimes too hot.
6 YOU:
the Grand Canyon?
JaMES: Of course. It was wonderful.

?

Complete the sentences. Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.
1 It was warm, so I took off my coat. (take)
2 The film wasn’t very good. I didn’t enjoy it much. (enjoy)
3 I knew Sarah was busy, so I
her. (disturb)
4 We were very tired, so wethe party early. (leave)
5 It was hard carrying the bags. They
really heavy. (be)6 The bed was very uncomfortable. I
well. (sleep)
7 This watch wasn’t expensive. It
much. (cost)
8 The window was open and a bird
into the room. (fly)9 I was in a hurry, so I
time to call you. (have)
10 I didn’t like the hotel. The room
very clean. (be)11
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