Present tenses

• Present simple

• Present continuous

• Tasks

Overview:

Present simple: Form

POSITIVEI / You / We / They work.He / She / It works.

QUESTIONDo I / you / we / they work?Does he / she work?

WH-QUESTIONWhere do you work?Why doesn’t he work?

NEGATIVEI / You / We / They do not (don’t) work.He / She / It does not (doesn’t) work.

Present Simple: Uses

1. Presenting factual information, e.g. about company activitiesOur company employs over 10.000 people, operates in many overseas markets and offers a wide range of hi-tech products for the 21st century.

2. Actions and situations which are generally trueA good brand guarantees a certain level of quality to customers.We sell our products into many markets.

3. Verbs used only in the present simple

mental states: believe, doubt, forget, imagine, know, realize, recognize, regret, remember, suppose, think, understandliking and disliking: admire, dislike, hate, like, love, want, wishpossession: belong to, contain, have, include, own, possessappearance: appear, look like, resemble, seembeing: be, consist of, depend, existperception: hear, see, smell, taste

4. Saying how often you or other people do thingsI often take files home at the weekend.He never smokes at work.

5. Asking for and giving directions and instructionsPlace the DVD in the drive and click on the icon.How do I get to your office?

6. Talking about timetables and scheduled eventsThe exhibition opens on 25 October.The bus leaves at 8.35 tomorrow morning.

7. Providing a summary or abstract at the beginning of a reportThe first section of this report provides introductory comments, focuses on important new developments and highlights some of our operations outside the United States.

8. Newspaper headlines

Ford seeks to cut $1bn in costs The candidate wins the elections

Fuel prices go up

Present continuous: FormPOSITIVEYou / We / They are working.He / She / It is working.

QUESTIONAm I working?Are you / we / they working?Is he / she / it working?

WH-QUESTIONWho is working?Who is he working with?

NEGATIVEI am(I’m) not working. You / We / They are not working.He / She / It is not working.

Present continuouse: Uses

1. Talking about an event in progress at the moment of speaking

I’m afraid Mr Jones can’t see you right now. He’s interviewing someone.

What are you doing? – I’m trying to find a file.

2. Describing current situations and ongoing projects

We’re waiting for permission to go ahead with the project.

My boss is dealing with your enquiry but you won’t get a rapid answer.

3. Describing temporary situations

She’s staying at the Royal Hotel until the end of the week.

They are offering a 20% discount for the duration of the trade fair.

4. Changing, developing situations

The number of people using Instagram is growing.

Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned with healthy living.

5. Personal arrangements and plans

I’m taking the client to the best restaurant in town.

I’m seeing Mr Morrison next week.

6. Talking about repeated actions

His wife is always telling him not to work so ard.

We are constantly monitoring our products for quality.

Task: Which of these ideas do you associate with the present simple and which with the present continuous?

1. Regular activities _____

2. Temporary activities _____

3. Fixed timetables _____

4. Giving instructions _____

5. An event in progress _____

6. Permanent and factual situations ___

7. A present arrangement for the future ____

8. Mental states _____

9. Trends and changing situations ____

10. Doing by saying ____

Key: Which of these ideas do you associate with the present simple and which with the present continuous?

1. Regular activities PS

2. Temporary activities PC

3. Fixed timetables PS

4. Giving instructions PS

5. An event in progress PC

6. Permanent and factual situations PS

7. A present arrangement for the future PC

8. Mental states PS

9. Trends and changing situations PC

10. Doing by saying PS

Task: Put the verbs in brackets into the present simple or present continuous.

1. I _______ (look at) you contract details on the screen right now.

2. I _______ (look at) the sales results n detail every month.

3. The production line ________ (not, work) at weekends.

4. The production line ________ (not, work) at the moment.

5. Yes, I agree. I _____ (think) it’s a good idea.

6. I _______ (think) about it. I’ll let you know tomorrow.

7. We _______ (take) a sample for testing once a day.

8. We _______ (take) a big risk if we go ahead with the project.

9. They _____ (not, be) usually very flexible in negotiations.

10. They _____ (not, be) very flexible in this negotiation.

Key: Put the verbs in brackets into the present simple or present continuous.

1. I ‘m looking at (look at) you contract details on the screen right now. ‘m looking at

2. I look at (look at) the sales results n detail every month.

3. The production line doesn’t work (not, work) at weekends.

4. The production line isn’t working (not, work) at the moment.

5. Yes, I agree. I think(think) it’s a good idea.

6. I ‘m thinking (think) about. I’ll let you know tomorrow.

7. We take (take) a sample for testing once a day.

8. We ‘re taking (take) a big risk if we go ahead with the project.

9. They aren’t / are not (not, be) usually very flexible in negotiations.

10. They aren’t being / are not being(not, be) very flexible in this negotiation.

Task: Which of the following sentences are correct (put a tick) and which are wrong (correct them).

1. Which wine are you drinking?

2. Which wine are you preferring?

3. I’m not believing it!

4. I’m not doing business with them again!

5. Yes, I’m making a note of all the key points.

6. Yes, I’m knowing exactly what you mean.

7. The building is containing all the printing machines.

8. The building is getting vey old – we’ll have to move.

Key: Which of the following sentences are correct (put a +) and which are wrong (correct them).

1. Which wine are you drinking? +

2. Which wine are you preferring? do you prefer

3. I’m not believing it! I don’t believe it.

4. I’m not doing business with them again! +

5. Yes, I’m making a note of all the key points. +

6. Yes, I’m knowing exactly what you mean. I know ….

7. The building is containing all the printing machines. The building contains

8. The building is getting vey old – we’ll have to move.+

Present tenses mix: Multiple choice – 14 points.

Present tenses mix: Gap-fill – 10 sentences-