J

Present tenses
The present simple and the present continuous tenses are the most common ways
of expressing present time in English. The present simple describes things that are
generally true, while the present continuous describes things that are true at the time
of speaking, but which may change. This unit looks at the present time uses of these
two tenses. They can also express future time (..- Unit 4) and past time (~ 1.1 E, 1.2E).

101A
Form

The form of the present simple verb only changes after he, she or it, when we add -s to
the base form (-es after 0, s, sh, ch and X; -ies when the base form ends in -y):

I read ---> he reads; we watch ---> she watches; they carry ---> it carries
X feFiAe-enjey-heSj3it'ffl-tiF6fflfJS--5e-s-ITe-WfJth--!-~R' e~'Cryweek-:II" Carina enjoys hospital dramas so she watches 'fR' every week.
We form the negative and questions with the auxiliary do (. 6.1 A, 7.1 A). In the
negative we usually use the contracted forms don't and doesn't in speech and informal
writing:

Japanese cooking doesn't use a lot of dairy food.

Do interest rates usually go up in order to reduce inflation?

101B
General truths
and facts

We often use the present simple to state truths

are facts or permanent situations:

Things which are generally

and to describe

things which we feel

true:

British people drink a lot of tea, while Americans drink more coffee.
Facts: Broken bones in adults don't heal as fast as they do in children.
Permanent situations: A colony of Antarctic penguins lives in Marwell Zoo.

101C
Repeated
events/actions

101D
Series of
events/actions

We use the present simple to describe

things that happen on a regular basis:

As temperatures fall with the approach of winter, the soil freezes and contracts ...
The Blairs take their summer holiday in a quiet part of Tuscany.
We often use the present simple with adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often,
sometimes, never) and expressions of frequency (every ... , once a ... ):
Share prices usually change on a daily basis - but often by very little.
Our two chefs provide an excellent choice of hot meals every day.
We use the present simple to describe a series of events or actions
directions or instructions) often with impersonal you:

(e.g. to give

From here you cross the road, go through an iron gate and follow the path west ...
This is similar to the imperative,

but the imperative

can sound more abrupt:

Cross the road, go through an iron gate and follow the path west ...
We use the present simple when we want to express the immediacy of an event, e.g. in
sports commentaries,
particularly when the action being described is a quick one and is
therefore over before the description finishes:

France kicks off, Zidane passes to Henry, Henry cuts inside ...

1.1 E
Other uses

If we wish to give the events of a past narrative or an anecdote more immediacy,

can use the present simple, especially in speech (compare
1.2E):

we

There's an old woman with thick glasses and a name tag. I go up to her and ask ...
Newspaper headlines often use the present simple to express a past event, which again
gives more immediacy to the event:
Addicted Chaplin star gets three years for new drugs lapse.
We use the present simple in formal speech or writing for certain actions:
I note that you referred to the National Curriculum in your speech ...
I look forward to receiving a prompt reply to my enquiry.
We can use the present simple to talk about fixed events in the future
4.4A) or to
express the future after conjunctions of time, e.g. when, after, as soon as
4.40).

1.2A
Form

We form the present continuous with the present

participle of the main verb:
'What are the children doing?'

of the verb be and the present

We usually contract is or are to's or 're in speech and informal writing:

'Well, Alan's drawing in his room and Sophie's watching TV with me.'
Note the following spelling rules for forming the present participle:
Base form + -ing: draw -+ drawing, watch -+ watching, speak -+ speaking
Base form ending in -e + -ing: take -+ taking, receive -+ receiving, create -+ creating
Base form + consonant + -ing: swim -+ swimming, run -+ running
(For past, future and perfect continuous forms
2.2, 2.4, 3.3, 4.1 C, 4.3B, 4.4C.)

o We often

omit the pronoun and auxiliary (is or are) when we repeat the present
continuous in the same sentence:
James and Sally are spending the evening together, watching a new video.
For information on ellipsis
35.3A, B.

1.2B
Things which
are true now

The present continuous describes an action in progress at the moment of speaking or

around the time of speaking. The action is likely to continue after the time of speaking,
but is likely to stop at some point, i.e. it is temporary:
I'll be with you in a minute. I'm just finishing something in the kitchen.
We are staying with John to try and find out if his place really is haunted.
Common adverbs with this form are now, just, still and at the moment:
We're studying the writings of Gunter Grass on the German course now.
We use live, work, study and stay in the continuous if the action is temporary:
X She-stays-in-the-Waldorf
Aster-ie-en-t-f:lis-t4sit-to-New-eF/T;-fJee5fl+she?
V She's staying in the Waldorf Astoria on this visit to New York, isn't she?
Compare: She always stays in the Waldorf Astoria on visits to New York.
1 .1 C)

rOAn
exception to the use of the present continuous to describe actions
Here comes and There goes, which are always in the present simple:
- if --H~re~is-oming-the-postman;-------There----is-going--the-lastbu5;

in progress

V Here comes the postman. There goes the last bus.

Note the inversion of the verb and subject in these phrases.
We also use the present continuous to describe things which are changing:
British summers are getting hotter and winters are getting wetter.
We do not use the present simple to express this:
X Britis-h--stJmmers---get--hetter-ond-wintersget-wet--t-er-:
The present simple describes a regular event which we see as unchanging:
We get a lot of rain during the winter in this part 'of the world.

is

1.2C
Repeated
events

It is possible to use the present continuous to talk about repeated events or actions,
usually if they happen within a temporary period:
I'm feeding the neighbour's cat this week while she's in hospital.
Compare this with the use of the present simple for repeated actions (1Jo- 1.1 C):
Graham's a confirmed smoker. He smokes about fifty cigarettes a day.
(repeated action over a long period of time, possibly most of Graham's life)
Graham's having a tough time at the office at the moment and he's smoking
fifty cigarettes a day! (repeated action in a temporary period)
We can" use the present continuous with an adverb such as always, forever or

about

continually to talk about repeated actions that happen very often, perhaps too often as
far as the speaker is concerned:
The baby's always making cute little gurgling noises.
The neighbours are forever slamming doors and shouting during the night.
I'm always
1.2D
Series of
events

1.2E
Other uses

1.3A
Verbs of
believing,
having,
liking, ete.

forgetting

people's

birthdays.

It's so annoying.

You may hear the present continuous used in sports commentaries,

when the action is
in progress throughout the time of speaking:
They're now entering the back straight and 1 Garrouj is starting to pull away ...
(... and he crosses the line two seconds ahead of his closest rival ... Il>- 1 .1 D)
We can use the present continuous with the present simple to give more immediacy to
a past narrative. We use the continuous for actions which form a background, i.e. they
started before the actions within the narrative:
There's an old woman with thick glasses who's serving the hot drinks, so I go up to
her and ask ... (She started serving before the action of the narrative.)
The present continuous can also express arrangements
in the future (~4.3A).

There are a number of verbs in English which we rarely use in a continuous

often describe states of being, thinking, possessing or feeling:
)( Mes-t-peefJJeareft'.t-believing-iA-the-existenee-ef-IJffis.:.
V Most people don't
The most common

believe

tense. They

in the existence of UFOs.

of these verbs are:

verbs of existing or being

be, consist of, contain, exist

verbs of possessing

belong to, have (= own), include, lack, own, possess

verbs of feeling or wanting

adore, desire, despise, detest, dislike, envy, hate, like,

love, need, pity, prefer, trust, want, wish
believe, doubt, expect, feel (= think), forget, imagine,
intend, know, realise, recognise, remember, see
(= understand), suppose, think, understand

1.36
Using these
verbs in the
continuous

verbs of appearance

appear, resemble, seem

other verbs

concern, depend, deserve, fit, matter, measure, mean,

mind, weigh

It is possible to use many of the verbs in 1.3A in the continuous, but the verb either
has a different meaning or expresses a temporary action:
'Is Maria ready yet?' 'No, she's having a shower.' (= is taking)
Now that there's electricity in the village, Santos is thinking
connected. (= is considering)

of getting

his house

use in present continuous

be

Your son is a very obedient.

child, isn't he?

Your son is being very obedient at the

moment. (= is behaving obediently)

have

They're very rich. They have

three homes and a yacht.

I'm having a really good time, thanks.

I think that the world's

problems are getting worse.

I'm thinking of contributing

mean

The sign means 'slow down '.

You're always meaning to call us, but you

never do. (= are intending)

appear

It appears the police have

not started the investigation.

The Philharmonic are appearing

Palladium. (= are performing)

think

(=

(=

am experiencing)
to Oxfam.

am considering)

at the

I'm weighing the ingredients for the cake.

(=

action of weighing)

o Some verbs of feeling can be used in both the simple and the continuous with no
change in meaning:
My wrist hurts/is hurting again -I must go to the physiotherapist.
I think those mussels may have been off. Do you feel/Are you feeling

1.3C
Sense verbs

OK today?

We do not usually use the continuous form with verbs which describe a sense or a form
of perception, e.g. hear, notice, see, smell, taste:
X f.!m--ne~iiR!J--fhet-!jetJF-wife-f1e~rome-t-f)-f:h.e-wifle-te5t:iflffs~~-s.fle-e-r-i-~

v I notice

that your wife doesn't come to the wine tastings.

Doesn't she drink?

- With verbs which describe a sense, we usually use the simple form or can/could
--- verb when we do not deliberately use the sense, i.e. the use is involuntary:
--Can you smell the fertiliser?

We're really in the countryside

+ the

now!

-With smell and taste, we can use the continuous for a deliberate action:
-4 (can) taste cream in this. (there is cream in the dish; involuntary action)
,-I'm tasting the cream. (the cream might be off; intentional action)
- 0 We usually use the verbs see and hear only in the involuntary sense, unless they
- have a different meaning, e.g. I'm seeing a new man at present (= going out with).
~ We use look at, watch or listen to for an intentional action:
X G(ffl-!jfJtJ-kee{J-f:h.e--ooise-e-ewFf?-I.!m-IJeer-ing-t-he---efterneen-{7Iefje

_ v Can you
1,3D

Performative
verbs

keep the noise down? I'm listening

to the afternoon

play.

We use performative verbs in the first person actually to perform an action, i.e. saying
I apologise performs the action of apologising:
On behalf of the company,

I apoJogise

for any inconvenience

caused.

When these verbs 'perform' the function they express, they do not usually take the
continuous:
Railtrack

apoJogises

for the disruption

to servjces over the last three months.

By saying this, the function of apologising is performed. However, if we use the verb to
describe the action rather than to do it, we can use the continuous:
The Railtrack

chief executive was apoJogising

profusely

Common performative verbs are: accept, agree, apologise,

for the inconvenience.

congratulate, declare,

disagree, forbid, forgive, guarantee, insist, invite, order, predict,

refuse, request, suggest, thank, warn.

~ Pages 70 and 71 for Round up of present and past tenses

promise,

deny,

recommend,

Practice
Write the correct form of the verb in brackets to complete this dialogue. Use the present simple
or the present continuous.
SARAH

RAINER
SARAH
RAINER

SARAH
RAINER

SARAH
RAINER

SARAH

RAINER

SARAH

Welcome to the programme. This afternoon I (1)

(stand) in the middle of the northern
Black Forest, Germany, with Rainer Sanger, from Friends of the Forest.
Good afternoon, Sarah.
Rainer, you're very concerned about this area of the forest, aren't you? Can you tell us why?
Yes. Much of the forest was wiped out in the hurricane last winter, as you can see. Many of the
trees are dead, and more (2)
(die) because of the irreversible damage. We at Friends of
the Forest (3)
(believe) that the authorities (4)
(not/do) enough right now to restore
this beautiful forest to its former state.
But they (5)
(clear) the dead trees away, aren't they? I saw some men on the way here .
Of course, but they (6)
(do) that every year. It's the normal procedure. We need more
trees now, but they (7)
(not/plant) any new trees to replace those that died.
I see. But you have approached the authorities about this, I (8)
(understand).
We have tried, but each time they (9)
(say) that they haven't got enough money to restore
the forest as quickly as we'd like. They (10)
(always/use) money as the excuse. It's getting
really frustrating!
But it's not just an excuse, is it? They clearly (11)
(not/have) enough money for everything,
and the hurricane was an unforeseen occurrence.
Of course, we appreciate that, and the point is that actually, we (12)
(not/ask) for much
money. We would just like their guidance - we can provide volunteers to work on the forest.
Oh, I see. Well, that's somewhat different. Now Rainer, could you tell us ...

Underline the correct verb form in italics for each sentence.

1 The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao houses/is housing Spain's largest collection of Modern Art.
2 We tryout/are

trying out a new paper supplier at the moment. The old one was too expensive.
3 The children don't eat/aren't eating sweets and chocolate before they go to bed at night. It's bad
for their teeth.
4 These animals display/are displaying a great deal of aggression if disturbed.
5 We currently show/are currently showing the film 'Star Wars' at all Odeon cinemas in the region.
6 Quick! Get rid of all the mess! Here come/are coming Mum and Dad!
7 The weather forecast says there'll be wind from the north-west tonight. That always brings/is
bringing snow with it at this time of year.
8 The rubbish collectors come/are coming on Fridays in this area. They don't take/aren't taking
rubbish not left in black plastic bags.
9 You always complain/are always complaining and it really gets on my nerves! Why can't you just
accept things and relax?
10 Does the orchestra play/Is the orchestra playing at the Town Hall this week? I'd really like to see
their new concert.
11 Swimming provides/is providing exercise for more muscle groups than any other physical activity.
12 What do you consider/are you considering to be the lowest price they'll sell the house for?

iO

Rewrite these sentences from newspaper articles as headlines to the articles. Use the underlined
words and phrases to help you.
The chief inspector of prisons last night called
for the release of the Bul!!er killers.

A High Court judge has blocked the proposed

ban on tobacco adverts.

The chief of police admitted that errors were

made during the Chinese President's visit to
the UK.

Radio 1, the BBe's pop music station, has

outshone all its commercial radio rivals in a
recent poll.

The private member's bill on fox-hunting did

not achieve the support needed last night to
become law.

The government of India has snubbed the

Pope on the eve of his visit to the country,
as they have refused his invitation to attend
a multi-faith gathering.

Makers of the latest Leonardo DiCaprio film

are facing a huge protest from locals over
their treatment of a beach used for filming.

Complete this newspaper report. Write the verbs in brackets in the correct form, present simple
or present continuous.
It's summer. A man is out for a quiet walk. He's walking along a country roa~~he
(1)
(mind) his own business when he (2)
(be knocked down) and s;;r~sly
injured
by a minivan. The man, a writer of thrillers and horror fiction, (3)
(survive) but he
(4)
(become) obsessed with the vehicle that maimed him. He doesn't bear a grudge
against the driver. Instead, he (5)
(buy) the minivan and (6)
(hide) it.
This sounds like the plot of a Stephen King thriller, but it is in fact the latest chapter in the
writer's real life. King has bought the van and he (7)
'.. (intend) to take a sledgehammer
to
it. At present King (8)
(recover) from his injuries at horne, where he (9)
(suffer
fram a 6fOken hip, a fractured leg and a collapsed lung. The story is uncannily like the plot
of his novel Thinner (written several years previously), in which the victim's family
(10)
(put) a curse on the driver. King, however, (11)
(demand) only the withdrawal
of the driver's licence. As for the minivan, we (12)
(not know) if King will actually carry
out his revenge or if he is simply hatching the plot for a new novel!
r

'J

5
Read each pair of sentences below, A and B. The sentence which follows each pair is related to
one of the sentences in the pair. (For example, it could come after the sentence or describe the
sentence.) Write the letter of the correct sentence in the box.
0 A Steven's a difficult child.
B Steven's being difficult.

'< He isn't usually difficult.

A This salmon weighs more than six kilos.

B We're weighing the salmon to put a price on it.
'x This is a characteristic of the salmon.

2 A I invite everyone present to the opening of the new superstore.

B I'm inviting everyone

to the opening

of the new superstore.

I'm offering this invitation to you now.

3 A The dance group appears to have arrived at the theatre.
B The dance group is appearing

at the theatre.

There are performances every evening.

4 A Mmm. I taste cinnamon in this. Lovely.
B I'm tasting

it to see if there's

enough cinnamon

in it.

I need to check the quantity of cinnamon.

5 A I think house prices will rise again next year.
B I'm thinking

of selling my house next year.

This is my opinion.
6 A My sister has a baby.
B My sister's having a baby.

My sister's pregnant.
7 A I smell lavender. Is there a bush in the garden?
B I'm smelling the lavender.

It's a very strong variety.

The smell has just come to my attention.

8 A He's having a shower.
B He has a fantastic

power shower in the main bathroom.

Why don't you wait in the living room?

9 A We guarantee that your children will be supervised by experienced
B My husband and I are guaranteeing the loan for Mrs Knight.

The company takes full responsibility.

10 A Is this an inadequate explanation or am I being stupid?
B I'm sorry, I don't understand. Am I really so stupid?
Is this a permanent characteristic of mine?

instructors.

0
0

In about half of the lines of the following text there is an error in the use of the present forms.
For each numbered line (1-22), underline the error and write the correct form. ~e
lines are'
correct. Indicate these with a tick (V). The exercise begins with two examples (0 and 00) .

'

'ell-

.--..-

'~';,.;~'(

:'--\' s

,-""-

"~

:~

Every year more and more tourists

00 enchanted

by these lush green islands in a turquoise

1 about the possibility

t!.

are visiting the Ionian Islands, and most are

of owning property

sea. Many now think

.. M'.~MW:.~.

in this warm, unspoilt corner of

2 Europe. Appeals the idea to you? If so, read on!

3 Imagine yourself standing on a wide terrace high on a cliff above the

4 clear Ionian Sea, th'e' island of Zakynthos

in the distance. The sun is beating

5 down and you are hearing the cicadas and the sound of waves lapping

6 gently against the golden sand below. You can smell the heady scent of

7 jasmine. You walk down a steep, stony path to the beach and there is lying

8 the turquoise
9 experience
10 We currently

sea, right in front of you. We're inviting you to share this

with us.

.
.

develop a complex of luxury apartments

11 Lourdas, in the south of Cephalonia.

just outside

Cephalonia is the largest and the

12 most varied of the Ionian Islands, and Lourdas is a traditional

13 village with a variety of shops and tavernas.

Greek

Behind the village the

14 mountains are rising steeply and goats roam freely. From the village a

15 road winds down to Lourdas Bay. The wide sweep of the bay shelter a

16 long sandy beach which is almost totally

17 local developers

uncommercialised,

although

build a range of bars and tavernas on a strip of land

1~~ehind ~e b~~
~9
We have completed

-y

if

<j:!J'-U

r'J-.,'P,A.d

our show apartment

k ~

~[~'/ ,;jiJt'd; ..(JrJt;. .....

and we now show prospective

- ..-..-..-..~

~~

f-.
~

20 purchasers the apartment,

either in person at the site, or at our

21 London office, on videGjo

take part in this once-in-a-lifetime

22 phone us now and talk to one of our sales representatives.

offer,
..