grammar

simple present and continuous, action and nonaction verbs

Gouldi, we

simple present: I live, he works, etc.

1 Ilive in New York. She works in a restaurant.

We don't eat meat. Jack doesn't wear glasses Where do you live? Does the supermarket open on Sundays?

2 She usually has cereal for breakfast.

I'm never late for work.

We only eat out about once a month

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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.

Remember the word order for questions: (question word), auxiliary, subject, base form of verb.

Do you know David? What time does the movie start?

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.

Expressions of frequency usually go at the end of the sentence or verb

phrase. at the beggthing or at the end

present continuous: be + verb + -ing

B No, they broke up. She isn't going out with anyone now

A is your sister still going out with Adam?

The phone's ringing. Can you answer it?

House prices are going up very fast right now.

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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. Remember the spelling rules, e.g., living, studying, getting.

We also use the present continuous for future arrangements (see 18).

action and nonaction verbs

A What are you looking for?

B My car keys

A I'll help you in a minute

B. But I need them now!

A What are you cooking? It smells delicious

B I'm making pasta

A Great! I love pasta

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Verbs that describe actions, eg, cook, make, 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 (NOT actions), eg, be, need, love, are nonaction verbs. 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, mean, need, prefer, realize,

like, love, matter, recognize, remember, seem, suppose, want. Verbs of the senses are usually also nonaction,

e.g., look, smell, taste, and sound.

Verbs that can be both action and nonaction A few verbs have an action and a nonaction

meaning, e.g, have and think

I can't talk now. I'm having lunch. action (have lunch)

I have a cat now, nonaction (possession) What are you thinking about? action (think

about something)

I think this music's great. nonaction (opinion)