UNIT 1: Present simple and Continuous

A. Present simple

• The present simple has two forms.

  I, you, we, they	get, study, watch, go
  he, she, it	+ -s → gets
  	or + -es → watches, goes
  	or + -ies → studies

• We use do/does not + verb to make negatives.
  I, you, we, they don’t get, study, watch, go
  he, she, it doesn’t get, study, watch, go

• We use do/does + verb to make questions.
  Do I, you, we, they get, study, watch, go?
  Does he, she, it get, study, watch, go?

• We use the present simple:

• for things we do regularly.
  I walk to school with a friend every day.
  My sister doesn’t go to the sports club very often.
  What do you do on Sundays?

• for facts.
  We live near my grandparents.
  The weather doesn’t get very cold here.

• for verbs called state verbs (we don’t normally use these verbs in a continuous tense) which describe what we think and feel.
  believe, hate, know, like, love, mean, need, own, prefer, understand, want

Mike knows the answer to your question.
Alice doesn’t understand what you want.
I don’t remember your address.
What does this word mean?
Do you like this club?
Does your teacher own a sports car?

B. Present continuous

• We use am, are, is + -ing to make the present continuous.

• We use ’m not, aren’t, isn’t to make negatives.

• We use am, are, is to make questions.

• We use the present continuous:

• for something that’s happening now.
  We’re doing our homework. (= we’re in the middle of it now)

• for something temporary around now.
  I’m helping my dad in his office this week.
  (= I don’t help him every week)

• for future plans.
  They’re playing table tennis after school. (= they plan to play table tennis)

Practice

1. Complete the sentences with the verbs in the present simple.

1 …………………… (you / prefer) volleyball or basketball?
2 Angelo never …………………… (choose) sandwiches for lunch because he …………………… (not like) bread.
3 We …………………… (not see) our cousins very often because they …………………… (live) in America.
4 Where …………………… (he / go) after school?
5 We …………………… (not want) to hang out with Marc.
6 Sara …………………… (not play) football but she …………………… (watch) it on TV.
7 …………………… (they / understand) the questions?
8 Emma …………………… (study) French and Spanish.

2. Complete the sentences with the verbs in the present continuous.

1 I …………………… (cycle) to the beach with some friends next weekend.
2 My brother …………………… (not watch) sport on TV this week because of his exams.
3 A: What …………………… (you do) at the moment?
B: We …………………… (watch) a nature film because we …………………… (study) insects at school this term.

3. Choose the correct form of the verbs.

(1) I sit / I’m sitting on the bus with my friends. (2) We go / We’re going to the match in London. Our team (3) plays / is playing in the final this afternoon, so we’re very excited. Our team (4) doesn’t play / isn’t playing in the final very often, but this season (5) they play / they’re playing really well. (6) We all believe / We’re all believing they can win. After the match (7) we have / we’re having dinner in London. (8) I want / I’m wanting to go to a restaurant near the stadium but (9) they get / they’re getting very busy on match days, so (10) we eat / we’re eating at a place in another part of the city.