Contrast the Present Simple with the Present Continuous Tense, and explain the difference

Circle the correct words.

1. He isn’t watching / doesn’t watch a match now. He is in the library.

2. Paddy often watches / is often watching football matches with his friends.

3. Do you work / Are you working or I can come in?

4. My English is getting / gets a lot better.

5. He usually stays / is staying in his flat in London, but he is staying / stays with his parents at the moment.

6. I spend / am spending more time with my girlfriend these days.

7. We don’t write/ aren’t writing to each other very often.

State and action verbs

We use simple and progressive tenses with action verbs.

The meaning of the verb doesn’t change.

I often eat fruit.→ I’m eating an apple now.

I go home at lunchtime. .→I’m going home now.

Мы можем использовать только простые (неопределенные) времена глаголов, не обозначающих действия (e.g. believe, belong, hate, know, like, love, need, prefer, see, understand).

I want to be alone.

Yes, I remember now.

The list of state (or nonprogressive) verbs.

know realize understand recognize

believe feel suppose think*

imagine doubt remember forget

want need prefer mean

love like appreciate hate

dislike fear envy mind

care

possess have* own belong

taste* smell* hear feel*

see*

seem look* appear* cost

owe weigh* be* exist

consist of contain include

Глаголы, отмеченные звездочкой, могут также использоваться в длительных временах, но с другим значением, как в следующих предложениях:

Nonprogressive Progressive

I think he is a kind man. I am thinking

about this grammar.

He has a car. I am having

trouble.

This food tastes good. The chef is tasting

a sauce.

These flowers smell good. Don is smelling

the roses.

Tick the correct sentences and correct the wrong ones.

1. Jack isn’t liking the book.

2. I’m listening to a great piece of music.

3. George doesn’t know the answer.

4. I’m sorry but I’m not agreeing with you.

5. I’m thinking my answer is wrong.

6. You aren’t understanding the joke.

3. Complete Michel’s message to the English Contacts website with the verbs below.

Understand love belong like want think

My name is Michel and I’m twenty-two. I come from Belgium but at the moment I’m studying English in London. I _____ painting and I _____ to be a professional artist in the future. I also _____ to a youth theatre group in Liege and enjoy acting. I don’t have time for sport at the moment but I like swimming. I also_____ crime novels (at the moment I’m reading books by P.D.James). Thanks to my course, I _____ my English is getting better and now I _____ more when people speak to me. My friends say that I’m romantic and cheerful. Oh, I’m also crazy about football. This is my first post – if you have the same interests as me, please write!

Now write a short introduction about yourself for the English Contacts website.

Contrast the Present Simple with the Present Continuous Tense, and explain the difference.

1. He (speak) five foreign languages.

2. He now (learn) French.

3. The moon (go) round the Earth.

4. He (listen) to his favourite pop-group. Don`t disturb him.

5. He always (complain) about his health.

6. I don`t like any of the candidates. None of them (speak)

well.

7. The term (end) in January.

8. You (understand) what he (talk) about?

9. You (stand) in my way.