Life Intermediate Unit 1a(1) Present continuous and present simple Presentation Use the present continuous: Time expressions • to talk about temporary events and actions in progress at the time of speaking: We often use the present continuous tense with time expressions such as: now, at the moment, currently, today, this week, nowadays, etc. The bus is coming! • To talk about things that are in progress around the time of speaking, but not necessarily at that exact moment: The buses aren’t stopping at the station this week. • to talk about a changing situation: Public transport is getting really expensive! • with always to emphasize a repeated action (which is sometimes annoying): They’re always digging up these roads. Present simple or present continuous? Present simple Present continuous Facts/things that are generally true: The bus stops at the train station. Happening now: The bus is coming! Routines: The bus comes every day. Events in progress around the time of speaking: The buses aren’t stopping at the station this week. Regular change: Public transport gets more expensive every year. Changing situation: Public transport is getting more expensive. With always to talk about habits and routines: They always dig up the road in the summer. With always for repeated (and often annoying) actions: They’re always digging up the road in the summer. 1 © National Geographic Learning Intermediate Unit 1a(1) Exercises Exercises 1 Look at the pictures. Complete the descriptions of the people using the present continuous. Use the negative form where necessary. JOB CENTRE 1 2 2 are looking for Lots of people work these days. (look for) He is not studying (study) for hisEnglish exam. This shop always sells (always/sell)clothes at half price! 4 They are working (work) late everyday this week. Choose the correct options. A: What 1do you watch / are you watching? 3 3 A: Football. Manchester United 5play / are86541 playing Barcelona. _Inter B: The news. The price of petrol 2goes / is going up 8 again. B: No, you can’t. You 6always watch / ’re always media 6 86 watching the football. It’s so boring! I 7te_G never A: It 3gets / is getting more expensive every year. 5 8 54 865 watch / ’m never watching anything I like. W_01 4 8 4 6 1_ B: I know! The price never goes / is never going 41_I 8 a-1 8654 A: But you enjoy / ’re enjoying football. 6 1 5 Int down! nter 8 (1) 1_In 5 _ 4 er B: That’s not true. When you aren’t here, med A: Anyway, can I changeterm the channel? 6 9 4 I 1 m I don’t watch / I’m not watching it. iate 5 86541_In ediat B: Why? What’s on? 1 n _I ed _G 4 e_G _Ithe present continuous. t Use the present simple termediat nt iat Make sentences words. or W_ with the 1 e_GW_0 W_0 nt e er e_ 01a- / develop 1a-1 (1) _I 1a-1 1 They / currently er r m G 1 nt They are currently developing (1) a new type of medicine for the flu. m m ed W (1) er ed e ia _0 2 The postman / deliver / our letters m ia d te 1a The postman is delivering our letters once a day. ed te i _ -1 ia 3 You / always / talk _ a G (1) te You always talk during the movie. It’s so annoying! G t W _ 4 This room / be / always / cold e W _ G _ 0 This room is always cold. _ W 0 G 1a 5 Why / my course fees / go up _ 1a W -1 0 Why are my course fees going up again this term? -1 _ (1 1a 6 It’s night time and the wind / blow (1 0 ) -1 ... It’s night time and the wind blows when there’s a loud scream in the air ) 1 (1 a ) 1 2 © National Geographic Learning