2.5. The use of the present simple instead of the present continuous

We use continuous tenses only for actions and happenings. (They are eating/ It’s raining). The following verbs are not used in continuous tenses, because they are not action verbs. They are used in the Present Simple:

verbs of wish:	want, need, prefer
verbs of feeling and emotion:	love, hate, like
verbs of mental activity:	know, realize, suppose, mean, understand, believe, remember
verbs of sense perception:	see, hear, smell, taste
other verbs:	belong, contain, consist, depend, seem

• Do you understand what I mean?

• Ann doesn’t seem very happy.

• Do you hear the noise?/ Can you hear the noise?

• Your perfume smells so nice.

• The pie tastes sweet.

• I see John in the street now.

Note1: It is possible to use the verb to see in the continuous when it means to have a meeting with somebody:

• I’m seeing John tomorrow. = I’m meeting John tomorrow.

  Note2: With the verbs to look and feel both the present simple or continuous are possible:

• You look well today. = You are looking well today.

• How do you feel now? = How are you feeling now?

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Note3: When the verb to think means someone’s opinion it is used only in the present simple:

• What do you think about this hotel?

Что вы думаете/ ваше мнение об этом отеле?

• I think the service is very good.

Я думаю/мое мнение, обслуживание здесь хорошее.

Note4: When the verb to think means some activity (a thinking process) it may be used in the continuous form:

• What are you thinking about?

О чем вы думаете/ над чем размышляете?

• I’m thinking about my Greek friend.

Я думаю о моем греческом друге.

Note5: When the verb to have means to possess it is used only in the present simple:

• I have many friends now.

Note6: When the verb to have + a noun means some activity it may be used in the continuous form:

• We are having a great time now!

• They are having a party soon.

Note7: We use am/is/are being + an adjective to say that somebody is behaving in an unusual way at a given moment, but it’s not possible in other types of sentences:

• The director is being angry today. He is usually kind.

• It is hot today. (not it is being hot)

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Ex1

Correct mistakes if you find any (see unit 2.5):

1) I’m seeing the manager tomorrow morning.

2) I’m feeling hungry. Is there anything to eat?

3) Are you believing in God?

4) This sauce is great. It’s tasting really nice.

5) I’m thinking this is your key. Am I right?

Ex2

Look at the pictures. Use the words in brackets to make sentences:

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Ex3

Correct mistakes if you find any (see unit 2.5):

1) I’m having a date tomorrow.

2) I’m having a new dress.

3) What are you meaning?

4) This house is belonging to me.

5) I’m being tired now.

Ex4

Look at the pictures. Use the words in brackets to make sentences:

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Ex5

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form, present continuous or present simple:

E.g.: Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat? ( you/ want)

1) Jill is interested in politics, but she………….. to a political party. (not/belong)

2) Don’t put the dictionary away. I………………….………it. (use)

3) Don’t put the dictionary away. I……………...…………it. (need)

4) Who is that man? What……………………..………...? (he/want)

5) Who is that man? Why…………………………….at us? (he/look)

6) George says he is 80 years old, but nobody……..….him. (believe)

7) She told me her name but I…………… .…it now. (not remember)

8) I…….………of selling my car. (think) Would you be interested in buying it?

9) I…………….you should sell your car. (think) You…….……….it very often. (not/use)

10) I used to drink a lot of coffee, but these days I…...…..tea. (prefer)

11) Air………………….. mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. (consist)

Ex6

Complete the sentences, using the most suitable form of the verb to be (see note7, page 28):

E.g. I can’t understand why he is being so selfish. He has never been selfish before.

1) Jack………….…very nice to me at the moment. I wonder why.

2) You’ll like Jill when you meet her. She…………..… very nice.

3) Normally you are very sensible, so why………..so silly about this matter?

4) Why isn’t Sarah at work today? ………………………..……ill?

5) Put on your cap! The weather……………………..too hot now!

6) The teacher…………..…………too kind to her students today.

7) His telephone calls…………...….so annoying, especially now!

8) This guy…………….……………very stylish and well-dressed.

9) Look! She…….. so polite to foreign guests! She was furious just now.

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Ex3

Form аll possible questions to the following sentences:

1) Mr. Smith reads the Times after breakfast. 2) Не lives in а small town in the North of Poland. 3) The children often stay at home when it rains. 4) Ann is helping her mother in the kitchen. 5) My elder daughter doesn't like porridge. 6) They are travelling around Europe with all their big family now.

Ex4

Use the Present Continuous or the Present Indefinite instead оf the infinitives in brackets:

1) Wait for me, Alice. I (to come) too. 2) I (to be) afraid I (not to understand) you. 3) What you (to think) about it? - I (to think) you (to be) right. 4) What you (to think) about, Jim?-I (not to think) of anything, I just (to have) а rest. 5) Catherine (to bе) in the garden. She (to pick) cherries. 6) I (to bе) sorry, Jack-son, but my friend (not to feel) very well, so drive us back, please. 7) Сan you hear what hе (to say)? 8) The girl you (to talk) about (to bе) the eldest daughter of my old friend. 9) What you (to see) there? - I can't see quite well, but it (to seem) to me Lucy (to come). 10) What you (to look) at? - I simply (to look) about. 11) You always (to smile) when you (to see) him? 12) She always (to smile) when she (to talk) to him? 13) Mother (to say) Aunt Julia (to leave) оn Thursday and Ann (to leave) with her. 14) Appetite (to come) with eating. 15) My sister (to practise) the piano; she usually (to practise) it about this time. 16) I (to hear) his voice in the next room. 17) What you (to listen) to? - I (to listen) to music. 18) She often (to come) to see you? - Not so often, she (to bе) а student now and (to bе) very busy. 19) Who else (to go) with you to Bulgaria? 20) When hе (to go) to Bulgaria hе always (to take) some presents to his Bulgarian friends. 21) Who (to live) in this house? 22) Whom this umbrella (to belong to)? 23) Why you (to shout) at me? 24) Usually he is very calm, but today he (to be) so excited. Nobody (to know) why. 25) Don’t pay attention to them. They always (to gossip).

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