3. Read and translate the sentences. Comment on the use of the Present Simple.

1. Wisdom comes with age. 2. Travel broadens the mind. 3. — Do you believe in miracles? — I do. 4. Palermo is the capital of Sicily. 5. No one in this world is perfect. 6. Students buy a 1ot of books at the beginning of each term. 7. Tourism has many benefits. 8. Frank has a good head for figures. 9. We also think that good travel arrangements are essential for a successful holiday. 10. That’s the way it usually happens. 11. The client is always right. 12. I often sleep with the window open. 13. My mother doesn’t like it when we play in the street. 14. The beauty of the Internet is that you can get virtually anything that your heart desires. 15. Every generation has its way. 16.I watch evening news every day. 17. — Do you have a sweet tooth? — Yes, several. 18. The train to Moscow leaves at 3 a.m. 19. France kicks off, Zidane passes to Henry, Henry cuts inside… 20. The story begins when Erin gets in a car accident and loses her memory. 21. Lee swings his bat and scores a home run. 22. The football match starts at 8 p.m.

4. Put the verbs in brackets into the appropriate form.

A.

1. Britain (to have) very strict laws about bringing animals into the country, but every year many people (to try) to import animals illegally. 2. The swimming bath (to open) at 9.00 and (to close) at 18.30 every day. 3. I have a car but I (not to use) it very often. 4. How many cigarettes (you/to smoke) a day? 5. “Where (your father/to come) from?” – “He (to come) from Wales”. 6. Water (to boil) at 100 degrees. 7. Nearly all farmers in this country (to care) about plants and wild animal conservation. 8. If you need money, why (you/not to get) a job? 9. What time (the banks/close) in Britain? 10. Rice (not to grow) in Europe. 11. “What (you/do)?” – “I’m an electrical engineer”. 12. I (not to know) anybody who (to enjoy) filling in Value Added Tax forms.

B.

1. This man (know) from his experience what it (mean). 2. Nothing (happen) by accident. 3. As man (grow) older, he (tend) to be more keptical. 4. My mother often (tell) me that you not (leave) your problems behind you when you (go) to another place. Pain and heartache (travel) well. And indeed they (do). 5. Mrs. Osborne (own) this business, and she (run) it herself. 6. He (be) a complete mystery to me. 7. What he (do) for a living? 8. In Rome every building (tell) its own story. 9. When the weather (heat) up and you (need) to cool down, a lake, a river, a pool — is what your body and soul (need). 10. My great-grandmother is very old, but she (hear, see and understand) everything quite well. 11.1 (remember) that Margaret (own) a villa on the Adriatic. 12. “The Bible (say) that the heart of man is exceedingly wicked,” the Pastor replied.

5. Revise the following grammar rules.

A BIT OF GRAMMAR STATIVE VERBS Stative Verbs are verbs which describe a state rather than an action and therefore do not normally have continuous tenses. These include: a) verbs which express likes and dislikes: like, love, dislike, hate, enjoy, prefer, adore, etc. b) verbs of the senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel, look, sound. We often use can or could with these verbs when we refer to what we see, hear, etc. at the moment of speaking, Look, watch and listen express deliberate actions and can be used in continuous forms. e.g. John is watching a football game on TV. He can’t see or hear you. c) verbs of perception: know, believe, understand, remember, forget, notice, recognize, think, seem, see (=understand), expect (=think), etc. d) some other verbs such as be, contain, include, belong, fit, need, matter, cost, mean, own, want, owe, have (=possess), require, weigh, wish, keep (=continue), etc. Some of the above verbs are used in continuous tenses when they describe actions and not states. Study the following examples: State I think he is lying. (= believe) The food tastes delicious. (= has a delicious flavour) I can see some people. (= perceive with my eyes) I see what you mean. (= understand) It looks as if they’ve finished the job. ( = appears) This perfume smells nice. (= has a nice smell) The baby’s hair feels like silk. (= has the texture of) Bob has a Porsche. (= possesses) This dress fits you perfectly. (= it is the right size) He appears to be nervous. (= seems) He is a rude person. (= character – permanent state) Action I’m thinking about the plan. (= am considering) He is tasting the food. (= is testing the flavour of it) I’m seeing my doctor tomorrow. (= am meeting) Mike is looking out of the window. (= is directing his eyes) He is smelling the milk. (= is sniffing) She is feeling the baby’s forehead. (= is touching) Bob is having a shower at the moment. (= is taking a shower) We are fitting new locks. (= are putting in) He is appearing in a new play. (= is taking part) He is being rude. (= behaviour – temporary situation)