Around the present

EXERCISE № 215. Complete the sentences with suitable verbs. Use one of the Present tenses.

1. I don't want to spend a lot of money today because I …………as much as I can until I …………on holiday.

2. I remember meeting your brother last summer, but I …………him this year. What …………since then?

3. I …………with my cousin in London. I …………there before, but he …………there for several years, so he can show me around.

4. I'm sorry I am late. …………a long time?

5. Why …………for a little while? You …………a break since we started work.

6. We …………this stupid film since lunchtime. Let's switch over to the other channel.

7. Jenny's really excited about going to Spain. She …………there before, although she …………Spanish for several years.

8. Peter rarely …………time to visit his parents these days, but he …………lunch with them tomorrow because it's his father's birthday.

EXERCISE № 216. Open the brackets and put the verbs into one of the Present tenses.

1. It is the third time he ………… (miss) a meeting.

2. Since I ………… (know) him, he …………always (wear) the same clothes.

3. We…………(study) Shakespeare at school at the moment.

4. I think I ………… (get) more forgetful as I grow older.

5. I ………… (ring) her all morning but she never seems to be in.

6. This is the latest washing machine. – Could you show me how it …………(wash)? – Shall I give you a demonstration? It …………(be) so simple. You ………… (take) some sheets and shirts. You ………… (put) them in the machine. You …………(shut) this door. And you ………… (push) this button.

7. I ………… (reckon) Helen………… (be) held up in traffic.

8. He ………… (sound) as if he ………… (run) all the way here.

9. When ………… you (come) to London, darling? I can’t wait to see you.

10. Ever since I first heard it I ………… (try) to find a recording of that song.

11. I ………… (mean) to tell you all about it since the weekend.

12. The coach ………… (leave) in 10 minutes. Hurry up!

13. She is one of the most photogenic women he …………(ever/work) with.

14. He hugged her to him and said against her cheek, “I………… (miss) you ever so much.”

15. Who ………… (be) I to criticize her?

16. I ………… (not/be) honest with you, Larry. I ………… (hide) my true identity from you.

17. She …………(be) rather obstinate at the moment.

18. You are too bossy. You ………… (become) another Napoleon!

19. This parcel ………… (smell). ‒ Something is written on it. ‒ What …………it (say)? – It ………… (say): “This parcel ………… (contain) six mice.”

20. I’m so happy, James. I ………… (never/be) happier in my life!

21. The winner ………… (take) it all.

22. Thank you for this splendid treat, and my compliments to the chef. He ………… (outdo) himself tonight.

23. What’s that stupid English expression you …………(always/use)? – Before you can say Jack Robinson.

24. The bank ………… (not/exist) any more, because all the money ………… (disappear) without a trace.

25. We ………… (owe) ecology an apology.

26. Hello, it ………… (be) Susan from your flat in White Street. I………… (phone) to let you know there is a broken window. We can’t close it and it’s really cold!

27. I ………… (be) so ugly! – Why ………… you (not/go) to a beauty saloon?

28. Mobile phones ………… (get) smaller.

EXERCISE № 217. Make up a dialogue to illustrate different uses of all present tenses.

EXERCISE № 218. Explain the difference between the following pairs of sentences.

She is crazy. She is being crazy.	My wife has a headache. My wife is having a headache.
Do you ever have green tea for breakfast? Have you ever had green tea for breakfast?	My watch works perfectly. My watch is working perfectly.
He always smokes. He is always smoking.	How long have you lived in Paris? How long have you been living in Paris?
He has lived in London for 3 years. He has been living in London for 3 years.	I enjoy the seaside. I am enjoying the seaside.
The sink leaks. The sink is leaking.	Which team do you support? Which team are you supporting?
She wears French perfume. He is wearing French perfume.	I have read the book you lent me. I have been reading the book you lent me.
I have always wanted such a car. I have always been wanting such a car!	We have learned how to play volleyball. We have been learning how to play volleyball.
The car is difficult to drive. The car is being difficult.	The firm gives company cars to junior managers. The firm has been giving company cars to junior managers.
She has read the Times. She is reading the Times.	He has eaten my chocolates. He has been eating my chocolates.
We’ll go to the circus after you eat your porridge. We’ll go to the circus after you have eaten your porridge.	My sister has a baby. My sister’s having a baby.
What have you done? What have you been doing?	Who sleeps in this room? Who is sleeping in this room?