Добавил:
Upload Опубликованный материал нарушает ваши авторские права? Сообщите нам.
Вуз: Предмет: Файл:
Рюмина скинула.docx
Скачиваний:
360
Добавлен:
24.03.2015
Размер:
121.43 Кб
Скачать

Grammar reference unit 1

Present Continuous

We use the present continuous

  1. To talk about temporary situations:

I’m studying really hard for my exams.

My cousin is living in Thailand at the moment. (=he doesn’t normally live there).

2.To talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking:

I’m waiting for my friends.

3. To talk about trends or changing situations:

The Internet is making it easier for people to stay in touch with each other.

The price of petrol is rising dramatically.

4. To talk about things that happen more often than expected, often to show

envy or criticize with words like always, constantly, continually, forever:

My mum’s always saying I don’t help enough! (complain)

He’s always visiting exciting places! (envy)

5. To talk about personal or impersonal arrangements:

We’re taking a month off in the summer.

The bank is laying off 200 staff.

State verbs

State verbs are verbs which describe a state rather than an action and therefore do not normally have continuous tenses. These include:

  1. verbs which express likes and dislikes: like, love, dislike, hate, enjoy, prefer, adore, etc. e.g. I love chocolate ice cream.

  2. verbs of 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. e.g. Jim must be at home.I can see his car parked outside.

  3. verbs of perception: know, believe, understand, realize, remember, forget,notice, recognize, think, seem, see(=understand), expect (=think), etc. e.g. I expect they will be late.

  4. some other verbs such as be, contain, include, belong, fit, matter, cost, mean, own, want, owe, have (=possess), require, weigh, wish, keep(=continue),etc. e.g. My uncle owns a hotel.

Some of the above verbs are used in continuous tenses when they describe actions and not states. Study the following examples:

  1. I think he’s lying. (=believe).

I’m thinking about the plan. (= am considering).

  1. The food tastes delicious. (=has a delicious flavour).

He is tasting the food. (=is tasting the flavour of).

  1. I can see some people. (=perceive with my eyes).

I see what you mean. (=understand).

I’m seeing my doctor tomorrow. (=am meeting).

  1. It looks as if they have finished the job. (=appears).

Mike is looking out of the window. (=is directing his eyes).

  1. This perfume smells nice. (=has a nice smell).

He is smelling the milk. (=is sniffing).

  1. The baby’s hair feels like silk. (=has the texture of).

She is feeling the baby’s forehead. (=is touching).

  1. Bob has a Porsche. (=possesses).

He’s having a shower at the moment. (=is taking a shower).

  1. The chicken weighs 2 kilos. (=has a weight of).

The butcher is weighing the meat. (=is measuring how heavy it is).

  1. This dress fits you perfectly. (=it is the right size).

We are fitting new locks. (=are putting in).

  1. He appears to be nervous. (=seems).

He is appearing in a new play. (=is taking part).

  1. He is a rude person. (=character – permanent state).

He is being rude. (=behavior – temporary situation, usually with adjectives such as careful, silly, (im)polite, lazy, etc.)

  1. I enjoy going to parties. (=I enjoy parties in general).

I’m enjoying this party a lot. (=specific preference).