I’m sorry, but …

• I’m sorry, but you have to be better than this.

• I’m doing the best I can.

• I’m sorry, but you have to walk faster than this.

• I’m walking as fast as I can.

• I’m sorry, but you have to work harder than this.

• I’m working as hard as I can.

• It’s not enough.

It’s not good enough.

• I’m doing my best.

• Try a little harder.

• But I’m doing my best.

• Try a little harder.

• I can’t, I can’t.

• Don’t say ‘can’t’.

• I won’t, I won’t. But I’m doing my best.

• Do a little better.

• I’m doing my best.

• Try a little harder.

• I’ll try, I’ll try.

Exercise 1. Say and respond as in the model:

Model 1

• I am reading an enquiry. And what about you?

• I am reading an enquiry too. (And I am reading an offer.)

1. to write a letter

2. to meet customers

3. to work in the office

4. to have lunch

Model 2

• He is working. And what about you?

• I am working too. (And I am having lunch)

1. to speak to the manager

2. to have talks

3. to look through the catalogues

4. to speak on the phone

Model 3

• We are having talks. And what about you?

• We are having talks too. (And we are having a meeting)

1. to discuss the prices

2. to receive customers

3. to discuss political events

4. to discuss an offer from Green & Co

Model 4

• Our Sales Manager is writing an enquiry. And what about our Commercial Director?

• Our Commercial Director isn’t writing an enquiry. He is having talks.

1. to speak to the manager

2. to look through the catalogues

3. to discuss political events

4. to discuss prices

Model 5

• Is Mr. Bell reading a fax?

• No, he isn’t. He is writing a letter.

1. to have lunch

2. to speak to the secretary

3. to receive customers

4. to speak on the phone

Model 6

• What is the manager doing now?

• He is reading an offer from GML.

1. to write a letter to Bell & Co

2. to discuss an offer from Green & Co

3. to look through the mail

4. to speak with the employees

Exercise 2. Compare the use of the Present Continuous and the Present Simple Tenses:

1. What are you doing, Jane? Are you still looking for your gloves? You are always losing your things!

2. What does he do for a living? – He is an economist.

3. I am learning to drive a car now. Next month I am getting my driving license.

4. Tom drives very well. He is always very careful when driving.

5. We usually grow tomatoes in our garden but this year we are not growing any.

6. Do you understand the problem they are discussing?

7. It is cold today. It is snowing. It often snows at this time of the year.

8. You will help us a lot if you continue your investigations.

9. Mike doesn’t speak English, does he?

10. Listen to them! What language are they speaking?

11. The Moon goes round the Earth.

12. Is it true that Jane and Paul are getting married in January?

Exercise 3. Practise the use of the Present Continuous (Progressive) and the Present Simple (Indefinite) Tenses:

I.

1. You (to hear) this noise downstairs? What can it be?

a) you hear b) are you hearing c) do you hear d) you are hearing

2. Have you heard about Tom? He (to build) a new house now.

a) build b) are building c) builds d) is building

3. You’ll have to put on your rubber boots if it (not to stop) raining in a couple of hours.

a) do not stop b) is not stopping c) doesn’t stop d) are not stopping

4. If I (to have) some time in the evening, I’ll repair your bicycle.

a) am having b) are having c) have d) has

5. Excuse me, but you (to stand) on my foot.

a) stands b) is standing c) are standing d) stand

6. She (to give) two concerts in London next week.

a) are giving b) give c) gives d) is giving

7. What time the children (to come) from school, as a rule?

a) do come b) are coming c) am coming d) come

8. Why you (to smell) the meat? It (not to be) fresh?

a) are smelling b) is smelling c) does smell d) smell

a) are not b) isn’t c) am not d) don’t be

9. She always (to let) me down.

a) let b) lets c) are letting d) am letting

10. You (to believe) in God?

a) does believe b) are believing c) do believe d) believe

II.

1. Have you got a light? – Sorry, I (not to smoke)

2. My wife has never been to France. She (to plan) to go there next summer.

3. Your car is so clean. How often you (to wash) it?

4. Students often (to think) that exams (to be) a nuisance.

5. Peter seldom (to tell) the truth. You can’t believe everything he (to say).

6. You (to understand) what he (to talk) about?

7. Nancy (to look) like her father.

8. What you (to do)? – I’m an engineer.

9. The soup (to taste) good.

10. Your brother (to be) a student now? – Yes, he (to study) at the University.

11. Ann (to play) the piano better than Susan. And who (to play) now? I (to think) it (to be) Susan.

12. What you (to do) tomorrow evening? – I (to go) to the theatre.

13. I usually (not to have) breakfast before I (to go) to work.

14. She often (to take) my dictionary but seldom (to remember) to bring it back. If tomorrow she (to ask) me for the dictionary again, I won’t give it to her.

15. What a beautiful dress you (to wear)!

16. He is a night watchman. He (to work) at night and (to sleep) in the daytime.

17. She is a dietician. She (to help) people to choose the right food.

18. They say if you (to see) a black cat, you won’t have good luck.

19. Jane (to be) in Paris now. She (to learn) French there.

20. If Pete (to continue) to drive his car carelessly, he’ll get into a traffic accident.

21. You always (to complain) about the weather!

22. Take the saucepan off the cooker! The water (to boil).

23. I’m afraid you can’t see my daughter now. She (to have) a musical lesson at the moment. She always (to have) it on Friday mornings.

24. She (to be) still ill, but she (to get) better now.

25. It often (to rain) here?

26. Don’t interrupt me while I (to talk) to somebody else.

27. He is a doctor, but he (not to work) at the moment.

28. What he (to do)? – He (to try) to get the car started.

29. In Britain most shops (to close) at 5.30 p.m.

30. I’m sorry it’s too noisy, but we (to move) the furniture.