4. PRESENT CONTINUOUS AND PRESENT SIMPLE 2 (I am doing and I do)

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

4. PRESENT CONTINUOUS AND PRESENT SIMPLE 2

(I am doing and I do)

A	We use continuous forms for actions and happenings that have started but not finished (they are eating / it is raining etc.). Some verbs (for example, know and Like) are not normally used in this way. We don't say 'I am knowing' or 'they are liking'; we say 'I know', 'they Like'. The following verbs are not normally used in the present continuous: Like          want             need               prefer           know                 realise                suppose                mean        understand              believe               remember              belong           fit           contain           consist        seem I'm hungry. I want something to eat. (not I'm wanting Do you understand what I mean? Anna doesn't seem very happy at the moment.
B	Think When think means 'believe' or 'have an opinion', we do not use the continuous: I think Mary is Canadian, but I'm not sure. (not I'm thinking) What do you think of my plan? (=What is your opinion?) When think means 'consider', the continuous is possible: I'm thinking about what happened. I often think about it. Nicky is thinking of giving up her job. (=she is considering it)
C	See hear smell taste We normally use the present simple (not continuous) with these verbs: Do you see that man over there? (not Are you seeing) This room smells. Let’s open a window. We often use can + see/hear/smell/taste: I can hear a strange noise. Can you hear it?
D	Look feel You can use the present simple or continuous to say how somebody looks or feels now: You Look well today. or You're Looking well today. How do you feel now? or How are you feeling now? but I usually feel tired in the morning. (not I'm usually feeling)
E	He is selfish and He is being selfish He's being= He's behaving I He's acting. Compare: I can't understand why he's being so selfish. He isn't usually like that. (being selfish = behaving selfishly at the moment) He never thinks about other people. He is very selfish. (not He is being) (= He is selfish generally, not only at the moment) We use am/is/are being to say how somebody is behaving. lt is not usually possible in other sentences: It's hot today. (not  It is being hot) Sarah is very tired. (not is being tired)

EXERCISES

4.1	Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple. 1 Are you hungry? ____ Do you want ___ (you /want) something to eat? 2 Don't put the dictionary away. _______ (I /use) it. 3 Don't put the dictionary away. _______ (1 /need) it. 4 Who is that man? What _______ (he /want )? 5 Who is that man? Why _______ (he /look) at us? 6 Alan says he's 80 years old, but nobody_______ (believe) him. 7 She told me her name, but _______ (I /not I remember) it now. 8 _______ (I /think) of selling my car. Would you be interested in buying it? 9 _______ (I /think) you should sell your car. _______ (you /not /use) it very often. 10 Air _______ (consist) mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.
4.2	Use the words in brackets to make sentences. (You should also study Unit 3 before you do this exercise.)
4.3	Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct them where necessary. 1 Nicky is thinking of giving up her job. __OK___ 2 Are you believing in God? _________ 3 I'm feeling hungry. Is there anything to eat? _________ 4 This sauce is great. It’s tasting really good. _________ 5 I'm thinking this is your key. Am I right? _________
4.4	Complete the sentences using the most suitable form of be. Use am/is/are being (continuous) where possible; otherwise use am/is/are (simple). 1 I can't understand why ____he’s being ____so selfish. He isn't usually like that. 2 Sarah __________ very nice to me at the moment. I wonder why. 3 You'll like Sophie when you meet her. She __________ very n1ce. 4 You're usually very patient, so why __________ so unreasonable about waiting ten more minutes? 5 Why isn't Steve at work today? __________ ill?

ANSWER KEY