Unit 3: Present continuous and present simple 1 (I am doing and I do)

English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 3: Present continuous and present simple 1 (I am doing and I do)

Compare:

Present continuous (I am doing)	Present simple (I do)
We use the continuous for things happening at or around the time of speaking. The action is not complete.	We use the simple for things in general or things that happen repeatedly.

The water is boiling. Can you turn it off? Listen to those people. What language are they speaking? Let's go out. lt isn't raining now. 'I'm busy.' 'What are you doing?' I'm getting hungry. Let's go and eat. Kate wants to work in Italy, so she's learning Italian. The population of the world is increasing very fast.	Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Excuse me, do you speak English? lt doesn't rain very much in summer. What do you usually do at weekends? I always get hungry in the afternoon. Most people learn to swim when they are children. Every day the population of the world increases by about 200,000 people.
We use the continuous for temporary situations: I'm living with some friends until I find a place of my own. A: You're working hard today. B: Yes, I have a lot to do.	We use the simple for permanent situations: My parents live in London. They have lived there all their lives. Joe isn't lazy. He works hard most of the t ime.
See Unit 1 for more information.	See Unit 2 for more information.

I always do and I'm always doing

I always do (something) = I do it every time:

I always go to work by car. (not I'm always going)

‘I'm always doing something’ has a different meaning. For example:

I've lost my phone again. I'm always losing things.

I'm always losing things = I lose things very often, perhaps too often, or more often than normal.

More examples:

You're always playing computer games. You should do something more active. (=You play computer games too often)
Tim is never satisfied. He's always complaining. (=He complains too much)

3.1 Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct them where necessary.

_____ Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
__________
_____ The water boils. Can you turn it off?
__________
_____ Look! That man tries to open the door of your car.
__________
_____ Can you hear those people? What do they talk about?
__________
_____ The moon goes round the earth in about 27 days.
__________
_____ I must go now. It gets late.
__________
_____ I usually go to work by car.
__________
_____ ‘Hurry up! It's time to leave.’ ‘OK, I come.’
__________
_____ I hear you've got a new job. How do you get on?
__________
_____ Paul is never late. He's always getting to work on time.
__________
_____ They don't get on well. They're always arguing.
__________

3.2 Put the verb into the correct form1 present continuous or present simple.

Let's go out. ⁽¹⁾ (it / not / rain) now.
Julia is very good at languages. ⁽²⁾ (she / speak) four languages very well.
Hurry up! ⁽³⁾ __________ (everybody / wait) for you.
'⁽⁴⁾__________ (you / listen) to the radio?' 'No, you can turn it off.'
‘⁽⁵⁾__________ (you / listen) to the radio every day?' 'No, just occasionally.'
The River Nile ⁽⁶⁾ __________ (flow) into the Mediterranean.
The river ⁽⁷⁾__________ (flow) very fast today - much faster than usual.
⁽⁸⁾ __________ (we / usually / grow) vegetables in our garden, but this year ⁽⁹⁾ __________ (we / not / grow) any.
A: How's your English?
B: Not bad. I think ⁽¹⁰⁾ __________ (it / improve) slowly.
Rachel is in New York right now. ⁽¹¹⁾ __________ (she / stay) at the Park Hotel. ⁽¹²⁾ __________ (she / always / stay) there when she's in New York.
Can we stop walking soon? ⁽¹³⁾ __________ (I / start) to feel tired.
A: Can you drive?
B: ⁽¹⁴⁾ __________ (I / learn). My father ⁽¹⁵⁾ __________ (teach) me.
Normally ⁽¹⁶⁾ __________ (I / finish) work at five, but this week ⁽¹⁷⁾ __________ (I / work) until six to earn a little more money.
My parents ⁽¹⁸⁾ __________ (live) in Manchester. They were born there and have never lived anywhere else. Where ⁽¹⁹⁾ __________ (your parents / live)?
Sonia ⁽²⁰⁾ __________ (look) for a place to live. ⁽²¹⁾ __________ (she / stay) with her sister until she finds somewhere.
A: What ⁽²²⁾ __________ (your brother / do)?
B: He's an architect, but ⁽²³⁾ __________ (he / not / work) at the moment.
(at a party) ⁽²⁴⁾ __________ (I / usually enjoy) parties, but ⁽²⁵⁾ __________ (I / not / enjoy) this one very much.

3.3 Finish B's sentences. Use always -ing.

A: I've lost my phone again.
B: Not again! .
A: The car has broken down again.
B: That car is useless. __________ .
A: Look! You've made the same mistake again.
B: Oh no, not again! __________ .
A: Oh, I've forgotten my glasses again.
B: Typical! __________ .

Answer Key

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