Unit 3 – Present Continuous and Presente Simple 1

(I am doing and I do)

A.       Compare:

Present continuous (I am doing)

We use the continuous for things happening at or around the time of speaking.

The action is not complete.

I am doing

Present simple (I do)

We use the simple for things in general or th ings that happen repeatedly.

.__ I do

past             now             future

 FORMCHECKBOX The water is boiling. Can you turn it off?

 FORMCHECKBOX Listen to those people. What language are they speaking?

 FORMCHECKBOX Let's go out. lt isn't raining now.

 FORMCHECKBOX 'I'm busy.' 'What are you doing?'

 FORMCHECKBOX I'm getting hungry. Let's go and eat.

 FORMCHECKBOX Kate wants to work in Italy, so she's Learning Italian.

 FORMCHECKBOX The population of the world is increasing very fast.

We use the continuous for temporary situations:

 FORMCHECKBOX I'm Living with some friends until I find a place of my own.

 FORMCHECKBOX A: You're working hard today.

     B: Yes, I have a lot to do.

See Unit 1 for more information.

past             now             future

 FORMCHECKBOX Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

 FORMCHECKBOX Excuse me, do you speak English?

 FORMCHECKBOX lt doesn't rain very much in summer.

 FORMCHECKBOX What do you usually do at weekends?

 FORMCHECKBOX I always get hungry in the afternoon.

 FORMCHECKBOX Most people Learn to swim when they are children.

 FORMCHECKBOX Every day the population of the world increases by about 200,000 people.

We use the simple for permanent situations:

 FORMCHECKBOX My parents Live in London. They have lived there all their lives.

 FORMCHECKBOX Joe isn,t lazy. He works hard most of the t ime.

See Unit 2 for more information.

I always do and I'm always doing

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

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

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

More examples:

I'm always losing things.

I'm always Losing things= I lose t hings very often,

perhaps too often, or more often than normal.

0 You're always playing computer games. You should do something more active.

(=You play computer games too often)

0 Tim is never satisfied. He's always complaining. (=He complains too much)

Present continuous and simple 2 -+ Unit 4 Present t enses for the fu ture -+ Unit 19