UNIT 3. Present continuous and present simple (1) (I am doing and I do)

A. Study the explanations and compare the examples:

Present continuous (I am doing)

Use the continuous for something that is happening at or around the time of speaking.

The action is not finished.

I am doing (now)

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

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

* Let's go out. It isn't raining now.

* 'Don't disturb me. I'm busy.' 'Why? What are you doing?'

* I'm going to bed now. Goodnight!

* Maria is in Britain at the moment. She's learning English.

Use the continuous for a temporary situation:

* I'm living with some friends until I find a flat.

* 'You're working hard today.' 'Yes, I've got a lot to do.'

See Unit I for more information.

Present simple (I do)

Use the simple for things in general or things that happen repeatedly.

I do

* Water boils at 100 degrees celsius.

* Excuse me, do you speak English?

* It doesn't rain very much in summer.

* What do you usually do at weekends?

* What do you do? (= What's your job?)

* I always go to bed before midnight.

* Most people learn to swim when they are children.

Use the simple for a permanent situation:

* My parents live in London. They have lived there all their lives.

* John isn't lazy. He works very hard most of the time.

See Unit 2 for more information.

B. I always do and I'm always doing

Usually we say 'I always do something' (= I do it every time):

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

You can also say 'I'm always doing something', but this has a different meaning. For example:

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

'I'm always losing things' does not mean that I lose things every time. It means that I lose things too often, more often than normal.

'You're always ~ing' means that you do something very often, more often than the speaker thinks is normal or reasonable.

* You're always watching television. You should do something more active.

* John is never satisfied. He's always complaining.

EXERCISES

Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct the verbs that are wrong.

1. Water boils at 100 degrees celsius. RIGHT

2. The water boils. Can you turn it off? WRONG: is boilling

3. Look! That man tries to open the door of your car. --- wrong, is trying

4. Can you hear those people? What do they talk about? --- wrong, are they talking

5. The moon goes round the earth. ---right

6. I must go now. It gets late. --- wrong, is getting

7. I usually go to work by car. --- right

8. 'Hurry up! It's time to leave.' 'OK, I come.' --- wrong, am coming

9. I hear you've got a new job. How do you get on? --- wrong, are you getting on

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