Learning tenses

1. A young idler…
..an old beggar

2. Find the verbs in this sentence
I usually go to the fitness club on Tuesdays
but today I’m staying home
What tense is the first verb?
What tense is the second?

3. Read the following sentences and identify the verbs
●
1.Right now, I’m playing with my doggy.
●
2.Look at Connie! What is she doing?.
●
3.My mother doesn’t water the plants every other day.
●
4.Is your partner wearing a pair of jeans?.
●
5.I don’t believe you.
●
6.Susan likes Bob.
●
8.Look at me! I’m talking to you.
●
9.Hi Joe! Where are you going?

4. Present Si mpl e
vs
Present Cont i nuous

5. Present simple
+
-
?
he/ she / it : -s -es (plays, goes)
Conson + y = – ies (study- studies)
O = es (go – goes)
S, x, ch, sh = es (watch- watches/ mix-mixes)
Don`t
Doesn´t
+ verb
We don´t study
She doesn´t study
A + S + V ?
Do you study ?
Does she study?
+ We study English
My sister watches TV - We don´t study English
My sister doesn´t watch TV
? Do we study English?
Does my sister watch TV?

6. Present simple
The simple present is used for two main types of action:
actions which happen regularly
o on Sundays
o Frequency Adverbs : -always, usually, often –
o every day, every week, Once a month, etc.
Habits
States Things which do not often change ( opinions, conditions, etc)

7. Habit
Young-Mi goes to class every day. "Every day" is a habit.
It rains a lot in Vancouver. This means that it rains often.
Santos always talks about his family. "Always" means this is a habit.
Jerry spends Christmas with his parents. This implies that he spends Christmas
with his parents every year.
States
Bianca lives in Florida. This is a state, because it doesn't change.
Jean-Paul has red hair. Someone's hair colour doesn't usually change.
Martin likes chocolate. When we like something, usually we will always like it.
Anna believes in God. Beliefs and opinions are states.
They don't often change.

8. Complete the sentences. Use the present simple form of these verbs .
do go like listen play
1. I _______ collecting things.
2 . Paul _______ to music on the bus.
3 . Nicola _______ shopping on Saturdays.
4 . My brother _______ martial arts.
5 . My friend and I _______ computer games.
Make the sentences negative
like
listens
goes
does
play
1. I don´t like collecting things
2. Paul doesn´t listen to music on the bus
3. Nicola doesn´t go shopping on Saturdays
4. My brother doesn´t do martial arts
5. My friends and I don´t play computer games

9. Frequency adverbs and time expressions
Always
Usually
Often
Sometimes
Hardly ever
Never
Every day
Once a day / week / month..
Twice a day / week / month..
Three times a day / week / month..
Twelve times a day / week / month..
How often..?
Before the verb She often plays golf
After to be They are always hungry
At the end of the sentence
I do yoga twice a week

10. Write sentences.
Use the present simple form of the verb and an adverb of frequency.
always √√√√√ usually √√√√ often √√√ sometimes √√ hardly ever √ never X
1. I / be / happy! √√√√√
2. my sister / watch / films √
3. I / play / football √√
4. our teacher / be / nice √√√√
5. we / go / to England X
my dad / make / lunch √√√
My dad often makes lunch.
I am always happy
My sister hardly ever watches films
I sometimes play football
Our teacher is usually nice
We never go to England

11. Practice makes perfect
Something to think
about

12. 1 I / go / swimming (often)
2 we / be / bored (hardly ever)
3 our teacher / speak / English (always)
4 I / be / late (never)
5 Marta / watch / horror films (sometimes)
Write sentences. Use the present simple and the adverbs of frequency.
I often go swimming
We are hardly ever bored
Our teacher always speaks in English
I am never late
Marta sometimes watches horror films

13. Write questions and short answers. Use the present simple.
1 you / like fashion? Yes
2 your teacher / speak Japanese? No,
3 your cousins / live in Spain?Yes,
4 you / play chess?No,
5 your best friend / study English?Yes,
Do you like fashion? Yes, I do
Does your teacher speak Japanese? No, she doesn´t
Do your cousins live in Spain? Yes, they do
Do you play chess? No, I don´t
Does your best friend study English? Yes, she does

14. present continuous
Am
Is
Are
+ V-ing
+I am studying
you are studying
he is studying
-
?
V monosilábicos q terminan en 1 vocal + 1 cons., doblan
cons.
Run—running swim—swimming
V de dos sílabas y acento en la 2ª, doblan consonante
Begin—beginning
Verbos que acaban en l , doblan l
Travel—travelling
Verbos que acaban en -ie , cambia a y + ing
Die—dying
I am not studying
You aren´t studying
He isn´t studying
A + S + V ?
Am I studying?
Are you studying?
Is he studying?

15. present continuous
The present continuous tense is used for two main types of action:
A temporary action happening now :
Something which is going on right now (but it will stop in the future)
Algo que está ocurriendo ahora pero parará en el futuro)
A definite plan for the future :
Something we intend to do, usually in the near future.
Algo que tenemos la intención de hacer en un futuro cercano

16. Temporary action happening now
 John is winning the game. Right now, John is winning, but the game isn't
finished yet.
 It's raining outside. It's raining right now (but it may stop soon).
 Soraya's working in the library. She's working there right now.
 Sihol is spending Christmas with his family. He's spending Christmas with
his family right now, this year.
(Maybe next year he won't.)

17. A definite plan for the future
I'm playing soccer tomorrow. This plan is already arranged and definite.
Sarah's leaving for San Francisco on Friday. She has probably already bought
her ticket.
The Olympics are taking place here next year. This is already certain.
I'm having a party next week. All the plans have been made.
Time expressions
Today , at the moment , now ,
tomorrow , this morning.

18. There are some verbs that you don't usually use in the continuous form, just as in
Spanish.
Generally speaking they're verbs that describe states and not actions, such as these:
verbs describing thought processes and opinions:
think, believe, remember, know, forget, agree, disagree…
verbs describing emotions:
want, like, love, hate, adore, detest…
verbs describing the senses:
see, hear, taste, feel, smell…
This doesn't mean that it's impossible to use these verbs in the continuous.
It just means that it's unusual and would probably be very specific in a particular
situation.
Non-continuous verbs / Stative verbs

19. 1 Marc _____________ a shower.
2 Nigel and Phil _____________ football.
3 We _____________ our homework at the moment.
4 Dad _____________ in the office.
5 Jane’s mum _____________ dinner.
6 Mum and dad _____________ at salsa club!
7 Martha _____________ to her sister on the phone.
8 I _____________ by train.
 Complete the sentences. Use the present continuous form of the verbs in
the box.
make not have dance play
speak not travel work not do
isn’t having
are playing
aren’t doing
is working
is making
are dancing
is speaking
am not travelling

20.  Write complete sentences. Use the present continuous and because.
Activity Weather
Gail cycle  windy
Liz sunbathe  hot
Andy and Jim swim  warm
Tim and Sara camp  cold
Gary shop  snowing
1 Gail _____________
2 Liz _____________
3 Andy and Jim ____________
4 Tim and Sara _____________
5 Gary _____________
isn’t cycling because it’s windy.
is sunbathing because it’s hot
are swimming because it’s warm
aren’t camping because it’s cold
isn’t shopping because it’s snowing.

21. Present Simple Present Continuous
• today • now • often • on Sundays • every year • tomorrow night
• this morning • at this moment • twice a week • usually
Complete the table with the time expressions and adverbs of frequency below.
often
on Sundays
every year
twice a week
usually
today
now
tomorrow night
this morning
at this moment

22. 1 your friends / watch / a film? Yes
2 Jon / have / a shower? No
3 you / do / an exam? Yes,
4 it / snow / now? Yes,
5 Anna / listen / to her new CD? Yes
6 your parents / tidy / the house? No
 Write questions. Then complete the short answers. Use the present continuous
Are your friends watching a film? Yes, they are.
Is Jon having a shower? No, he isn’t.
Are you doing an exam? Yes, I am.
Is it snowing now? Yes, it is.
Is Anna listening to her new CD? Yes, she is.
Are your parents tidying the house? No, they aren’t

23. Complete the sentences.
Use the correct form of the present simple or present continuous.
1. We _________ (do) a test at the moment.
2. My parents _________ (not work) on Sundays.
3. _______ your mum _________ (work) today?
4. My sister _________ (get up) at seven o’clock.
5. I ____________ (not meet) my friends this evening.
6. _____your best friend ______ (live) near you?
7. Jaime _________ (not like) dancing.
8. Look! Pedro _________ (copy) my answers!
9. _____ you often _________ (speak) English?
10. I never _________ (play) tennis in winter.
are doing
don´t work
Is working
gets up
am not meeting
Do live
doesn´t like
is copying
Do speak
play

24. 1. I can´t go shopping now. I (work)
2. Bob never during the week (go out)
3. Where´s Jim? He with friends (stay)
4. What this afternoon (do)? Nothing
5. Rhinos in Africa, India and Indonesia. (live)
6. This year I French and German. (study)
7. We to Manchester tomorrow (go)
8. Look out of the window! It (rain)
9. It never in Murcia (snow)
10.Hi, is Alison there?
Yes, but can you ring back in 10 minutes? She a shower (have)
11.He swimming every day (go)
12. Right now, I to music and surfing the Net (listen)
am working
goes out
is staying
are you doing
live
am studying
are going
is raining
snows
is having
goes
am listening
Use the verbs in brackets to fill the gaps

25. 1 Angie is a teacher. She _____________ (not work) in an office.
2 Corrie and Liz _____________ (sunbathe) on the beach.
3 Marcus always _____________ (travel) to school by bike.
4 Sally _____________ (not live) in Paris at the moment.
5 My mum usually _____________ (work) from nine o’clock to five o’clock.
6 I _____________ (not study) at home today.
7 We _____________ (do) our homework now.
8 Jon and Ann are bad at languages. They _____________ (not speak) Spanish
or French.
 Complete the sentences.
Use the present continuous or present simple form of the verbs in brackets.
doesn’t work
are sunbathing
travels
isn’t living
works
am not studying
are doing
don’t speak

26. 1. What are you cooking? It smells / is smelling wonderful.
2.What time do you usually go / are you usually going to bed?
3.Be quiet! The baby sleeps / is sleeping.
4.How often do you visit / are you visiting your grandmother?
5.In most US schools, the students don’t wear / aren’t wearing uniforms.
6.Turn off the television. The children don’t watch / aren’t watching it.
7.You don’t need an umbrella this morning. It doesn’t rain / isn’t raining.
8.He is a vegetarian. He doesn’t eat / isn’t eating meat.
9.Right now, the president meets / is meeting some important people.
10.Tom has got a car now so he doesn’t walk / isn’t walking to school any
more.
Choose the correct answer.

27. 1. My mother ……………………… (wash) her car every weekend.
2. I ……………………… (do) an English grammar exercise at this moment.
3. The British sometimes ……………………… (eat) fish and chips for dinner.
4. My friends and I ……………………… (go) shopping tomorrow.
5. On Saturdays, I ……………………… (not get up) till 12.00.
6. Our teacher is ill. She ……………………… (not work) today.
Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets.
Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous.
washes
am doing
eat
are going
don’t get up
isn’t working

28. 1. ………………………………………….……..
Yes, he loves chocolates.
2. ………………………………………………...
They live in Paris.
3. …………………………………………………….
The children are playing tennis.
4. ………………………………………………………
I’m wearing a coat because it is cold outside.
5. ……………………………………………………….
She finishes school at 3.30.
6. ……………………………………………………….
Yes, she is leaving tonight.
Write the questions for the answers below.
ay attention to the words in bold.
Does he love chocolates?
Where do they live?
What are the children playing?
Why are you wearing a coat?
When does she finish school?
Is she leaving tonight?

29. 1.She ……………………… (not go) swimming with her friends today because she
……………………… (not know) how to swim. She ……………………… (want) to learn and
she ……………………… (wait) for the swimming course to start next month.
2.Teacher: Graham, ……………………… you ……………………… (listen) to me?
Student: Yes, Mrs Black, but I still ……………………… (not understand) the
story.
3.The world ……………………… (get) warmer and most world leaders
……………………… (believe) that this is a big problem. Next month, many of
these leaders ……………………… (meet) to talk about the problem.
Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets.
Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous.
isn’t going
doesn’t know wants
is waiting
listeningare
don’t understand
is getting
believe
are meeting