Unit 8: I am doing and I do

Present Continuous & Present Simple – Full Textbook Version

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GRAMMAR
EXAMPLES
EXERCISES

A. Present Continuous vs Present Simple

Jim is watching television.
He is not playing the guitar.
But Jim has a guitar.
He often plays it and he plays very well.
Jim plays the guitar, but he is not playing the guitar now.
Is he playing the guitar? No, he isn’t. (present continuous)
Yes, he does. (present simple)

B. Present Continuous (I am doing) – now, at the time of speaking

I’m doing
now
Please be quiet. I’m working.
Tom is having a shower at the moment. (not Tom has)
Take an umbrella with you. It’s raining.
You can turn off the television. I’m not watching it.
Why are you under the table? What are you doing?

C. Present Simple (I do) – in general, all the time or sometimes

I do
generally
I work every day from 9 o’clock to 5.30.
Tom has a shower every morning.
It rains a lot in winter.
I don’t watch television very often.
What do you usually do at the weekend?

D. We do not use these verbs in the present continuous (I am -ing):

likelovewantknowunderstandrememberdepend
preferhateneedmeanbelieveforget
I’m tired. I want to go home. (not I’m wanting)
‘Do you know that girl?’ ‘Yes, but I don’t remember her name.’
‘Do you like coffee?’ ‘Yes, I do.’ / ‘No, I don’t.’
‘I don’t understand.’ ‘What do you mean?’

Examples

TV

Jim is watching television.

Guitar

He often plays the guitar.

I’m working right now.
Tom is having a shower.
It’s raining outside.
I don’t watch TV often.
I want to go home.

Exercises 8.1 – 8.3

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8.1 Answer the questions about the pictures.

1

1. Does he take photographs? Yes, he does.

Is he taking a photograph? No, he isn't.

2

2. What is he doing? →

3

3. Is he driving a bus? →

4

4. What is he doing? →

5

5. Are they teaching? →

6

6. What do they do? →

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8.2 Put in am/is/are or do/don’t/does/doesn’t.

  1. Excuse me, do you speak English?
  2. ‘Where’s Ann?’ ‘I → know.’ →
  3. What’s funny? Why → you laughing? →
  4. ‘What → your sister do?’ ‘She’s a dentist.’ →
  5. It → raining. I want to go out in the rain. →
  6. ‘Where → you come from?’ ‘Canada.’ →
  7. How much → it cost to phone Canada? →
  8. George is a good tennis player but he → play very often. →
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8.3 Put the verb in the present continuous (I am doing) or the present simple (I do).

  1. Excuse me. Do you speak (you/speak) English?
  2. ‘Where’s Tom?’ ‘He’s having (he/have) a shower.’ →
  3. I don’t watch (I/not/watch) television very often. →
  4. Listen! Somebody is singing (sing). →
  5. Sandra is tired. She wants (she/want) to go home now. →
  6. How often do you read (you/read) a newspaper? →
  7. ‘Excuse me but you’re sitting (you/sit) in my place.’ ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ →
  8. I’m sorry, I don’t understand (I/not/understand). Can you speak more slowly? →
  9. It’s late. I’m going (I/go) home now. Are you coming (you/come) with me? →
  10. What time does your father finish (your father/finish) work in the evenings? →
  11. You can turn off the radio. I’m not listening (I/not/listen) to it. →
  12. ‘Where’s Paul?’ ‘In the kitchen. He’s cooking (he/cook) something.’ →
  13. Martin doesn’t usually drive (not/usually/drive) to work. He usually walks (usually/walk). →
  14. Sue likes (like) coffee. She prefers (prefer) tea. →

Unit 8: Present Continuous & Simple • Full Interactive Textbook