Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Exercise 1
Are you a good language learner? Why do you think so?
Read about Jane and her classmates. They are all good language learners who met on an intensive
course of English in London. See what they do to learn English more effectively.

A definition of a good language learner

Good language learners find a style of learning that suits them
When they are in a learning situation that they do not like, they are able to adapt it to their personal
needs. They believe they can always learn something, whatever the situation. They also know how
they prefer to learn and choose learning situations that are suited to their way of learning. For
example, Jane knows that it is best for her to take a short course in English as she has just arrived in
England for the first time. She is using the time in the class to talk as much as possible. She is also
trying to get involved with native speakers outside the classroom.

Good language learners are actively involved in the language learning process
Besides regular language classes, they plan activities that give them a chance to use and learn the
language. They know practice is very important. Sometimes they choose an activity because they
are already familiar with the ideas. For example, Hiroshi listens to the news first in Japanese, his
native language, and then in English. Carmen often goes to see films that she has already seen and
understood so that she can concentrate on the language. Sometimes they choose activities that help
them with their special problems. Monica knows she has no confidence in her speaking ability, and
so she hires a tutor and twice a week she speaks one hour to the tutor.
They also often do things they don’t usually do to gain more information about their second
language. Tom works as a truck driver. He uses the day more as a language course.

Good language learners try to figure out how the language works
They pay attention to pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. They develop good techniques for
improving their pronunciation, learning grammar and vocabulary. For example, in today's lesson in
Jane's class the students are imitating the English sounds without using real words. They are also
learning new words by making pictures of the objects in their minds.

Good language learners know that language is used to communicate

They have good techniques to practise listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In the early stages
of their language learning, they do not worry about making mistakes. They speak and try to become
fluent. For example, this week a student from France, Cedric, is reading a detective story to improve
his reading. Right now, while waiting for a bus after the class, Adela is talking to an elderly lady
just to practise English.

Good language learners are like good detectives

They are always looking for clues that will help them understand how the language works. They
make guesses and ask people to correct them if they are wrong. They compare what they say with
what others say. They keep a record of what they have learned and think about it.

Good language learners learn to think in the language

Good language learners realise that language learning is not easy

They try to overcome their feelings of frustration and their lack of confidence. They learn to laugh
at their mistakes; they know that it will take a long time and that it can get very boring. They learn
to work with their feelings.
Exercise 2
Answer the questions about the text.
1) What do good language learners do outside the classroom to practise a foreign language?
2) What are the students doing in today's lesson to improve pronunciation?
3) Why are good language learners like good detectives?
4) How do they try to overcome their feeling of frustration and lack of confidence?

Look at the text again and choose three things that you think work best for you when
learning a foreign language. Tell your partner about your choice and justify your answer.

Grammar Focus
Present Continuous
Form
+ I am working he/she/it is working we/you/they are working
- I'm not working he/she/it isn't working we/you/they aren't working
? Am I working? Is he/she/it working? Are we/you/they working?
Yes, I am. Yes, he/she/it is. Yes, we/you/they are.
No, I'm not. No, he/she/it isn't. No, we/you/they aren't.

Spelling rules
For most verbs we add -ing: sleep – sleeping, try – trying, play – playing.
For verbs ending in -e we omit -e: make – making, hope – hoping.
Verbs ending in -ie change to -y: lie – lying
If a verb ends in one consonant after one vowel then we double the consonant and add -ing: stop –
stopping, run – running.
We use the present continuous when we talk about something which is happening at the time of
speaking or around the time of speaking.
Please be quiet. I'm studying.
Have you heard about Eric? He is building his own house.
We often use the present continuous when we talk about a period around the present. For example
today, this season etc:
Adam isn't playing football this season. He needs to study more.

We use the present continuous when we talk about changing situations.

My English is getting better.

Exercise 3
Look at the text about good language learners and find examples of the present continuous. How is
it used?

Exercise 4
Complete the sentences using the present continuous, e.g. Please turn the TV off, I'm trying to
study.
1) Leave the radio on, I'm ...
2) Listen! That woman's ...
3) Don't disturb me, I'm ...
4) Drink your coffee, it's ...
5) They can't come right now, they're ...

Exercise 5
Imagine you are on holiday. You are sitting in a café and there's a lot going on, both inside and
outside. Write a postcard to your friend telling him/her what's happening around you. Include
descriptions of the weather, the people you can see, the city, the food and drink, the hotel etc.

Exercise 6
Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple.
1) She ............................. (not/belong) to a political party.
2) We usually ............................. (grow) vegetables in our garden but this year
we .............................(not/grow) any.
3) ` ............................. (that water/boil)?` `Not yet.`
4) You can borrow my umbrella. I ............................. (not/need) it at the moment.
5) She ............................. (stay) with her sister at the moment until she finds a place to live.
6) The population of the world ............................. (rise) very fast.
7) ............................. (you/smoke)? `No, never.`
8) She ............................. (read) a lot of magazines these days.
9) `Who ............................. (you/write) to?` `My boyfriend.`
10) Water ............................. (boil) at 1000 C.

Exercise 7
Match the words on the left with their definitions on the right. Refer back to the text to help you
understand their meaning.

1) suit a) to be useful
2) involve b) a private teacher
3) confidence c) to be a part of something
4) ability d) a piece of information that helps you find the answers
5) hire e) a belief in your own ability to do things well
6) tutor f) to give somebody a job
7) gain g) to examine things to see how they are similar or different
8) clue h) giving an answer when you cannot be sure if you are right
9) compare i) something that you are able to do
10) guess j) to gradually get more of something

Exercise 8
Complete the chart below. Check the meaning of the words in your dictionary.

Verb Noun Adjective

suit
involve
confidence
ability
hire
tutor
gain
clue
 Verb Noun Adjective
compare
guess

Answer Key
Exercise 2
1) They talk to people in English. They listen to the news or watch films in the original
version.
2) The students are imitating the English sounds without using real words.
3) They are always looking for clues that will help them understand how the language works.
4) They learn to laugh at their mistakes. They learn to work with their feelings.
Exercise 6
1) doesn't belong
2) grow, aren't growing
3) Is that water boiling?
4) don't need
5) is staying
6) is rising
7) do you smoke
8) is reading
9) are you writing to
10) boils

Exercise 7
1a, 2c, 3e, 4i, 5f, 6b, 7j, 8d, 9g, 10h

Exercise 8

Verb Noun Adjective

suit suit suitable/suited
involve involvement involved
------- confidence confident
------- ability able
hire hire --------
tutor tutor tutorial
gain gain gainful
clue clue clueless
compare comparison comparable/comparative
guess guess --------