Grammar

Present tenses

What is wrong with this sentence?

• This large goat is only living in the mountains of Switzerland.

.

• I call to thank you for the present you sent.

• The rise in demand for timber destroys large areas of rainforest

• John is resembling his older sister

Present simple

• talks about things in general.

• refers to situations that are true in general or which happen repeatedly.

• refers to a permanent situation

Present simple andcontinuous

• We use state verbs (like, love, look) with present simple

The children love her.I like reggae music.

Other state verbs:

find, realise, regret,think, understand,

I regret that the companywill have to be sold.

• Performatives• (verbs which perform the action they describe)

Present simple:

I suggest you park outside thecity and get the bus to thecentre.

I guarantee that you will becontent with the conditions.

It says that there are 50 new English students this year.

I hear you haven’t got your grammar books with you. I can’t believe it.

What’s wrong with this ad?

Present simple for news headlines

Present continuous

• often describes things happening at the time of speaking (but not always).

“Please don’t make so much noise. I’m working.”

What music do you like?

What song are you listening to(at the moment)?

We use state verbs with presentcontinuous to emphasis that a situation is temporary.

Example :

Ella is with us at the moment. The children are loving having her here.

Some verbs have different meanings when used as a stateor as an action verb

The app doesn’t appear to work( it doesn’t seem to work)

He is currently appearing in a musical.

• to emphasis that we have recently started to think about something.

Present continuous

He is considering taking an earlyretirement.

Present simple and present continuous for live commentaries

Lionel Messi, Top 70 goals withcommentary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiPaXx9flLk

Present simple and continuous for telling jokes

The main events are usuallydescribed in present simple. The longer background events in present continuous.

She goes up to this man andlooks straight into his eyes. He is not wearing glasses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJAxRVeKnTE#t=67

We use present continuous to saywhat is always going on at a certaintime.

At eight o‘clock I am usually drivingto work.

Use present continuous

• to describe a temporary situation.

I’m living with some friends until I find a flat.

• always

• constantly

• usually

• continually

I always drive my car to work.

I’m always losing my keys.