Simple present / present continuous
Exercise 1. Use the right form of the verb in brackets.
1. My aunt often (talk) to herself. Look, Grandpa (talk) to himself. 2. I never (drink) anything with my meals. What you (drink)? — Tonic water. 3. The days (get) longer from January to June. The days (get) longer now. 4. We (go) out a lot in the summer. We (go) out on Saturday. 5. — What's that terrible noise? — My neighbour (drill) the wall. He (do) it every weekend. 6.1 wonder if Kate is on a diet. She (get) thinner and thinner. 7. My house plants (grow) very slowly. 8. She can't come to the phone right now. She (wash) her hair. She (wash) it twice a week. 9. Many people (go) to church on Sundays. Hey, people! Where you (go)? 10. Unemployment (rise) at an alarming rate. Prices (rise) after economic crises. 11. Don't disturb him, he (work). 12. Your husband ever (work) at the weekends? 13. Come in, I not (sleep). 14. He always (come) at the wrong moments. 15. She constantly (talk)! 16. Why you always (chew) something?
Exercise II. Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.
1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) her kids to football practice.
2. Usually, I (work) as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.
3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) .
4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) .
5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) .
6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) because everybody (talk) so loudly.
7. Justin (write, currently) a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished.
8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?
Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) to a movie tonight with some friends.
9. The business cards (be, normally ) printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be) inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good.
10. This delicious chocolate (be) made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.
Exercise III. Use the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous Tense instead of the infinitives in brackets.
I (to think) you (to behave) rather foolishly, honey.
I (to think) about your behavior. What you (to think) you (to do)?
Your German (to get) better?
I (to see) that you (to have) some problems with this computer. Can I be of any help?
He (to understand) the rule, but he still (to make) mistakes.
“You (to believe) his story?” “Oh, no. I never (to believe) him. He always (to tell) lies.”
How many parts this text (to consist) of?
“Listen! You (to hear) that noise?” “That’s our neighbours. They (to shout) again. They never (to tire) of it.” “They always (to shout) like that?”
Now I (to see) everything clearly. You (to try) to swindle! That won’t do.
Who this house (to belong) to?
“Hello there! Where you (to think) you (to go)?” “I (to want) to go to the disco.” “No. You (to do) your lessons now. And I (to mean) it.”
“Where is Mom?” “She is in the kitchen. She (to cook) dinner.” “I (to think) I’ll go and give her a hand.” “Don’t! She (to be) sulky today! She (not to want) to see anyone.”
“Why he (to look) so gloomy?” “Oh, he (to have) a toothache.”
“What you (to look) at?” “I (to look) at the girl over there. You (not to think) her dress is wonderful?”
“What you (to think) about?” “I (to think) that I won’t really enjoy the party tonight.” “You (to say) that I must go alone? You (to go) with me and that’s that.”
“Tony (to feel) something’s wrong, but he can’t say what.” “Well, I (to believe) we’ll soon learn everything.”
“What we (to wait) for?” “We (to wait) for mother. She (to choose) presents. She (to think) that one of those dresses will do for Jessie, so now she (to look over) them and (to feel) the fabric.”
“ What Esther (to think) about it?” “She (to find) it all very strange.”
You (to believe) in Santa Claus?
Gerry always (to find fault with) me!
Your letters (to be) very welcome, but he (to want) to know everything at first hand.
Exercise IV. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous.
The sun (to rise) in the east and (to set) in the west.
Although the sun (to rise) I cannot see it because it is behind the clouds.
You (to play) the piano? – No, I (to do) not.
I hear somebody playing in the next room; who (to play) there?
It is pleasant to be at home when a storm (to rage) outside.
There are so many people there; where they all (to go)?
As a rule I (to feel) rather tired after my walk.
Thank you, now I (to feel) much better.
He (to swim) very fast.
Look! Somebody (to swim) over there.
Where is Alec? – He is in the garden. I (to think) he (to do) his morning exercises.
He always (to do) his exercises with the window open.
I’d like to see professor Smith. – Sorry, he is out at the moment. He (to give) a lecture.
Sometimes he (to give) his lectures in English for the students of the English Department.
Who (to make) a report at the meeting? – I’m sorry, I don’t know the speaker’s name.
Our teacher (to speak) two foreign languages.
Hello. This is Brown speaking. – Sorry. Don’t hear you well. Who (to speak)?
Is Nick in the dining -room? – Yes, He (to have) lunch.
Exercise V. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous.
Water (to boil) at 100 degrees Centigrade.
We (to meet) twice a week.
The clock (to strike). It’s time to go home.
He (to take) his English lesson; he always (to take) his lessons in the morning.
Where is John? – He (to prepare) his lessons; he usually (to prepare) them at that time.
I (not to understand) your remark.
Can you hear what I (to say)?
After a whole week of clear weather it (to begin) to rain.
What (to be) the title of the book you (to read)?
Look, smoke (to come) out of the window!
The sun (to set). What a glorious sight it is!
What you (to listen) to? – It seems to me I (to hear) a strange noise outside.
Why you (to wear) your new clothes, those in which you are to travel tomorrow?
Why, my dear boy, how stout you (to get)!
You (to joke), Tom? – No, Father, I (not to joke).
On his way he usually (to meet) many children who (to go) to school.
I (to look) for Pete. Have you seen him?
I’m certain to know all about it when I (to get) his letter.
I (to wonder) if you’d like to come to a little party I (to give) next week.
Exercise VI. Give answers to the following questions using the Present Continuous or the Present Indefinite.
Where are you going this Sunday? – This Sunday … but usually on Sundays …
When is he coming to see us? – He … Friday night though most often …
The delegation of French scientists is arriving by plane tonight, isn’t it? – Yes, it … at Boryspil airport, foreign delegations, as a rule, …
When is the boat from Odessa coming? – It … in half an hour as it is late tonight, but regularly it … at 8 sharp.
When is the night train for St Petersburg leaving? – It … in half an hour. It … at 15:15 according to the timetable.
Exercise VII. Translate into English using the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous Tense.
Кто сейчас сдает экзамен? – Моя подруга.
Почему вы не смотрите телевизор? – Я готовлюсь к занятиям.
У тебя все еще дрожат руки.
Вечно она со всеми ссорится!
Он работает теперь в другом месте и дела у него идут хорошо.
Что делает твой племянник? – Он работает в саду.
Почему она плачет? – Я не знаю. Я стараюсь успокоить ее.
Откуда вы идете? – Из магазина.
У них сейчас урок немецкого языка.
Мы сидим у окна. Ярко светит солнце, мимо нашего дома спешат люди.
Студенты слушают объяснения преподавателя.
Куда вы спешите?
Что ты ищешь? – Я ищу свои часы.
Почему ты всегда ворчишь?
Что ты о нем думаешь? – Я думаю, что он хороший собеседник.
О чем ты думаешь? – Я думаю о каникулах.
Сколько глав в этой книге? – Десятью Сейчас я читаю седьмую. Вы хототе взять ее? – Да, если можно.
Он ведет себя ужасно!
Я надеюсь, что он не опоздает.
Я знаю, что ты не любишь ходить по магазинам.
Exercise VIII. Translate into English using the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous Tense.
Я не понимаю, о чем вы говорите.
Он знает, что мы уходим?
Как вы думаете, чего они ждут?
Я не знаю, почему я плачу.
Почему ты не ешь суп? – Я не хочу.
Я не вижу, что вы пишете. – Я пишу письмо своему брату, который живет в Киеве. Мы большие друзья и часто пишем друг другу. Сейчас он работает над своим дипломом.
Я вижу двух студентов и слышу их голоса, но не понимаю, на каком языке они говорят. Возможно, это какой-то восточный язык, а я не знаю восточных языков.
Я люблю, когда вся наша семья по вечерам собирается вместе. Обычно мы говорим о нашей работе. Сейчас мы вместе в столовой. Мы пьем чай. Отец просматривает газету. Брат рассказывает нам о последних новостях в университете. Мама смотрит на часы и говорит, что младшим детям пора идти спать.
Что делает твой брат? – Он работает на заводе. – А что он сейчас делает? – Он ремонтирует машину. Он любит этим заниматься по выходным.
Не выходите на улицу, льет ливень. Осенью в Одессе часто идут дожди и ветренно.
Exercise VIII. Translate into English using the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous Tense.
Я не люблю таких людей, как он. Он всегда мечтает, но ничего не делает, чтобы осуществить свои мечты.
Позвони на вокзал, пожалуйста, и узнай, когда приходит поезд из Москвы.
Она всегда жалуется на своего сына, когда бы я ее не встретил.
Она все время со всеми спорит, даже когда сама знает, что неправа.
Он постоянно дает всем какие-то нелепые советы.
Она все время ругается с коллегами, потому что они не хотят поступать так, как она советует.
Он все время всем рассказывает, как трудно ему живется, и вечно у всех просит денег.
Она постоянно жалуется на свои болезни, хотя я не знаю более здоровой женщины.
Она вечно задает бестактные вопросы о нашей личной жизни и обижается, когда мы не отвечаем.
Она все время рассказывает гадости о своем начальнике. Кажется, он собирается ее уволить.
Exercise IX. a) Read the poems and comment on the grammatical form made use of. Retell the poems briefly in your own words. State the central idea of each poem. Give your opinion of the poems. b) Memorize the poem you like best.