Tenses usage
1 Examples:
Paul normally has nightmares.
Does she walk a lot as a rule?
Hens lay eggs, but cocks don’t (lay eggs).
The simple present is used for habits and universal facts
or truths.
a Liquids (boil) when they (be) heated.
b The sun (rise) in the east and (set) in the west.
c The sun (not revolve) around the earth.
d They never (take) things easy.
e He usually (work) on Sundays.
2 Examples:
My mother is resting now. Could you ring back later?
I’m taking maths lessons. (Not necessarily now, but these
days.)
‘What are you drinking? Punch?’
‘No, we are not drinking punch. There is not any left.’
She lives in Germany, but at the moment she is living in
Russia.
The present continuous is used for unfinished actions (since
they are still going on) and temporary situations.
a This tap (drip). You should have it seen to.
b Is the old lady who (get) off that bus your grandmother?
c You (watch) the new TV serial?
d How your daughter (get) on at school?
e ‘What they (do)?’
‘They (build) a labyrinth.’
3 Example:
I’m playing billiards with Philip at six.
The present continuous is also used for future plans.
a He (take) her out this evening.
b I (stay) at home today. I’m very tired.
c We (invite) Walter over for a snack tonight.
d My husband (take) me to the opera this evening.
e He (leave) for Australia at six.
4 Revision exercise.
a Diana (lodge) with some friends till she finds a flat to
live in.
b Penguins (not fly).
c I’m afraid she (have) a shower. Can I take a message?
d Peter (water) the plants now. He generally (water) them at
this time.
e You usually (leave) a light burning at night?
f This train normally (arrive) late.
g I reckon you (make) a fuss about nothing. Why don’t you try
to calm down?
h Her thoughtlessness (destroy) her marriage little by little.
i Granny! He (smoke) again!
j It has stopped raining and now it (begin) to clear up.
k This path (lead) to a charming forest.
l Look! Rain (pour) in through those broken tiles.
m He (not get) along very well with his girl-friend at present.
n My mother (cook) meatballs. Would you like to come home for
lunch?
o Love is what (make) the world go round.
p She never (iron) anything.
q Iron (expand) with heat, and (contract) with cold.
r ‘You (go) out now? It (pour)!
s Cows and bulls (eat) grass.
t They (learn) karate now?
u I always (give) my horses some oats in the mornings.
v ‘You ever (not pray)?’
‘No, I don’t. And you?’
‘Yes, I (pray) every night before I (go) to bed.’
w We (gather) here every Sunday morning to talk about our
problems.
x We (have) a party tomorrow evening.
y That vessel over there (make) for Africa.
z His godfather (mark) exam papers at the moment.
5 Examples:
He does not believe in God.
We have (got) two children.
I don’t think so.
Do you understand her?
Some verbs are not used in continuous tenses. These verbs
do not tell us whether or not an action is completed.
Therefore, neither the beginning of the action nor the end
matters.
a They (be) frozen to death. Bring them in!
b She (dislike) appearing on television.
c He (know) her by sight.
d Timothy (seem) to be far from reality.
e I (not mind) being alone.