Distinguishing between permanent and temporary situations

Present Simple VS Present Progressive

Present Simple Present Progressive

Real Facts: Actions that happen at the moment of
 Water boils at 100° C. speaking:
 I´m reading this worksheet right now.
Routines/ Habits:
 I have lunch at work every Tuesday Temporary situations:
 I´m taking online classes for the
Permanent Situations: moment.
 I live in Peru
Future arrangements:
Timetable:  She´s having a date tomorrow at 5
 The bus arrives at 11 a.m. p.m.

PRACTISE NOW!

A. Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct them where necessary.

1. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.  ________________

2. The water boils. Can you turn it off?  ________________
3. Look! That man tries to open the door of your car.  ________________
4. Can you hear those people? What do they talk about?  ________________
5. The moon goes round the earth in about 27 days.  ________________
6. I must go now. It gets late.  ________________
7. I usually go to work by car.  ________________
8. 'Hurry up! It's time to leave’ ‘ OK, I come.'  ________________
9. I hear you've got a new job. How do you get on?  ________________
10. Paul is never late. He's always getting to work on time.  ________________
11. They don't get on well. They're always arguing.  ________________
F. Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple.

1. Let’s go out. ______________ (it / not / rain) now.

2. Julia is very good at languages. ______________ (she / speak) four languages very
well.

3. Hurry up! ______________ (everybody / wait) for you.

4. '________________ (you / listen) to the radio?’ ’No, you can turn it off.'

5. _________________ (you / listen) to the radio every day?' 'No, just occasionally.'

6. The River Nile ______________ (flow) into the Mediterranean.

7. The river ______________ (flow) very fast today - much faster than usual.

8. ____________________ (we / usually / grow) vegetables in our garden, but this year
______________ (we / not / grow) any.

9. a: How's your English?

b: Not bad. I think ______________ (it / improve) slowly.

10. Rachel is in New York right now. ______________ (she / stay) at the Park Hotel.
______________ (she / always / stay) there when she's in New York.

11. Can we stop walking soon? ______________ (I / start) to feel tired.

12. a: Can you drive?

b: _______________ (I / learn). My father ______________ (teach) me.

13. Normally ______________ (I / finish) work at five, but this week ______________ (I /
work) until six to earn a little more money.

14. My parents ______________ (live) in Manchester. They were born there and have
never lived anywhere else. Where _____________________ (your parents / live)?
15. Sonia ______________ (look) for a place to live. ______________ (she / stay) with
her sister until she finds somewhere.

Stative Verbs

They describe a state and not an action. They are NOT used in Continuous Tenses

Remember, the
majority of
STATIVE VERBS
cannot be in –ING
form

Some Stative Verbs can sometimes be « dynamic / action” verbs and go in a Continuous
Tense.

Stative Verbs Action Verbs

Think – To have an opinion.
Ex. What did you think of the show?
Have – For possessions.
Ex. I have a cell phone.
See – To notice people and things with Ex. We’re having a good time on vacation.
your eyes. Also for “watch”.
Ex. I saw a movie last night.
Taste – To taste good, bad, sweet, etc.
Ex. Your food tastes good.
Think – To use your brain to think, solve a
problem, plan something, etc.
Ex. I´m thinking about you.
Have – For “I´m having a dinner/ shower/
fun”
See – To date, meet or visit.
Ex. I´m seeing Mike.
Taste – To put food or drink in your mouth
 to find its taste.
Ex. I´m tasting what you´re cooking.

A. Complete the sentences with the PRESENT SIMPLE or the PRESENT CONTINUOUS.

Remember that some verbs can be both,  stative and dynamic verbs depending on
their meanings. 
 
1. We __________ (be) at the office right now. 
2. I __________ (see) that you are busy. 
3. We __________ (have) a coffee. 
4. I __________ (think) that's not true. 
5. Joe __________ (be) silly again. 
6. I __________ (see) Ben. We have a lot of fun together. 
7. Your cooking __________ (taste) great. 
8. We __________ (have) three kids. 
9. We __________ (taste) the cakes now. 
10. I __________ (think) about it. 

B.  Read the sentences and write if they are correct or incorrect on the lines provided.  
 
1. Are they having a good time?   ______________ 
2. I am thinking you are a nice person.   ______________ 
3. It is tasting good.   ______________ 
4. You are looking great.   ______________ 
5. He's been working since this morning.   ______________ 
6. He's having a huge house.   ______________ 
7. The food tastes good.    ______________ 
8. They are looking at the photo album.   ______________ 
9. They are designing a robot.   ______________ 
10. She is liking him very much.  ______________