UNIT 4: PRESENT CONTINUOUS vs SIMPLE PRESENT1.. Talk about present Permanent actions - Usually we have dinner at 7.. Temporary actions - Usually we have dinner at 7, but today we are
Trang 1UNIT 4: PRESENT CONTINUOUS vs SIMPLE PRESENT
1 Talk about
present
Permanent actions
- Usually we have dinner at
7.
- I often drive to work
Temporary actions
- Usually we have dinner at 7, but today we
are having it at 9.
- I often drive to work but I'm taking the train this morning because my car is in for repair
- I usually don't drink coffee but I'm having one this morning because there is nothing else
2 Talk about
the future.
Plans and arrangements.
- What are you doing tonight?
- I'm seeing a very important customer in my office at 4 o'clock
- We are going to the see for our holiday
- Where are you staying in Vienna?
- I'm not going anywhere It
is final
Timetable, schedules, itineraries etc.
- My plane takes off at 9.00
- The President arrives in Norway on 17 September
- What time does your train leave?
3 Talk about
habits
Normal habits
- I often watch TV
- He sometimes drink beer
Annoying, unusual habits
- My flatmate is always leaving the kitchen in
a mess!
- He is always watching TV
Continuous Tense They are called "state"
verbs with state (or stative) verbs such as like, dislike, love, think, seem, look,know, f eel, understand, want, need, hate,remembe
r, forget, prefer, believe, mean,taste, hear, s
ee, have (when the meaning is
"possess"), own, belong, etc These verbs are
not normally used in the Continuous Tense Some verbs used in the simple form can also be used in the continuous form That's typically when they have an active meaning or emphasize change Very often these sentences have a completely different meaning:
Trang 2Continuous thinkingto be I'm thinking of changing my flat trying to reach a decision
Continuous to be loving You look great in this hat I'm loving it, man! emphasis or gradualprocess
Continuous smellingto be My baby was smelling a flower activity
Continuous to be having When you called me, I was having abath activity
Simple to taste I could taste a lot of sugar in the wine sense
Continuous to be tasting He was tasting the cake and said it was
Keep in mind there is a group of verbs that can be used in both the continuous and simple forms with no difference These are, for example, the verbs "to hurt" and "to feel":
1. How is Mary feeling after the accident?
How does she feel after the accident?
2. You look well today
You are looking well today