2024年5月9日发(作者：守天路)
UNIT Present continuous and present simple (2)
4 (I am doing and I do)
A
B
C
We use continuous tenses only for actions and happenings (they are eating / it is
raining etc.).
Some verbs (for example, know and like) are not action verbs. You cannot say ‘I
am knowing’ or ‘they are liking’; you can say ‘I know’, ‘they like’.
The following verbs are not normally used in continuous tenses:
Like love hate need prefect
Know realize suppose mean understand believe remember
Belong contain consist depend seem
● I’m hungry. I want something to eat. (not ‘I’m wanting’)
● Do you understand what I mean?
● Ann doesn’t seem very happy at the moment.
When think means ‘believe’, do not use the continuous:
● What do you think (= believe) will happen? (not ‘what are you thinking’)
but ● You look serious. What aer you thinking about? (= What is going on in your
mind?)
● I’m thinking of giving up my job. (= I am considering)
When have means ‘possess’ etc., do not use the continuous (see Unit 17):
● We’re enjoying our holiday. We have a nice room in the hotel. (not ‘We’re
having)
● We’re enjoying our holiday. We’re having a great time.
See hear smell taste
We normally use the present simple (not continuous) with these verbs:
● Do you see that man over there? (not ‘are you seeing’)
● This room smells. Let’s open a window.
We often use can + see/hear/smell taste:
● Listen! Can you hear something?
But you can use the continuous with see (I’m seeing) when the meaning is ‘having
a meeting with’ (especially in the future – see Unit 19A):
● I’m seeing the manager tomorrow morning.
He is selfish and He is being selfish
The present continuous of be is I am being / he is being / you are being etc.
I’m being = ‘I’m behaving / I’m acting’. Compare:
● I can’t understand why he’s being so selfish. He isn’t usually like that.
(being selfish = behave selfishly at the moment)
But ● He never thinks about other people. He is very selfish. ( not ‘he is being’)
(= he is selfish generally, not only at the moment)
We use am/is/are being to say how somebody is behaving. It is not usually
possible in other sentences:
D
4.
1
4.
2
4.
3
● It’s hot today. (not ‘it is being hot’) ● Sarah is very tired. (not ‘is being tired’)
Look and feel
You can use the present simple or continuous when you say how somebody looks
or feels now:
● You look well today. or You’re looking well today.
● How do you feel now? or How are you feeling now?
but ● I usually feel tired in the morning. (not ‘I’m usually feeling’)
EAERCISES
ARE THE UNDERLINED VERBS RIGHT OR WRONG? CORRECT THE ONCE THAT
ARE WRONG.
1 I’m seeing the manager tomorrow morning.
2 I’m feeling hungry. Is there anything to eat?
3 Are you believing in God?
4 This sauce is great. It’s tasting really good.
5 I’m thinking this is your key. Am I right?
LOOK AT THE PICTURE. USE THE WORDS IN BRACKETS TO MAKE SENTENCES.
(YOU SHOULD ALSO STUDY UNIT 3 BEFORE YOU DO THIS EXERCISE.)
1 (you / not / seem / very happy 4 (the dinner / smell / good)
today)
2 (what / you / do?) (Be quiet! (I / 5 (Excuse me. anybody / sit / here?)
think)
(No, it’s free.)
3 (who / is umbrella / belong to?) 6 (Can you ring me back in half an
hour? (I / have / dinner))
(I’ve no idea.)
PUT THE VERB INTO THE CORRECT FORM, PRESENT CONTINUOUS OR PRESENT
SIMPLE.
1 Are you hungry? Something to eat? (you/want)
2 Jill is interested in politics but she to a political party. ( not/belong)
3 Don’t put the dictionary away. I it. (use)
4 Don’t put the dictionary away. I it. (need)
5 Who is that man? What ? (he/want)
6 Who is that man? Why at us? (he/look)
7 George says he’s 80 years old but nobody him.(believe)
8 She told me her name but I it now. (not/remember)
9 I of selling my car. (think) Would you be interested in buying it?
10 I you should sell your car. (think) You it very often.
4.
4
(not/use)
11 I used to drink a lot of coffee but these days I tea. (prefer)
12 Air mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. (consist)
COMPLETE THE SENTENCES USING THE MOST SUITABLE FORM OF BE.
SOMETIMES YOU MUST USE THE SIMPLE (AM/IS/ARE) AND SOMETIMES THE
CONTINUOUS IS MORE SUITABLE (AM/IS/ARE BEING).
1 I can’t understand why so selfish. He isn’t usually like that.
2 Jack very nice to me at the moment. I wonder why.
3 Normally you are very sensible, so why so silly about this matter?
5 Why isn’t Sarah at work today? ill?
2024年5月9日发(作者：守天路)
UNIT Present continuous and present simple (2)
4 (I am doing and I do)
A
B
C
We use continuous tenses only for actions and happenings (they are eating / it is
raining etc.).
Some verbs (for example, know and like) are not action verbs. You cannot say ‘I
am knowing’ or ‘they are liking’; you can say ‘I know’, ‘they like’.
The following verbs are not normally used in continuous tenses:
Like love hate need prefect
Know realize suppose mean understand believe remember
Belong contain consist depend seem
● I’m hungry. I want something to eat. (not ‘I’m wanting’)
● Do you understand what I mean?
● Ann doesn’t seem very happy at the moment.
When think means ‘believe’, do not use the continuous:
● What do you think (= believe) will happen? (not ‘what are you thinking’)
but ● You look serious. What aer you thinking about? (= What is going on in your
mind?)
● I’m thinking of giving up my job. (= I am considering)
When have means ‘possess’ etc., do not use the continuous (see Unit 17):
● We’re enjoying our holiday. We have a nice room in the hotel. (not ‘We’re
having)
● We’re enjoying our holiday. We’re having a great time.
See hear smell taste
We normally use the present simple (not continuous) with these verbs:
● Do you see that man over there? (not ‘are you seeing’)
● This room smells. Let’s open a window.
We often use can + see/hear/smell taste:
● Listen! Can you hear something?
But you can use the continuous with see (I’m seeing) when the meaning is ‘having
a meeting with’ (especially in the future – see Unit 19A):
● I’m seeing the manager tomorrow morning.
He is selfish and He is being selfish
The present continuous of be is I am being / he is being / you are being etc.
I’m being = ‘I’m behaving / I’m acting’. Compare:
● I can’t understand why he’s being so selfish. He isn’t usually like that.
(being selfish = behave selfishly at the moment)
But ● He never thinks about other people. He is very selfish. ( not ‘he is being’)
(= he is selfish generally, not only at the moment)
We use am/is/are being to say how somebody is behaving. It is not usually
possible in other sentences:
D
4.
1
4.
2
4.
3
● It’s hot today. (not ‘it is being hot’) ● Sarah is very tired. (not ‘is being tired’)
Look and feel
You can use the present simple or continuous when you say how somebody looks
or feels now:
● You look well today. or You’re looking well today.
● How do you feel now? or How are you feeling now?
but ● I usually feel tired in the morning. (not ‘I’m usually feeling’)
EAERCISES
ARE THE UNDERLINED VERBS RIGHT OR WRONG? CORRECT THE ONCE THAT
ARE WRONG.
1 I’m seeing the manager tomorrow morning.
2 I’m feeling hungry. Is there anything to eat?
3 Are you believing in God?
4 This sauce is great. It’s tasting really good.
5 I’m thinking this is your key. Am I right?
LOOK AT THE PICTURE. USE THE WORDS IN BRACKETS TO MAKE SENTENCES.
(YOU SHOULD ALSO STUDY UNIT 3 BEFORE YOU DO THIS EXERCISE.)
1 (you / not / seem / very happy 4 (the dinner / smell / good)
today)
2 (what / you / do?) (Be quiet! (I / 5 (Excuse me. anybody / sit / here?)
think)
(No, it’s free.)
3 (who / is umbrella / belong to?) 6 (Can you ring me back in half an
hour? (I / have / dinner))
(I’ve no idea.)
PUT THE VERB INTO THE CORRECT FORM, PRESENT CONTINUOUS OR PRESENT
SIMPLE.
1 Are you hungry? Something to eat? (you/want)
2 Jill is interested in politics but she to a political party. ( not/belong)
3 Don’t put the dictionary away. I it. (use)
4 Don’t put the dictionary away. I it. (need)
5 Who is that man? What ? (he/want)
6 Who is that man? Why at us? (he/look)
7 George says he’s 80 years old but nobody him.(believe)
8 She told me her name but I it now. (not/remember)
9 I of selling my car. (think) Would you be interested in buying it?
10 I you should sell your car. (think) You it very often.
4.
4
(not/use)
11 I used to drink a lot of coffee but these days I tea. (prefer)
12 Air mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. (consist)
COMPLETE THE SENTENCES USING THE MOST SUITABLE FORM OF BE.
SOMETIMES YOU MUST USE THE SIMPLE (AM/IS/ARE) AND SOMETIMES THE
CONTINUOUS IS MORE SUITABLE (AM/IS/ARE BEING).
1 I can’t understand why so selfish. He isn’t usually like that.
2 Jack very nice to me at the moment. I wonder why.
3 Normally you are very sensible, so why so silly about this matter?
5 Why isn’t Sarah at work today? ill?