Gram. Supp. 25
Focus 3_Verbs Changing Meaning (present simple vs. present cont.)
Objective: can tell when to use the present simple and when to use the present continuous.
Present Simple
a. to talk about habits and repeated actions
b. facts and things that are generally true
c. how often something happens
a. Ron and I often take a walk after dinner.
b. It snows a lot in Ankara.
c. I meet my friends every now and then.
Present Continuous
a. to talk about action in progress now
b. to talk about action in progress but maybe not
at the moment of speaking
a. Look! They are dancing in the street.
b. My class is studying Russian Literature this semester.
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Knowing a verb is an action or a state (non-action) verb helps you a lot in this case!
Action verbs describe physical or mental
actions.
State verbs do not describe actions. They
describe states, conditions, or feelings.
a. feelings: dislike, hate, like, miss, love,
adore
b. senses: feel, hear, see, smell, sound, taste
c. possession: belong, have, own
d. appearance: appear, look, seem
e. desires: hope, need, prefer, want, wish
f. mental states: believe, think, understand,
expect, know, realize, remember, forget,
notice, recognize
She studies hard every night. (Action)
She is studying French right now.
I want to go to the dance. (State)
a. I love chocolate.
b. The soup tastes delicious.
c. I have two brothers and a sister.
d. You look tired today.
e. I need to get some milk.
f. I believe I will fail this year.
* look/feel can be used both as an action and state verb
without a change in meaning when it refers to a person’s
appearance/feeling.
You look / are looking great today.
I feel / am feeling exhausted in these days.
State Verb
Action Verb
He has a bag. (possession)
He is having a sandwich.
(the act of eating)
It is possible to use the progressive form with
some state verbs, but their meaning changes.
I think this book is great.
(opinion)
I am thinking of going on a
holiday. (plan)
e.g. be, have, think, feel, see, taste, smell,
weigh, appear, fit
I see two dogs in the park.
(sense)
I am seeing my doctor
tomorrow. (appointment)
This croissant tastes delicious.
(sense)
I am tasting my wedding
cake right now. (the act of
tasting)
EXERCISE 1. Complete the conversations with the verbs in the parentheses using the simple present or
the present continuous.
1. Eric: 1_______________ you _______________ (like) your new home in Italy?
Jane: Yes I really 2_______________ (love) it, but I 3_______________ (think) about the United States a lot
and sometimes I find myself dreaming of moving back.
Eric: What 4 _______________ you _______________ (miss) most?
Jane: Oh, family get-togethers, probably.
2. Sally: Why is Nikki taking so long at the bakery?
Christina: She 5_______________ (taste) different kinds of cakes. She 6 _______________ (want) the perfect
cake for her wedding.
3. Mark: That’s a nice camera.
Tim: Thanks, but it 7 _______________ (not/ belong) to me. It’s my sister’s.
Mark: 8 _______________ you _______________ (have) your own camera?
Tim: No, I 9_______________ (not own) a camera.
4. Maria: 10 _______________ you _______________ (have) fun tonight?
Barbara: Not really, I 11_______________ (have) a headache.
Exercise 2. Complete the conversations with the words from the box. Use the simple present or present
continuous.
hate
have
need
not believe
not want
not look
not feel
talk
think
taste
Conversation 1
Midori: Hi Sally, how are you doing?
Sally: I’m OK. How about you?
Midori: Great. You know, I usually 1 _________________ big crowds, and I 2 _________________ people are too
noisy in big groups. Well, guess what: right now, I’m in New York at the Thanksgiving Day parade!
Sally: You are? I 3 _________________ it!
Midori: Yes, I am. And I 4 _________________ a wonderful time.
Conversation 2
Angela: Mmm… this soup 5 _________________ delicious! Do you want some?
Kara: No, thanks.
Angela: Are you sure? It’s really good.
Kara: No thanks. I 6 _________________ well, and I 7 _________________ you to get sick after we eat from the
same bowl.
Conversation 3
Mike: Hi, Kemal. Are you OK? You 8 _________________ very happy. What’s the matter?
Kemal: Oh, I …
Andy: Hey, Mike, do you have a minute? I 9 _________________ to ask you something?
Mike: Sorry, but Kemal and I 10 _________________ right now. Can I talk to you later?