Page 123 - University English for non-speacalist

I'm watching a movie on TV.

 Things which are true at the moment but not always.

I'm looking for a new job.

 Present plans for the future.
I'm taking my husband to New York for his birthday.

Look at these sentences:
- I usually don't drink coffee but I'm having one this morning because there is nothing else.
- I often drive to work but I'm taking the train this morning because my car is in for repair.
- I'm thinking about dying my hair blonde but I don't think my wife will be very happy
about it.
- My parents live in New York but I'm just visiting.

Notice how in all these examples we use the present continuous to talk about events which are
temporary/limited in time and the present simple to talk about events which are
habits/permanent.

Exercises
1. Put the verbs into the correct tense (present simple OR present continuous):
The train always ……….. (1: leave) on time. "What's the matter? Why ………. (2: cry/you)?"
That's strange. They ………. (3: not to watch) TV. He ……….. (4: not to speak) very good
English. Please be quiet! I ………. (5: do) my homework. Where ………. (6: live/they)?
Listen! John ………. music! (7: play) I never ………. (8: go) to the swimming pool. Harold
Black's a famous pianist. He ………. (9: give) two or three concerts every week. He
……….(10: travel) a lot and this week he's in New York. He ………. (11: stay) at an expensive
hotel. He's at his hotel now. He ……….. (12: have) his breakfast in the dining−room. He
………. (13: drink) a cup of coffee and he ……….. (14: read) a newspaper. Harold's always

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