UNIT 5.

Past simple (I did)

A. Study this example:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian musician and composer. He lived from 1756 to 1791. He started composing at the age of five and wrote more than 600 pieces of music. He was only 35 years old when he died.

Lived/started/wrote/was/died are all past simple.

B. Very often the past simple ends in -ed (regular verbs):

* I work in a travel agency now. Before that I worked in a shop.

* We invited them to our party but they decided not to come.

* The police stopped me on my way home last night.

* She passed her examination because she studied very hard.

For spelling (stopped, studied etc.), see Appendix 6.

But many verbs are irregular. The past simple does not end in -ed. For example:

write -> wrote

* Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music.

see -> saw

* We saw Rose in town a few days ago.

go -> went

* I went to the cinema three times last week.

shut -> shut

* It was cold, so I shut the window.

For a list of irregular verbs, see Appendix 1.

C. In questions and negatives we use did/didn't + infinitive (enjoy/see/go etc.)

I/she/they: enjoyed/saw/went

Did: you/she/they: enjoy?/see?/go?

I/she/they: didn't: enjoy/see/go

* A: Did you go out last night?

B: Yes, I went to the cinema but I didn't enjoy the film much.

* 'When did Mr Thomas die?' 'About ten years ago.'

* They didn't invite her to the party, so she didn't go.

* 'Did you have time to write the letter?' 'No, I didn't.'

Be careful when do is the main verb in the sentence:

* What did you do at the weekend? (not 'what did you at the weekend')

* I didn't do anything. (not 'I didn't anything')

D. The past of be (am/is/are) is was/were:

I/he/she/it was/wasn't

we/you/they were/weren't

was I/he/she/it?

were we/you/they?

Note that we do not use did in negatives and questions with was/were:

* I was angry because they were late.

* Was the weather good when you were on holiday?

* They weren't able to come because they were so busy.

* Did you go out last night or were you too tired?

EXERCISES

5.1 Read what Sharon says about a typical working day:

SHARON

I usually get up at 7 o'clock and have a big breakfast. I walk to work, which takes me about half an hour. I start work at 8.45. I never have lunch. I finish work at 5 o'clock. i'm always tired when I get home. I usually cook a meal in the evening. I don't usually go out. I go to bed at about 11 o'clock. I always sleep well.

Yesterday was a typical working day for Sharon. Write she did or didn't do yesterday.

1. She got up at 7 o'clock.

2. She --- a big breakfast.

3. She ---.

4. It --- to get to work.

5. --- at 8.45.

6. --- lunch.

7. --- at 5 o'clock.

8. --- tired when --- home.

9. --- a meal yesterday evening.

10. --- out yesterday evening.

11. --- at 11 o'clock.

12. --- well last night.

5.25 Put one of these verbs in each sentence:

buy catch cost drink fall hurt sell spend teach throw win write

1. Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music.

2. 'How did you learn to drive?' 'My father --- me.'

3. We couldn't afford to keep our car, so we --- it.

4. I was very thirsty. I --- the water very quickly.

5. Paul and I played tennis yesterday. He's much better than me, so he --- easily.

6. Don --- down the stairs this morning and --- his lag.

7. Jim --- the ball to Sue, who --- it.

8. Ann --- a lot of money yesterday. She --- a dress which --- l100.

5.3 A friend has just come back from holiday. You ask him about it. Write your questions.

1. (where/go?) Where did you go?

2. (go alone?) ---

3. (food/good?) ---

4. (how long/stay there?) ---

5. (stay/at a hotel?) ---

6. (how/travel?) ---

7. (the weather/fine?) ---

8. (what/do in the evenings?) ---

9. (meet anybody interesting?) ---

5.4 Complete the sentences, Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.

1. It was warm, so I _took_ off my coat. (take)

2. The film wasn't very good. I didn't enjoy it very much. (enjoy)

3. I knew Sarah was very busy, so I --- her. (disturb)

4. I was very tired, so I --- to bed early. (go)

5. The bed was very uncomfortable. I --- very well. (sleep)

6. Sue wasn't hungry, so she --- anything. (eat)

7. We went to Kate's house but she --- at home. (be)

8. It was a funny situation but nobody --- (laugh)

9. The window was open and a bird --- into the room. (fly)

10. The hotel wasn't very expensive. It --- very much. (cost)

UNIT 3.

Present continuous and present simple (1)

 (I am doing and I do)

A. Study the explanations and compare the examples:

Present continuous (I am doing)

Use the continuous for something that is happening at or around the time of speaking.

The action is not finished.

I am doing (now)

* The water is boiling. Can you turn it off?

* Listen to those people. What language are they speaking?

* Let's go out. It isn't raining now.

* 'Don't disturb me. I'm busy.' 'Why? What are you doing?'

* I'm going to bed now. Goodnight!

* Maria is in Britain at the moment. She's learning English.

Use the continuous for a temporary situation:

* I'm living with some friends until I find a flat.

* 'You're working hard today.' 'Yes, I've got a lot to do.'

See Unit I for more information.

Present simple (I do)

Use the simple for things in general or things that happen repeatedly.

I do

* Water boils at 100 degrees celsius.

* Excuse me, do you speak English?

* It doesn't rain very much in summer.

* What do you usually do at weekends?

* What do you do? (= What's your job?)

* I always go to bed before midnight.

* Most people learn to swim when they are children.

Use the simple for a permanent situation:

* My parents live in London. They have lived there all their lives.

* John isn't lazy. He works very hard most of the time.

UNIT 2.

Present simple (I do)

A. Study this example situation:

Alex is a bus driver, but now he is in bed asleep. So: He is not driving a bus. (He is asleep.) but He drives a bus. (He is a bus driver.)

Drive(s)/work(s)/do(es) etc. is the present simple:

I/we/you/they drive/work/do etc.

he/she/it drives/works/does etc.

B. We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We are not thinking only about now. We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general. It is not important whether the action is happening at the time of speaking:

* Nurses took after patients in hospitals.

* I usually go away at weekends.

* The earth goes round the sun.

Remember that we say: he/she/it -s. Don't forget the s:

I work ... but He works ... They teach ... but My sister teaches ...

For spelling (-s or -es), see Appendix 6.

C. We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences:

do I/we/you/they work?/come?/do?

does he/she/it work?/come?/do?

I/we/you/they don't work/come/do

he/she/it doesn't work/come/do

* I come from Canada. Where do you come from?

* 'Would you like a cigarette?' 'No, thanks. I don't smoke.'

* What does this word mean? (not 'What means this word?')

* Rice doesn't grow in cold climates.

In the following examples do is also the main verb:

* 'What do you do?' (= What's your job?) 'I work in a shop.'

* He's so lazy. He doesn't do anything to help me. (not 'He doesn't anything')

D. We use the present simple when we say how often we do things:

* I get up at 8 o'clock every morning. (not 'I'm getting')

* How often do you go to the dentist? (not 'How often are you going?')

* Ann doesn't drink tea very often.

* In summer John usually plays tennis once or twice a week.

E. I promise/I apologise etc.

Sometimes we do things by saying something. For example, when you promise to do something, you can say 'I promise ...'; when you suggest something, you can say J suggest ...'. We use the present simple (promise/suggest etc.) in sentences like this:

* I promise I won't be late. (not 'I'm promising')

* 'What do you suggest I do?' 'I suggest that you ...'

In the same way we say: I apologise .../I advise .../I insist .../I agree ... /I refuse ... etc.

EXERCISES

2.1 Complete the sentences using one of the following:

cause(s) close(s) drink(s) live(s) open(s) speak(s) take(s) place

1. Ann speaks German very well.

2. I never --- coffee. drink

3. The swimming pool --- at 9 o'clock and --- at 18.30 every day. Opens, closes

4. Bad driving --- many accidents. causes

5. My parents --- in a very at small flat. live

6. The Olympic Games --- every four years. Take place

2.2 Put the verb into the correct form.

1. Jane doesn't drink (not/drink) tea very often.

UNIT 1.

 Present continuous (I am doing)

A. Study this example situation:

Ann is in her car. She is on her way to work.

She is driving to work.

This means: she is driving now, at the time of speaking. The action is not finished.

Am/is/are ~ing is the present continuous:

I am(= I'm) driving

he/she/it is(he's etc.) working

we/you/they are(we're etc.) doing etc.

B. I am doing something = I'm in the middle of doing something; I've started doing it and I haven't finished yet.

Often the action is happening at the time of speaking:

* Please don't make so much noise. I'm working. (not 'I work')

* 'Where's Margaret?' 'She's having a bath.' (not 'she has a bath')

* Let's go out now. It isn't raining any more. (not 'it doesn't rain')

* (at a party) Hello, Jane. Are you enjoying the party? (not 'do you enjoy')

* I'm tired. I'm going to bed now. Goodnight!

But the action is not necessarily happening at the time of speaking. For example:

Tom and Ann are talking in a cafe. Tom says:

TOM: I'm reading an interesting book at the moment. IT lend it to you when I've finished it.

Tom is not reading the book at the time of speaking. He means that he has started it but not finished it yet. He is in the middle of reading it.

Some more examples:

* Catherine wants to work in Italy, so she is learning Italian. (but perhaps she isn't learning Italian exactly at the time of speaking)

* Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope it will be finished before next summer.

C. We use the present continuous when we talk about things happening in a period around now (for example, today/this week/this evening etc.):

* 'You're working hard today.' 'Yes, I have a lot to do.' (not 'you work hard today')

* 'Is Susan working this week?' 'No, she's on holiday.'

We use the present continuous when we talk about changes happening around now:

* The population of the world is rising very fast. (not 'rises')

* Is your English getting better? (not 'does your English get better')

@p3

EXERCISES

1.1 Complete the sentences with one of the following verbs in the correct form:

come get happen look make start stay try work

1. 'You're working hard today.' 'Yes, I have a lot to do.'

2. I --- for Christine. Do you know where she is? Am looking

3. It --- dark. Shall I turn on the light? is getting

4. They haven't got anywhere to I've at the moment. They --- with friends until they find somewhere.

Are staying

5. 'Are you ready, Ann?' 'Yes, I ---.' am coming

6. Have you got an umbrella? It --- to rain. Is starting

7. You --- a lot of noise. Could you be quieter? I --- to concentrate. Are making, am trying

8. Why are all these people here? What ---? Is happening

1.2 Use the words in brackets to complete the questions.

1. 'Is Colin working this week?' 'No, he's on holiday.' (Colin/work)

2. Why --- at me like that? What's the matter? (you/look) are you looking

3. 'Jenny is a student at university.' 'Is she? What --- ?' (she/study) is she studying

4. --- to the radio or can I turn it off? (anybody/listen) Is anybody listening

5. How is your English? --- better? (it/get) Is it getting

1.3 Put the verb into the correct form. Sometimes you need the negative (I'm not doing etc.).

1. I'm tired. I'm going (go) to bed now. Goodnight!

2. We can go out now. it isn't raining (rain) any more.

3. 'How is your new job?' 'Not so good at the moment. I --- (enjoy) it very much.' ‘m not enjoying

4. Catherine phoned me last night. She's on holiday in France. She --- (have) a great time and doesn't want to come back. ‘s having

5. I want to lose weight, so this week I --- (eat) lunch. ‘m not eating

6. Angela has just started evening classes. She --- (learn) German. ‘s learning

7. I think Paul and Ann have had an argument. They --- (speak) to each other. Aren’t speaking

1.4 Read this conversation between Brian and Sarah. Put the verbs into the correct form.

SARAH: Brian! How nice to see you! What (1) --- (you/do) these days?