EXERCISES. 1. Put in the present simple or the present continuous tenses.

1. Put in the present simple or the present continuous tenses.

CHOMP CHAMP!

(you sit) ………………... comfortably? Good! I (hope),......................... you (study).......................... this text carefully because I (have).......................... news for you. The Guinness Book of Records (not include)......................... records for eating any more. People who (try)....................... to swallow 47 hard boiled eggs in half a minute will have to do it for pleasure and not get into the record book. " We (regard) ……………….. these records as unhealthy, " said the book's editor, Mr Donald McFarian. However, one record-holder will remain. He is Michel Lotito of Grenoble (" Monseieur Mangetout"). Since 1966, he has chomped his way through two bicycles, 7 TV sets and a light aircraft. He's likely to remain world champ, unless you (want) ………………….. to challenge him, of course!

2. Put in the present simple or present continuous. Note where both forms are possible.

A HOLIDAY JOB WITH A DIFFERENCE!

I (study)....................... English at Exeter University. I'm on holiday at the moment and I (work) ……………………. in a public library. I'm lucky to have this job. I (not have to)......................... get up early. The library (open).......................... at 10 and (close) ……………………….. at 7. It's interesting work because people (always come in)................................. and (ask)........................... me to help them, so I (learn) …………………….. a lot about different subjects. I (enjoy) …………………….. the job and (find).............................. it very amusing, too. People (use) ………………………. the strangest things as bookmarks. I have found a rasher of bacon (uncooked). Matchsticks (be).............................. common and so (be) ……………………... bus tickets. My colleagues (always find) a £ 10, but I haven't been so lucky! I often (think)................................. of the photo of a beautiful woman which I found. On the back were the words: " I (love).......................... you. I (miss) ………………………. you and I'll never forget you".

3. Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the present simple or present continuous. Use λ to add any words outside the space, as in the example.

1) Even though Sarah says she's feeling better. I think she λ is still losing weight.

2) Frank..................... stamps in his spare time. It's his hobby.

3) The airline currently................. half-price tickets to Japan, but for one month only.

4) My mother.................... all the doors and windows before she goes to bed.

5) Because of the present threat of war, the best qualified people.................. the country.

6) Both ancient and recent records show that farmers............... long hours.

7) She has an important project to finish by next week, so she ………… in the evenings at present

8) Philip is an excellent linguist. He.....................six languages fluently.

9) ‘How are you getting on with the book? ’ ‘At the moment I......... chapter four’

10) Here we are in Switzerland again. We …………. in a very comfortable small hotel …

4. Complete these texts with one of these sets of verbs, using each verb once only. Chouse either the present simple or present continuous for all the missing verbs in each text. Add any words outside the spaces.

say/tell/do talk/threaten/negotiate recommend/warn/apologise

spend/recover/find suggest/hope/promise

1) She λ is only just recovering from the operation and λ is still finding it difficult to move about. At the moment she is spending most of her time in bed.

2) What I................ is that you............... well in your job. Really! I............. you the truth.

3) I..............I'll do everything I can to help you find a flat, although I …………. that you also advertise in the local newspaper. It can be difficult to find accommodation, but I............. it won't be too long before you've got somewhere.

4) The fishing unions............ with their employers for a pay rise. If there is no agreement by next week, they............. to strike and even................ about blockading ports around the country.

5) I.................... for the delay in replying to your letter. To place an order for the book you require, I............. that you telephone Mrs Jones in our sales department. I.................. you, however, that delivery time is likely to be about six weeks.

5. Complete the sentences with the verbs given, using the present continuous or the present simple. If both are possible write them both, and consider the difference in meaning.

1) ‘Shall I phone at 6.00? ’ ‘No, we normally................ dinner at that time.’ (cook)

2) Since I won the lottery, my telephone hasn't stopped ringing. People …………… …………….to ask how I'm going to spend the money. (phone)

3) Alice.................................. her mother in London most weekends. (see)

4) We usually ….................... up at about 7.00. Couldn't you come an hour later? (get up)

5) I....................................... swimming in the evenings to try to lose weight. (go)

6) Fletcher ____________ (pass) to Coles who ________ (shoot) just over the bar. United _____________ (attack) much more in this half...

7) A man _____________ (come) home late one night after the office Christmas party. His wife __________ (wait) for him, and she ___________ (say) to him...

8) Now that the rice ___________ (cook) you ___________ (chop up) the carrots and tomatoes and you _____________ (put) them in a dish...

6. Put the verbs in brackets into the present simple or the present progressive tense.

1) Cuckoos (not build) nests. They (use) the nests of the other birds.

2) You can't see Tom now: he (have) a bath.

3) He usually (drink) coffee but today he (drink) tea.

4) What she (do) in the evenings? — She usually (play) cards or (watch) TV.

5) I won't go out now as it (rain) and I (not have) an umbrella.

6) The last train (leave) the station at 11.30.

7) He usually (speak) so quickly that I (not understand) him.

8) Ann (make) a dress for herself at the moment. She (make) all her own clothes.

9) Hardly anyone (wear) a hat nowadays.

10)I'm afraid I've broken one of your coffee cups. — Don't worry. I (not like) that set anyway.

11)I (wear) my sunglasses today because the sun is very strong.

12)Tom can't have the newspaper now because his aunt (read) it.

13)I'm busy at the moment. I (redecorate) the sitting room.

7. Complete the sentences with appropriate verbs. Use the same verb for each sentence in the pair. Choose the present continuous if possible; if not, use the present simple.

1. a) It __________ us at the moment to send our daughter to dance classes.

b) It __________ a fortune to fly first class to Japan.

2. a) I ___________ sitting down at the end of a long day and reading a good book.

b) It's a wonderful book. I __________ every moment of it.

3. a) We've always wanted a house in the country, but we ___________ on where it should be.

b) When they agree with each other on so many important issues, I can't understand why they _________ now on this relatively minor matter.

4. a)With growing concerns about the environment, people ____________ to use recycled paper products.

b) He doesn't like publicity, and __________ to stay firmly in the background.

5. a)‘Can I speak to Dorothy? ’ ‘She __________ a shower. Can I take a message? ’

b) My brother _________ three children, all girls.

6. a) Although he _________ three cars, all of them are extremely old.

b) In the north of the country, fewer and fewer people ___________ the houses they live in.

8. Expand one of the sets of notes below to complete each dialogue.

continually/change/mind forever/moan/work forever/ask me/money constantly/criticise/driving always/complain/handwriting

1. I can't read this. You're always complaining about my handwriting.

2. Can I borrow £ 10? You're...

3. That was a dangerous thing to do! You're...

4. I think I'll stay here after all. You're …

5. I had a bad day at the office again. You’re...

9. How might you report in news in these headlines using the phrases given?