English Grammar in Use

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 m

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?/

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 acti

  Thanks vii   To the student viii   To the teacher ix     Present and past   1 Present continuous (I am doing)   2 Present simple (I do)   3 Present continuous and present simple (1) (I am doing and I do)   4 Present continuous and present simple (2) (I am doing and I do)   5 Past simple (I did)   6 Past continuous (I was doing)     Present perfect and past   7 Present perfect (1) (I have done)   8 Present perfect (2) (I have done)   9 Present perfect continuous (I have been doing)   10 Present perfect continuous and simple (I have been doing and I have done)   11 How long have you (been) ...?   12 When ...? and How long ...? For and since   13 Present perfect and past (1) (I have done and I did)   14 Present perfect and past (2) (I have done and I did)   15 Past perfect (I had done)   16 Past perfect continuous (I had been doing)   17 Have and have got   18 Used to (do)     Future            19 Present tenses (I am doing/I do) for the f