IAE

Grammar
Review
IAE: Present Time 1
Present Simple: Form

The present simple is formed with the infinitive form of the

verb. We add s for the third person singular he/she/it:
I/you/we/they work here
He/she/it works here

Negatives are formed with do/does not. In speech and

informal writing we use contractions:
I/you/we/they do not (dont) work here
He/she/it does not (doesnt) work here
Questions are formed with the auxiliary verb do/does and
the infinitive. Short answers to yes/no questions repeat
the auxiliary:
Do you work here? / Does she work here?
Yes I do / No, I dont / Yes, she does / No, she doesnt
IAE: Present Time 1
Present Simple: Uses

We use the present simple for permanent facts:

This machine cuts metal
In finance, p/e stands for price/earnings ratio

We use the present simple for actions and situations

that are generally true:
We offer a full range of products
Liz works in the Marketing department

We use the present simple for actions which are

repeated regularly over a long period of time, for
example habits and routine:
At Union Investment, a large Frankfurt fund manager,
about half of the customers invest a regular amount
every month (Wall Street Journal Europe Website)
IAE: Present Time 1
Present Simple: Time Expressions

We often use frequency adverbs with the present simple:

always, often, usually, normally, sometimes, occasionally, rarely,
not often, hardly ever, etc.
The Chief executive Office of the company usually rises at 6 am. He
takes the train to London and arrives at his office by 8 am. Lunch is
normally a sandwich with some tea.
Note the position of frequency adverbs:
Before the main verb: I often take (I dont often take) the public
transport
After the verb BE: Im usually (Im not usually) the first to finish the tasks
Adverb phrases like everyday, once a year, most of the time, from
time to time, now and then, etc. come at the beginning or end of a
sentence:
Terry Smith travels to his New York office once a month

We also use the present simple after these future time expressions:
when, after before, unless, in case, as soon as, until, by the time,
the next time
IAE: Present Time 1
Present continuous: Form
The Present Continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb BE
and the ing form of the main verb
Many important chain stores are setting up online stores,
handling product delivery and even administering internet
customers.
In speech and informal writing we use contractions. Negatives
are formed with the verb BE + NOT:
I am (Im) working here / I am not (Im not) working here
She is (Shes) working here / She is not (Shes not/ She isnt)
working here
Notice that there are two alternatives for the negatives of
you/he/she/it/we/they
Questions are formed by inverting the subject and the
auxiliary BE. Short answers to yes/no questions repeat the
auxiliary:
Are you working here? / Is he working here?
Yes, I am / No, Im not / Yes, he is / No, he isnt
IAE: Present Time 1
Present continuous: Uses
We use the Present Continuous to talk about temporary
actions and situations that are happening now.
The action or situation may be in progress now, at the
moment of speaking:
Sorry, Mr Clark cant see you at the moment. Hes talking
to a customer
The action or situation may be happening around now,
even if it is not happening exactly at the moment of
speaking:
Americas powerful online merchants are moving eastward,
to the new markets in Europe. Theyre opening offices in
London and buying properties in Barcelona.
The action or situation may be a current trend:
Computer games are getting better every year
IAE: Present Time 1
Present continuous: Time
Expressions
Thepresent continuous is often used
with these time expressions:
Now, at the moment, nowadays,
currently, these days, right now

Franchising in the USA has been growing

steadily since the 1950s, and this
concept is now providing business
opportunities in more than 75 different
industries.
 IAE: Present Time 2
Present Simple or Continuous?
Compare the features:
PRESENT SIMPLE
Permanent
Habits and routines
Facts that are always true
General situations
I live in Budapest (all the time)
This plane lands in Madrid
(routine)
CNN dominates the USA cable-
TV market (general situation)
Canada continues to be the
most popular country for
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Temporary
In progress now
Events happening at the
moment
A particular situation
Imliving in Budapest (for a few
months)
Look! We are landing! (progress
now)
CNN is doing very well in the rest of
Europe, too (at the moment)
but the world of franchise is
changing now (trend in progress)
IAE: Present Time 2
Present Continuous or Present Perfect Continuous?
The present continuous is used for a temporary action
happening now:
Sue is working on the new design (in progress now,
and will continue)
The Present Perfect Continuous describes an action in
progress from the past up to the present
Sue has been working on the new design (in progress
up to now, and may or may not continue)

Other uses of Present tenses: Present Simple

The present simple can be used to refer to timetables
and schedules. When we speak about timetables, we
are often thinking about the future:
Iberia flight IB324 leaves Madrid at 08:00 and arrives
in Geneva at 10:30
IAE: Present Time 2
Other uses of Present tenses: Present Simple
The present simple can be used to make a story appear more
immediate and interesting. This is common in journalism:
On a grey November day in London, the mood inside ITM
headquarters is sunny and bright. Executives see no limits
to the expansion of the company. ( Business Week Website)

Other uses of Present tenses: Present Continuous

The present continuous can be used to describe a fixed future
arrangement. There is usually a future time expression:
IBM are/is moving to new premises in Europe next year.
We can use always with the present continuous. This is often
used for exaggerating or complaining. We emphasise always
in speech in this case:
This photocopier is always breaking down!
IAE: Present Time 2
State Verbs
Some verbs describe states, not actions. Nothing
happens. Verbs like these are not normally used
in the continuous form of any tense:
I notice that youve moved your desk (NOT Im
noticing)
Sorry, I dont understand (NOT Im not
understanding)
How much does it cost? (NOT How much is it
costing?)
It weights 4kg (NOT it is weighting)
These examples are in the present simple even
though we are talking about temporary situations,
So they are exceptions to the general rule.
IAE: Present Time 2
State Verbs
State verbs include:
The Appear, hear, look like, notice, see, seem, sound, taste
senses (=have a flavour)

Feelings Dislike, fear, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish

Thinking Agree, believe,, doubt, expect, (=believe), feel (=believe),
forget, imagine, know, realise, recognise, suppose, suspect,
think (=believe), understand
Possessio belong, to, contain, have (=possess), include, own, possess
n
Being Be, consist of, exist
Other Cost, depend on, fit, involve, matter, measure (=have
Verbs length), mean, need, satisfy, susprise, weight
Analysts expect that shares will trade initially
at about 400p a share, which means that the
company is currently undervalued.
IAE: Present Time 2
State Verbs
Some verbs in the previous list can have a state
meaning and an action meaning. Examples include
be, have, taste, think:
Our suppliers are usually very helpful (state)
Our suppliers are being very helpful at the moment
(action)
I have two sisters (state)
Im having problems with the computer (action)
I think you are right (state)
Im thinking about changing my job (action)
This soup tastes salty (state)
Im tasting the soup to see if needs more salt (action)
State verbs are not normally used in the Imperative.
IAE: Present Time 1 and
2

Grammar exercises
on present time:

Pages 12, 13, 16, 17

IAE: Present Time 2
Some verbs in the previous list can have a state
meaning and an action meaning. Examples
include be, have, taste, think:
Our suppliers are usually very helpful (state)
Our suppliers are being very helpful at the
moment (action)
I have two sisters (state)
Im having problems with the computer (action)
I think you are right (state)
Im thinking about changing my job (action)
This soup tastes salty (state)
Im tasting the soup to see if needs more salt
(action)
State verbs are not normally used in the
Imperative.