Family descriptions Grammar
present simple vs present continuous
1. Study the table. What signal words can you add to each tense?
Rule! Use Present Simple to talk about: things happening all the time: facts, habits and routines, repeated actions We often watch TV together. My parents work 5 every day.
Use Present Continuous to talk about: things happening at the time of speaking or around a present time: We are watching TV now. My parents are now working today.
Signal words now / right now / at the moment never / usually / sometimes / today / these days often / always / rarely this week/month every day/week/year Look! / Listen! on Fridays, on weekdays, Hurry up! at the weekend 2. Complete the pairs of sentences with the correct form of the same verb.
1) a) b) 2) a) b) 3) a) b) 4) a) b) 5) a) b)
Every morning mother cooks/is cooking breakfast for us. It is 8 o’clock now. Mother cooks/ is cooking breakfast. Every day father leaves/is leaving the house at half past eight. Now it is half past eight. Father leaves/is leaving the house. We often watch/are watching TV. Now we sit/ are sitting in armchairs and watch/are watching TV. Sometimes Mike does/is doing his lessons in the evening. Look at Mike! He does/is doing his lessons. Every day the family has/is having tea at 5 o’clock. It is 5 o’clock now. The family has/is having tea.
Remember! What do you do? = usually What’s your occupation (job)? I am a teacher/ work as a teacher or I teach English/at school.
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What are you doing? = now I’m having a rest. Nothing! I’m at home. I’m busy, I’m in the lesson.
How are you doing? = How are you? Fine, and you? Not bad, thanks! Everything is all right!
