Grammar Flashcards
Sarah is in her car. She is on her way to work.
She’s driving to work. (= She is driving …)
This means: she is driving now, at the time of speaking.
The action is not finished
I’m taking SQL courses
I am doing something = I started doing it and I haven’t finished; I’m in the middle of doing it.
Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying to work. (not I try)
‘Where’s Mark?’ ‘He’s having a shower.’ (not He has a shower)
Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more. (not It doesn’t rain)
How’s your new job? Are you enjoying it?
What’s all that noise? What’s going on? or What’s happening?
Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying to learn SQL.
Please don’t make noise. She’s sleeping.
Kate wants to work in Italy, so she’s learning Italian.
(but perhaps she isn’t learning Italian at the time of speaking)
Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope to finish it next summer.
I want to work in the U.S, so I’m learning English.
Some friends of mine are working outside of Daegu.
You can use the present continuous with today / this week / this year etc. (periods around now):
a: You’re working hard today. (not You work hard today)
b: Yes, I have a lot to do.
The company I work for isn’t doing so well this year.
I’m working hard today.
The company I work for isn’t doing so well this year because of poor management.
We use the present continuous when we talk about a change that has started to happen. We often use
these verbs in this way:
getting, becoming changing, improving
starting, beginning increasing, rising, falling, growing
Is your English getting better? (not Does your English get better)
The population of the world is increasing very fast. (not increases)
At first I didn’t like my job, but I’m starting to enjoy it now. (not I start)
Is my English getting better?
well.. I’m not sure, It’s depends on how many times you work on.
At first I liked my job, but I’m getting bored of it.
Alex is a bus driver, but now he is in bed asleep.
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
I’m a user manager.
We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We use it to say that something happens all the
time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:
Nurses look aft er patients in hospitals.
I usually go away at weekends.
The earth goes round the sun.
The cafe opens at 7.30 in the morning.
I usually go to workout `10ish in the morning.
All places are closed at 10pm because of restriction.
I come from Canada. Where do you come from?
I don’t go away very often.
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 (do you do / doesn’t do etc.):
‘What do you do?’ ‘I work in a shop.’
He’s always so lazy. He doesn’t do anything to help.
I come from Korea. where do you come from?
We use the present simple to say how oft en we do things:
I get up at 8 o’clock every morning.
How oft en do you go to the dentist?
Julie doesn’t drink tea very oft en.
Robert usually goes away two or three times a year.
I get up at 9 o’clock in the morning.
How often do you go to the dentist?
I don’t drink beers very often.
He barely drinks alcohol.
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 ‘I suggest … ’:
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
I promised I go to workout every day.
I suggest that you plan market strategies.
Mr Evans is not in the office today. I suggest you try calling him tomorrow.
Mr Evans is not in the office today. I suggest you try calling him tomorrow.
