Don’t Panic English

Present Simple vs. Present ContinuousCommunicative Grammar Course Upper-Intermediate Week 1 Video 3 - Practice

How should you use the practice video

First, I’m going to give you some practice exercises.

You’ll have a short time to give your answer.

After 3-4 seconds, I’m going to give you the answers.

How should you use the practice video

The last task is always really communicative.

I’m going to present you the exercise with an example.

After that, you need to work on your own at home.

Our VIP members can record themselves on video and upload the video in the Communicative Grammar Course VIP fb group where our teachers are going to correct you and give you really useful feedback.

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

1. Even though Sue says she's feeling better, I think she still _____ weight.

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

1. Even though Sue says she's feeling better, I think she is still losing weight.

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

2. Andrew _____ stamps in his spare time. It is his hobby.

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

2. Andrew collects stamps in his spare time. It is his hobby.

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

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

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

3. The airline is currently offering / selling half-price tickets to China, but for one month only.

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

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

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

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

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

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

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

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

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

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

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

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

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

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

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

7. She has an important project to finish by next week, so she is working in the evenings at present.

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

8. A: How are you getting on with the book?

B: At the moment I ______ chapter 4.

PRACTICE TASK 1Suggest a verb to complete each sentence. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous. You can also add any words outside the space.

8. A: How are you getting on with the book?

B: At the moment I’m reading / writing chapter 4.

PRACTICE TASK 2Complete 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.

For example:

a. It _____ us a fortune at the moment to send our daughter to dance classes.

b. It _____ a fortune to fly first class to China.

PRACTICE TASK 2Complete 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.

For example:

a. It’s costing us a fortune at the moment to send our daughter to dance classes. = this is a temporary situation

b. It costs a fortune to fly first class to China.

PRACTICE TASK 2Complete 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.

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.

PRACTICE TASK 2Complete 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.

a. I enjoy sitting down at the end of a long day and reading a good book.

b. It's a wonderful book. I’m enjoying every moment of it.

PRACTICE TASK 2Complete 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.

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.

PRACTICE TASK 2Complete 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.

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

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

PRACTICE TASK 2Complete 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.

a. ‘Can I speak to Sarah?’ ‘She _____ a shower. Can I take a message?’

b. My brother _____ three children, all girls.

PRACTICE TASK 2Complete 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.

a. ‘Can I speak to Sarah?’ ‘She’s having a shower. Can I take a message?’

b. My brother has three children, all girls.

PRACTICE TASK 2Complete 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.

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.

PRACTICE TASK 2Complete 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.

a. Although he owns three cars, all of them are extremely old.

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

PRACTICE TASK 3Finish B’s sentences. Use always -ing.

1.

A: I’m afraid I've lost my key again.

B: Not again! ______________________.

PRACTICE TASK 3Finish B’s sentences. Use always -ing.

1.

A: I’m afraid I've lost my key again.

B: Not again! You're always losing your key.

PRACTICE TASK 3Finish B’s sentences. Use always -ing.

2.

A: The car has broken down again.

B: That car is useless! It ______________________.

PRACTICE TASK 3Finish B’s sentences. Use always -ing.

2.

A: The car has broken down again.

B: That car is useless! It’s always breaking down.

PRACTICE TASK 3Finish B’s sentences. Use always -ing.

3.

A: Look! You've made the same mistake again.

B: Oh no, not again! I ______________________.

PRACTICE TASK 3Finish B’s sentences. Use always -ing.

3.

A: Look! You've made the same mistake again.

B: Oh no, not again! I'm always making the same mistake.

PRACTICE TASK 3Finish B’s sentences. Use always -ing.

4.

A: Oh, I have left the lights on again.

B: Typical! You ______________________.

PRACTICE TASK 3Finish B’s sentences. Use always -ing.

4.

A: Oh, I have left the lights on again.

B: Typical! You’re always leaving the lights on.

Communicative Grammar Exercise

1) Do the exercise in speaking at home.

2) Always say the sentences aloud.

3) If you’re a VIP member, record a video about yourself.

4) Upload the video in the Communicative Grammar Course VIP fb group.

5) Our teachers are going to watch your video and will give you feedback.

6) You can watch other students’ videos and read the teachers’ comments there. It’s really helpful.

Communicative Grammar Exercise

Our VIP members are going to get more tips how they can be a more fluent speaker of English.

COMMUNICATIVE GRAMMAR EXERCISEI'm going to give you an adjective that describes a person. Write a sentence about this person’s bad habits, e.g. anti-social: He's always playing loud music until the early hours of the morning.

COMMUNICATIVE GRAMMAR EXERCISEI'm going to give you an adjective that describes a person. Write a sentence about this person’s bad habits,

boring, bossy, careless, conceited, dirty, forgetful, greedy, grumpy, lazy, paranoid, selfish, reliable, untidy, weird

Upper-Intermediate Week 1 Video 3

This is the end of this week’s grammar lessons. We can’t wait to see you in the fb groups. See you next week when we’re going to learn about

Upper-Intermediate Week 1 Video 3

NOUNS AND QUANTIFIERS Next week we’re going to dive deeper in this topic.

See you soon.