Page 12 - Grasp English B1+ (Student Book)

1 Lookıng Awesome

Grammar 1 Present simple vs present continuous

A. Read the conversation between Chris and Alex and answer these questions with a partner.
1. What is Chris doing at the time of this telephone conversation?
2. What is Chris planning on doing in the near future?
3. What is Chris changing or improving?
4. What does Chris’ mum always say?
5. What does Chris frequently do?

Chris What am I doing? Well, at the moment I’m surfing the internet looking at sports shoes.
Alex Why are you doing that?
Chris Because shopping online is easier than going round a shopping centre.
Alex No. I mean why are you looking at sports shoes?

Chris I’m running in our local half-marathon next month.
Alex You’re not buying more shoes, are you? You have lots of running shoes.
Chris Yes, I know I do. But I’m slowly becoming a faster runner and improving my time, and I need
better shoes.

Alex What sort of “better” shoes?
Chris The most expensive sort – as my mum always says. The latest sports shoes are designed to help
you run faster, but they really cost a lot of money.

Alex Are they worth it?
Chris Definitely! I train for two hours every morning and every evening. Why do you think I work so
hard? I’m going to win this race if it’s the last thing I do!

B. Which of these statements is true for you?
Discuss with a partner.
1. I always wear make-up when I hang
out with friends.
2. I’m wearing my school uniform at the
moment.
3. I’m going clothes shopping after class
today.
4. Being fashionable is important for my
friends and me.
5. Young people in my area are
becoming more fashion-conscious.

C. Match the uses of the present simple and present continuous to the sentences in exercise B.
a. We use the present simple to talk about general truths.
b. We use the present simple to talk about frequent or repeated actions.
c. We use the present continuous to talk about things happening now.

d. We use the present continuous to talk about how a situation is changing.
e. We use the present continuous to talk about future plans we’ve made.

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