Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 8 · A1

I am doing (present continuous) and I do (present simple)

Use the present continuous (I am doing) for something happening now, and the present simple (I do) for things in general or that happen regularly. Some verbs, such as like and know, are not normally used in the continuous.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 26 minutes

In this lesson

Two tenses, one personA1 screen of questions
Present continuous: nowB1 screen of questions
Present simple: in general, all the time or sometimesC1 screen of questions
Verbs that are not used in the present continuousD1 screen of questions
Put it together+5 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

Two tenses, one person

Chloe is in the kitchen, doing the washing-up. She is not singing.

Chloe is in a choir, however. She sings every Thursday, and she sings very well.

Chloe sings, but she is not singing at the moment.
Is she singing? No, she isn't. present continuous
Does she sing? Yes, she does. present simple
  • Chloe is doing the washing-up. She isn't singing.
  • Chloe sings in a choir every Thursday.

Point A · Exercise 8.1

Read each scene and answer the questions.

  1. Example

    A woman who says "I'm a hairdresser" is sitting on a bench in the park, eating a sandwich.

    Does she cut hair? Yes, she does. Is she cutting hair? No, she isn't. What is she doing? She's eating a sandwich.

    AnswerDoes she cut hair? Yes, she does. Is she cutting hair? No, she isn't. What is she doing? She's eating a sandwich.

  2. A man who says "I'm a taxi driver" is in his garden, painting the fence.

    Is he driving a taxi? Does he drive a taxi? What is he doing?

  3. A man who says "I'm a chef" is in a restaurant kitchen, standing at the cooker with a frying pan.

    Does he cook? Is he cooking? What is he doing?

  4. Two women who say "We're nurses" are at home on the sofa, watching a film.

    Are they working? Do they work in a hospital? What do they do?

Point B of 4

Present continuous: now

I am doing = now, at the time of speaking.

past NOW future
I'm doing
  • Shh. I'm reading. (not I read)
  • Ali is having breakfast at the moment. (not Ali has)
  • Don't forget your coat. It's snowing.
  • You can turn the oven off. I'm not using it.
  • Why are you standing on that chair? What are you doing?

Point B · Extra practice

Put the verb into the present continuous (am/is/are + -ing).

  1. Keep your voice down. The baby . (sleep)

  2. Look out of the window. It . (snow)

  3. Where's Omar? He the car. (wash)

Point C of 4

Present simple: in general, all the time or sometimes

I do = in general, all the time, or sometimes. It is not about this moment in particular.

past NOW future
← I do →
  • I work from 8 o'clock until 4 every day.
  • Ali has breakfast at 7 every morning.
  • It snows a lot in the mountains in winter.
  • I don't use the oven very often.
  • What do you usually do on Saturday mornings?

Point C · Extra practice

Put the verb into the present simple.

  1. Mia to work by bike every day. (go)

  2. We usually fish and chips on Fridays. (have)

  3. It a lot in Manchester. (rain)

Point D of 4

Verbs that are not used in the present continuous

Some verbs are almost never used with am/is/are + -ing:

like, love, prefer, hate, want, need, know, mean, understand, believe, remember, forget, depend

These verbs take the present simple: I need, does she know? and so on. Say I need a coffee, not I'm needing a coffee.

  • I'm thirsty. I want a drink of water.
  • "Do you know that man?" "Yes, but I don't remember his name."
  • I don't understand this word. What does it mean?

Point D · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with the verb in brackets. These verbs are not used in the present continuous.

  1. I'm cold. I my coat. (need)

  2. you what this word means? (know)

  3. This soup is lovely. I really it. (like)

Put it together · Exercise 8.2 · part 1 of 2

Put in am, is, are or do, don't, does, doesn't.

  1. Example

    Excuse me, do you know where the station is?

    AnswerExcuse me, do you know where the station is?

  2. "Where's Jamal?" "I know."

  3. Why you wearing your coat? It's warm in here.

  4. "What your brother do?" "He's a plumber."

  5. It pouring with rain. I fancy a walk in this.

Put it together · Exercise 8.2 · part 2 of 2

Put in am, is, are or do, don't, does, doesn't.

  1. "Where you live?" "In Sheffield."

  2. How much it cost to park here all day?

  3. Freya has a lovely piano but she play it very often.

Put it together · Exercise 8.3 · part 1 of 3

Put the verb in the present continuous (I am doing) or the present simple (I do).

  1. Example

    Excuse me. Do you know (you / know) the way to the bus station?

    AnswerExcuse me. Do you know the way to the bus station?

  2. Example

    "Where's Mum?" "She's having (she / have) a bath."

    Answer"Where's Mum?" "She's having a bath."

  3. Example

    I don't eat (I / not / eat) meat very often.

    AnswerI don't eat meat very often.

  4. Listen! Somebody (shout).

  5. Joe is hungry. (he / want) something to eat.

  6. How often (you / go) to the cinema?

  7. "Excuse me, but (you / stand) on my bag." "Oh, I'm so sorry."

Put it together · Exercise 8.3 · part 2 of 3

Put the verb in the present continuous (I am doing) or the present simple (I do).

  1. Sorry, (I / not / understand). Can you say that again?

  2. It's getting dark. (I / leave) now. (you / come) with me?

  3. What time (your sister / get) home from work in the evenings?

  4. You can switch off the telly. (I / not / watch) it.

Put it together · Exercise 8.3 · part 3 of 3

Put the verb in the present continuous (I am doing) or the present simple (I do).

  1. "Where's Dev?" "In the garage. (he / fix) his bike."

  2. Marie (not / usually / take) the bus to work. She (usually / cycle).

  3. Dan (not / like) tea. (he / prefer) coffee.

Lesson 8 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: I have ... and I've got ...Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Two tenses, one person–Not checkedB. Present continuous: now–Not checkedC. Present simple: in general, all the time or sometimes–Not checkedD. Verbs that are not used in the present continuous–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked