Class 02 (30.10.

23)
Class 02 (30.10.23): In this Syntax I class, the use of the adverbs of frequency and the
application of Present Continuous, and its distinction from the Present Simple were reviewed.

NOTE — Books:
Oxford Practice Grammar with Answers by John Eastwood

Oxford_Practice_Grammar_with_Answers.pdf

Present Continuous:
•• The present continuous means that we are ➤ NEGATIVE
in the middle of an action.
•• The present continuous is the present I'm not looking
tense of be + an ing-form. you/we/they aren't looking
he/she/it isn't looking
I am looking OR I'm looking
you/we/they are looking OR
you/we/they're looking ➤ QUESTION

he/she/it is looking OR
am I looking?
he/she/it's looking
are you/we/they looking?
•• I'm waiting means that I am in the is he/she/it looking?
middle of a period of waiting. The wait is
not yet over.

I'm waiting for the train. (I'm at

the station now.)
I'm getting the lunch ready. (I'm
in the kitchen now.)

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 •• We can also use the present continuous
when we are in the middle of something but
not actually doing it at the moment of
speaking.

I'm quite busy these days. I'm

doing a course at college

•• We can use the present continuous when

things are changing over a long period.

The number of cars on the road

is increasing
I'm playing badminton with
Matthew tomorrow.

Present Continuous vs Present Simple

•• We use the present continuous for
something happening now. I am speaking to
you live means that Kitty is in the middle of
a live broadcast.
— We use the present continuous for a
routine or situation that we see as temporary
(for a short period).
•• We use the present simple for repeated
actions. I often speak live to the camera,
means that she does it again and again.
➤ Thoughts, feelings, and states
— We normally use the present simple to
talk about thoughts and feelings.

At the moment they're living in a

Kitty likes her job.
very small flat.
— We also use it to talk about states and
permanent facts.
➤ ALWAYS
— We can use ‘always’ with the present Paper burns easily.
continuous to mean 'very often', usually
with the added meaning of too often'. — Is also used in I promise, I agree, I
refuse, etc.

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 Tom is always inviting friends
here. (= He invites them very
often.)
I promise I'll write to you.
— We use the present simple for a routine
or
situation that we see as permanent.

They live in a very nice flat.

➤ ALWAYS

— ‘Always’ with the present simple means

'every time'.

Tom always invites us to stay at

Christmas. (= He invites us
every Christmas.)

Adverbs of Frequency
➢ An adverb of frequency tells us 'how often'. It usually goes in mid-position.

Mark is always in such a hurry.

I sometimes feel depressed.

Normally, usually, often, sometimes and occasionally can also go in front or end position.

Phrases like every day, once a week or most evenings go in front or end position

There's a news summary every hour.

We watch television most evenings.

➢ MID POSITION
Mid-position means close to the verb. Here are some examples of adverbs in mid-position.

• AUXILIARY ADVERB AUXILIARY MAIN

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 The visitors are just leaving.

Andrew has always liked Jessica.

The pictures have definitely been stolen.

The adverb comes after the first auxiliary, e.g. are, has, don't. If there is no auxiliary, then the
adverb comes before the main verb, e.g. hate, left.

When the verb be is on its own, the adverb usually comes after it.

The boss is usually in a bad temper.

When there is stress on the main verb be or on the auxiliary, then the adverb usually comes
before it.

You certainly are a lot better today.

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