Actual and actually

Actual
Actual is an adjective meaning ‘true’, ‘real’ and ‘the thing in itself’. It does not refer to time. Actual
always comes immediately before the noun it is describing:

We didn’t go to the actual match but we watched it on TV.

People think she is over thirty but her actual age is eighteen.

Actual is often used in speaking in the expression ‘in actual fact’. It has a similar meaning to ‘in fact’, but
it gives more emphasis to what the speaker is saying:

In actual fact, her health a year ago was much worse.

Actually as a discourse marker

Actually is often used in speaking as a discourse marker. We use it to indicate a new topic of
conversation or a change or contrast in what is being talked about. We also use actually to give more
detail about a topic. We do not use it to refer to time:

A: I suppose you’re going away this weekend?

B: Actually, I am going to stay at home. I’ve got a lot of work to do on the computer.

[a customer (A) in a large bookshop is asking about books about travel.]

A: Could you tell me where your books on Austria are kept?

B: What kind of books?

A: Well, actually I’m looking for a book on skiing in Austria.

B: Er, yes, they’re in that corner over there.

Actually as contrast

We can use actually to emphasize a contrast with what is expected to be true or real:

He actually admitted that he enjoyed it. (He was not expected to enjoy it)

A: Where are they now?

B: They’re very near to your apartment actually. (They were not expected to be so near)
We can also use actually to correct someone politely:

I think ten people, not eight, came to the meeting, actually.

Actual and actually: typical errors

In some languages actual has the meaning of ‘current’ and ‘at the present time’. This is not correct in
English:

The current population of the Russian Federation is 230 million.

Not: The actual population of the Russian Federation …

At the present time she is working in London.

Not: Actually she is working in London.

Present simple or present continuous?

Present simple: I work Present continuous: I am working

Permanent and temporary

Compare: She lives with her parents.

We use the present simple to talk about permanent facts and general truths. In this example we don’t
expect the situation to change.

She’s living with her parents.

We use the present continuous to talk about something temporary. In this example we do expect the
situation to change.

Compare: They speak Portuguese in Brazil.

A general, permanent fact.

A:What language are they speaking?

B:They’re speaking Portuguese.

It’s happening now. I can hear it.

Compare: Hani smiles a lot.

A general fact or characteristic about Hani. What are you smiling about?
An action around now.

Verbs not often used in the present continuous

Some verbs are normally used in the present simple and not in the present continuous. Here are some
of them: know, suppose, think, understand (mental process verbs)

admire, adore, detest, hate, like, respect (verbs expressing feelings)

smell, taste (verbs describing the senses)

consist, contain, last (verbs describing permanent qualities)

promise, swear (speech act verbs)

You could ask Greg if he can help. He knows a bit about cars.

Not: He’s knowing a bit about cars. Those batteries don’t last very long.

Not: Those batteries aren’t lasting very long. Each chapter contains authentic reading texts and a variety
of listening and speaking activities.

Not: Each chapter is containing …I swear I gave you back the keys.

Not: I’m swearing I gave you back the keys.

Be in the present continuous

We use be in the present continuous to talk about current actions or behaviour rather than about a
quality or characteristic.

Compare: I think she’s being really really rude.

I think she’s rude.

Her behaviour now. A characteristic of her; she’s a rude person.

Exercises
Present simple and continuous: exercise 1 - affirmative

Exercise 1. Choose the correct form.

I ...... a letter now.

a) write b) am writing c) am writting

Susan ...... the garden at the moment.

a) is diging b) digs c) is digging

Jane ...... to bed at 10 o'clock on weekdays.

a) goes b) is going c) go

I am in London this summer. I ..... English.

a) learn b) am learning c) learning

We ...... our friends very often.

a) are seeing b) seeing c) see

My brothers ...... letters every week.

a) writes b) are writing c) write

The bus sometimes ...... in the morning.

a) is arriving b) arrive c) arrives

James is a student. But he ...... this week.

a) works b) work c) is working

Lions ..... in Africa.

a) are living b) live c) is living

Our train ...... the platform.

a) just leaves b) just leave c) is just leaving

Sue ...... with Greg.

a) is going out b) goes out c) gos out

My parents ...... TV now.

a) are watching b) watch c) watching

Present simple and continuous: exercise 2 - affirmative

Exercise 2. Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets.

Example:

Mary ........................... in Germany. (work)

Mary works in Germany.

Look. He .......................................... to us. (listen)

We .............................. at a hotel this week. (stay)

I ............................. to bed early on Sundays. (go)

My mum is at the shop. She ..................................

a new dress. (buy)

Jill ...................................... a lot of money. (have)

They usually ............................ on Sunday. (leave)

Please, stop! You ........................... so fast! (drive)

We .............................. in Berlin each year. (meet)

We ................................. to discos on Fridays. (go)

He normally ................................. on time. (come)

I can't hear you! I .................................... a shower. (have)

Sam .......................... his homework at night. (do)

Present simple and continuous: exercise 3 – affirmative

Exercise 3. Jumbled sentences - make sentences with words in brackets.

Example:

(live/here/I)

I live here.

(make/a phone call/Peter/now)

.....................................................................................................

(my car/I/on Saturdays/wash)

.....................................................................................................

(daily/practise/Joe and Bill)

.....................................................................................................

(I/at Oxford/study/this summer)

.....................................................................................................

(long hours/work/my brother)

.....................................................................................................

(just/dinner/have/Jill)

.....................................................................................................

(move/very often/we)

.....................................................................................................

(at the moment/Jim and Susan/watch TV)

.....................................................................................................

(teach/she/in New York/these days)

.....................................................................................................