UNIT 1: THE

PRESENT
Lecturer: Nguyen Huu Thanh Minh, M.A.
1 The Present Simple

2 The Present Simple Continuous

3 Expressions of habits and normality

LESSON CONTENT

2
I. THE PRESENT SIMPLE
SUBJECT + INFINITIVE VERB/ VERB-S/ES
 (1) DESCRIBE FACTS OF
LIFE

The Sun rises in the East.

USES
Water boils at 100 degree Celcius.
 (2) DESCRIBE THINGS
THAT ARE GENERALLY
TRUE

People who have jobs earn money.

USES
 (3) DESCRIBE THINGS
THAT HAPPEN
HABITUALLY

All the matches start at 3 p.m.

USES
She reads a lot of books in her free time.
 INDICATORS OF FREQUENCY
(TO DESCRIBE HOW HABITUALLY THINGS HAPPEN)

Always Usually Often Sometimes Almost Never

(100%) never (0%)
invariably as a rule frequently every so often rarely
as often as not regularly from time to time Seldom
constantly generally now and again hardly ever
continually most of the time now and then
all the time normally occasionally
once in a while
periodically

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 (4) DESCRIBE PERMANENT
SITUATIONS THAT WON’T
CHANGE OR ARE UNLIKELY TO
CHANGE

USES Jack lives alone because he prefers having

his private space.
II. THE PRESENT SIMPLE CONTINUOUS
SUBJECT + AM/IS/ARE + V-ING
 (1) DESCRIBE ACTIONS
AT EXACTLY THIS
MOMENT

They are discussing a business

project in room 203.
USES
NB: Time indicators, e.g., now, at
the moment
 (2) DESCRIBE ACTIONS DURING
A SPECIFIC PERIOD OF TIME

USES The country is changing quite a lot

during the travel season.
 (3) DESCRIBE TEMPORARY
SITUATIONS THAT WILL OR MAY
CHANGE

USES Robert is working in the bar this summer.

III. EXPRESSIONS OF HABITS,
NORMALITY
TEND + INFINITIVE WITH TO

TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT PEOPLE USUALLY

DO OR THAT USUALLY HAPPEN

We tend to have dinner at 7.

BE USED TO + V-ING/ NOUN
BE ACCUSTOMED TO + V-ING/NOUN
(FORMAL)

TALKING ABOUT SITUATIONS BEING FAMILIAR

TO SOMETHING

Susan is used to getting up early, so she does

not find it difficult.
All staff are accustomed to the leadership
style of their new supervisor.
GET USED TO + V-ING/ NOUN
GET ACCUSTOMED TO + V-ING/NOUN
(FORMAL)

TALKING ABOUT SITUATIONS BECOMING

FAMILIAR TO SOMETHING

In Japan, Maddy gets used to different kinds

of food.
The new staff get accustomed to working for
our company.
HAVE A HABIT OF + V-ING
BE ALWAYS + V-ING

TALKING ABOUT BAD HABITS OR THOSE THAT

CAUSE ANNOYANCE

I have a habit of staying up late during the

weekend.
David is always complaining about trivial
matters.
HAVE A TENDENCY + INFINITIVE
WITH TO

TALKING ABOUT THINGS ONE USUALLY DOES

AND THE SPEAKER DISAPPROVES OF

Tom has a tendency to blame other people for

his own mistakes.
THANK YOU!

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