1. Present Simple, Present Continuous

1. Present Simple, Present Continuous

Bill and Sam discuss their day

Main Practice:    Present Simple  -  Present Continuous
Revision:               anyway  -  supposed to be  -  by the way  -  Passive  -  
                                  look after (Phrasal Verb)


Vocabulary
anyway  -  to introduce a change of topic, i.e.
  • ....so I'm much happier in my new job. Anyway, how was your holiday? 

by the way  -  to introduce a change of topic or mention something different
                           but related to the topic being discussed, i.e. 
  • Well, now everyone's got a weekend job except me. By the way, how's your job at the coffee shop going?

to get on with -  to continue something that has been started, i.e. 
  • We've had our break. Now let's get on with the lesson.

Also: to describe / question relationships with people or things, i.e.
  • I get on (well) with my brother.
  • He doesn't get on with his new boss. (A bad relationship.)
  • How are you getting on with your Spanish course? 

(to) clear out -  to remove unnecessary items and clean and tidy a space such as a garage, a  
                            cupboard, a loft, i.e.
  • I'm going to clear out the spare room and turn it into a study.


Conversation

Bill, a teacher, and Sam, a journalist, chat about their day and plan the evening.

Put the verbs in a correct tense. Remember: use capitals where necessary. 

Bill:   Hi, had a good day?

Sam:  Very nice, thank you. I (meet) Maria for lunch.
            (move) to Oxford soon, to be nearer her son.

Bill:   She'll miss Downhaven.

Sam:  She will, but Oxford's not so far away, she can come back and visit. Anyway,
            how was your day?

Bill:   Very busy. We've got three teachers sick so I had to take extra classes.
            I was supposed to be (play) squash with Jim this afternoon
            but I had to cancel it.

Sam:  Poor you. By the way, what are you (plan) to do this evening?

Bill:   The same as I'm (do) now, marking my students homework. Why?

Sam:  Well, we need to get on with (clear out) the garage, there's
            so much * junk in there I can't get the car in anymore.

Bill:    Okay, I suppose I can get the marking done in the morning.

* junk - useless things; clutter


Exercise

Rick's phone call with his friend, Pete.

Put the verbs in correct tenses:

Oh, I'm (have) a terrible day. The washing machine broke down,

then the dog was sick. It's (pour) with rain and I was supposed

to be (take) the children to the beach. Now they've got to

(stay) indoors and it's  (drive) them, and me, crazy.

Do you fancy having coffee Saturday morning?... Oh, you're

 (start) your new yoga course then. How about the afternoon?....

Ah, you're  (visit) your parents.  Well, what about Sunday,

Susie won't be (work), I'm sure she *won't mind

(look after) the kids?

* won't mind = won't have any objection to - will be happy to