Unit 2: What to wear

Present Simple and Present Continuous

We use the present simple for:

things that we do regularly

facts and truths

habits

permanent situations

We often use adverbs of frequency and time expressions like every day, once a week, on
Fridays.
I check my email every day. (regular activity)
Sheryl works at the bank. (permanent situation)

We use the present continuous for:

things that are happening now at the time we are speaking,

temporary situations

activities that are in progress

We often use time expressions like at the moment, today, this week.
Just a minute. Im checking my email. (now)
She usually works in London, but shes working from home this week. (temporary
situation)
Im studying Economics (activity in progress)

Form - Positive
The present simple has the same form as the infinitive without 'to' for I, you, we and they.
For he, she and it, we add -s or -es to the infinitive.
They live in Rome.
Julian starts work at nine oclock and finishes at five.

The present continuous for I is subject + am + verb-ing

For you, we and they: subject +are + -verb-ing.
For he, she, it: subject + is + verb-ing.
We usually use contractions (Im, hes, theyre, etc.) when we are speaking.
Can I call you back later? Were having dinner right now.

Form - Negative
The negative present simple is subject + dont (do not) + infinitive without
'to' for I, you,we and they, and subject + doesnt (does not) + infinitive without
'to' for he, she and it.
I dont eat meat.
It doesnt usually snow in October.

The negative present continuous for I is Im not + verb-ing.

For you, we and they:subject + arent + verb-ing. For he, she, it: subject + isnt + verbing.
He isnt answering his mobile at the moment.

Form - questions
The present simple question form is do/does + subject + infinitive without to.
Do you read the news online every day?
Does the supermarket sell stamps?

The present continuous question form is am/is/are+ subject + verb-ing.

What are you doing?
Is it raining?

Take note: spelling changes

In the present simple, regular verbs end in -s or -es, but -y changes to -i.
marry marries

study studies

In the present continuous, all verbs end in -ing, but sometimes the spelling changes.

make making sit sitting

die dying

Take note: verbs we dont use in the present continuous

There are some verbs that we dont usually use in the continuous form. They are often
verbs linked to the senses and thinking, for example: hear, see, smell, hate, know,
understand, believe, want, need.
Wrong: Could you explain that again? Im not understanding.
Correct: Could you explain that again? I dont understand.

6 Minute Vocabulary. Adjectives and Adverbs

Alice
Mike and Sarah are getting ready (preparndose) to go to a party, but they have very
different ideas about what Mike should wear.
Finn
What does Mike wear to the party?

Sarah
You're not seriously going to the party dressed like that! You'll be the most scruffilydressed man there.
Mike
The invitation said casual, so I'm dressing casually: jeans and a T-shirt. What's wrong with
that?
Sarah
It's too scruffy: the invitation said smart-casual. You need to wear something much
smarter, Mike.
Mike
What, a suit?
Sarah
No, that's too formal - it's not a job interview. Just wear a nice fashionable shirt.
Mike
But I hate fashion. I can't dress fashionably. I'm the most unfashionable person I know.
Sarah
Well, you'll be the only one in a T-shirt.
Mike
OK, you win. I'll wear my black shirt and the smart shoes. But I'm still wearing my jeans.
Sarah
If you must.

Alice
He wore a black shirt, jeans, and his smart shoes.
Finn
Now, let's take a closer look at some of the fashion-related vocabulary we heard there starting with some of the adjectives.
Alice
Yes and of course adjectives are words which describe nouns, and there were lots of
adjectives describing people and their clothes. Sarah thinks Mike is scruffy.
Finn
Which means not neat or clean.
Alice
But Mike wants to be casual.
Finn
Informal and comfortable.
Alice
She thinks he should be smart.
Finn
Nice and stylish.
Alice
But not too formal.
Finn
Old-fashioned and serious.
Alice
And she wants him to wear something fashionable.
Finn
New and stylish.
Alice
Now, we can change these words into adverbs - words that describe verbs. And Mike and
Sarah used lots of adverbs to describe the way people dress. We heard: scruffily,
casually, smartly, formally and fashionably.
Finn
And because they are adverbs, they all end in the letters 'l-y'. Here are some clips from the
conversation. Listen out for adverbs which describe the verb dress.
You'll be the most scruffily-dressed man there.
So I'm dressing casually. Jeans and a T-shirt.

I can't dress fashionably.

Alice
Let's have a quick recap of today's fashion-related vocabulary.
Finn
First we had some adjectives.
Alice
Scruffy, casual, smart, formal, fashionable.
Finn
And then we looked at some adverbs.
Alice
Scruffily, casually, smartly, formally, fashionably.
Finn
And now: it's quiz time. All you have to do is finish the sentences with words from today's
programme. There are two sentences, each with three choices. Number 1: Everyone is
wearing tight jeans this year - they are really: a) fashion b) fashionable c) fashionably.
Alice
The answer is: b) fashionable.
Finn
That's right. Now, question 2. I had a job interview yesterday, so I dressed very: a) formally
b) scruffy c) formal.
Alice
It's: a) formally.
Alice
so we'll leave you with today's top tip for learning vocabulary.
Finn
To help you remember how to use adjectives and adverbs, it's a really good idea to write
down example sentences.
Alice
That's right. Example sentences will help you use words more accurately (exactitud) than if
you just note down the word with a translation.

Adjectives
Adjectives are words which describe nouns.

scruffy - not neat or clean

He wore a scruffy old t-shirt.

casual - informal and comfortable.

I like to wear casual clothes when I relax at home.

formal - serious, important clothes for special events e.g. a wedding

you must wear a formal suit to the wedding

smart - nice and stylish

Dave looks very smart with his new shirt and tie

fashionable - new and popular

Baggy pants were fashionable a few years ago.

Adverbs

Meaning
Adverbs are words that describe verbs.
scruffily
He dressed scruffily in an old t-shirt.
casually
I dress casually when I relax at home.
smartly
Dave's smartly dressed today in a new shirt and tie.
formally
Everyone will dress formally at the wedding.
fashionably
Sarah was fashionably dressed in a flowery shirt.

Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Simple - Positive
This is made of: subject + infinitive without 'to' for I, you, we and they. For he, she and
it, we add -s or -es to the infinitive.

I wear a suit for work. Sarah wears a dress.

Present Continuous - Positive

This is made of subject + am/is/are + verb-ing.
The phone's ringing - can you answer it?

Present Simple - Negative

This is made of subject + dont (do not) or doesn't (does not) + infinitive without 'to'
I don't eat meat. John doesn't eat fish.

Present Continuous - Negative

This is made of subject + am/is/are not + verb-ing.
I'm not wearing a coat.

Present Simple Wh- Questions

These are made from question word + do/does + subject + infinitive without 'to'.
Why do you want a new phone?

Present Simple Yes/No Questions

The form is do/does + subject + infinitive without 'to'.
Does Mahmood read the news online every day?

Present Continuous Wh- Questions

The form is question word + am/is/are + subject + verb-ing.
What are you doing?

Present Continuous Yes/No Questions

The form is am/is/are + subject + verb-ing.
Is it raining?

Present Simple and Present Continuous: when and why?

We use the present simple for:
facts & truths
habits & things that we do regularly
permanent situations
I check my email every day. (regular activity)
Margaret works at the bank. (permanent situation)

We use the present continuous for:

things that are happening at the time we are speaking
temporary situations
activities that are in progress
Just a minute. Im checking my email. (now)
Julie usually works in
week. (temporary situation)

an

office,

but shes

working from

I'm studying Economics (activity in progress)

6 Minute Grammar: Tenses

Present continuous and present simple
Sophie
The present simple tense. We use it to talk about things that happen regularly.
Finn
John checks his email every morning.

home

this

Sophie
The verb to check is in the present simple John checks - because he checks his email
regularly every morning.
Neil
We make the present simple with a subject plus a base verb I check, you go, we live,
they wear.
Sophie
For he, she and it, add an s to the verb.
Finn
I always wear a coat in the winter. My brother wears a jacket.
Neil
We also use the present simple to talk about facts and permanent situations.
Finn
I work in the fashion industry. My sister lives in China.
Sophie
To make the present simple negative, use dont or doesnt. And theres no s on the end of
the verb.
Finn
I dont work in the modelling industry. My brother doesnt like fashion.
Neil
For questions, use do or does.
Finn
Do your friends live in London? Does John check his email in the morning?
Neil
Lets look at the present continuous tense: Im working at the moment.
Neil
Its an activity thats happening now. I can say I work at the BBC in the present simple
because my job is a permanent situation. But right now at this moment Im doing the
activity of working, so I use present continuous to say Im working at the moment.
Sophie
As well as activities, we use the present continuous tense for temporary situations like this:
Finn
My parents are staying with me this week. Im sleeping on the sofa.
Sophie
Ok. To make the present continuous, use am, is or are plus an i-n-g verb.
Finn
Im checking my email at the moment. Emilys wearing a pink hat today. Theyre eating
dinner now.

Neil
And did you hear those short forms? The words I am are shortened to Im
Sophie
Emily is sounds like Emilys.
Neil
And they are sounds like theyre. Well have short forms in just a moment.
Neil
Lets look at present continuous negatives. We make them with the little word not.
Finn
Im not wearing a raincoat because it isnt raining.
Sophie
And here are those short forms again:
Neil
I am not becomes
Sophie
Im not.
Neil
Is not
Sophie
isnt
Neil
And for are not we get
Sophie
arent.
Finn
Im not wearing shoes. He isnt working today. You arent watching television.
Sophie
I said: Are you sending an email?
Neil
And I said: Are we talking about questions?
Sophie
And of course, we both asked present continuous yes/no questions.
Neil
And to make them, you just change the word order. Instead of You are sending an email,
its Are you sending an email?

Sophie
And change We are talking about questions to Are we talking about questions?
Neil
Its fine to put question words like why or what at the start of the question.
Finn
What are we doing? Why are you sending an email?
Sophie
Its time for a quiz. Im going to say a sentence and you need to make it negative. Neil will
give the answer. Ready? Number 1. Paolo speaks Chinese.
Neil
Paolo doesnt speak Chinese.
Sophie
Now make this sentence into a yes/no question: The children are playing a game.
Neil
Are the children playing a game?
Sophie
And one more: this time, make a present continuous question starting with why. Simon is
learning Japanese.
Neil
Why is Simon learning Japanese?
Sophie
And thats the end of the quiz well done if you got them all right.