1. Present simple and adverbs of frequency
We use the present simple, often with adverbs of frequency, to
talk about things which happen regularly. You will use it talk about
your daily life.
a) Look at these sentences Underline the frequency adverbs.
1 The food always tastes delicious.
2 It is usually popular with families.
3 Some of his friends never eat meat.
4 The Atrium is rarely quiet.
5 The service is sometimes slow at weekends.
6 Chloe often has lunch with her mother on Fridays.
Now complete the rule.
In the present simple, adverbs of frequency go .................... the verb to
be and ……………… other verbs.

2. 2 Read this letter. The adverbs of frequency
are in brackets. Put them in the correct
places.
Dear Luca How are you? I've got a weekend
job now in a restaurant. I can't play tennis with you
any more on Saturday mornings because I get up
early (never) and I go to bed late (always) at
weekends. The restaurant is crowded on Saturday
evenings (usually) so I feel tired (often). But the
food is really good (always) so I have a meal
(usually) before I start work. I enjoy the work
(usually) but customers are rude (sometimes) to
me and then I'm not happy. Write back soon.
Joe

3. 3a) How do you spend your time at the weekend? Add a suitable adverb of
frequency from Exercise 1 to the answers below so that they are true for you.
I listen to music. I sometimes listen to music
1 I go shopping with my friends.
2 I do my homework.
3 I play tennis.
4 I go to the cinema.
5 I spend some time with my family.
6 I go to school.
7 I go swimming.
» Now ask and answer these questions with a partner.
How do you spend your time at the weekend?
Do you (listen to music) at the weekend?

4. • Match these questions (1-4) with the
answers (A-D) below.
1 What is Annie doing? B
2 What does Annie do? D
3 When does Annie get up? A
4 Where is Annie staying? C
A She gets up at 7.30.
B She's listening to music.
C She's staying with her sister.
D She works in a shop.

5. 5 Read this conversation and put the verbs in brackets
into the correct form of the present simple or the
present continuous.
Ben: Hi Tom. I'm bored. I’m sitting (sit) in my room and
there's nothing to do. What are you doing (you/do)?
Tom: I ‘m looking (look) after my little brother. My mum's
got a new job and she works (work) on Saturdays.
Ben: Do you look (you/look) after him every Saturday?
Tom: No, my mum usually takes (take) him to my
grandparents but they ‘re playing (play) golf today.
Ben: Oh. Well, I‘m not doing (not do) anything so I'll come
over. We can play football with your brother.
Tom: OK.

6. 6a) Work in pairs. Look at Picture A and the description below. Correct any
mistakes.
There are two girls and a boy. I think they're friends. The girl is
sitting down and she's wearing a skirt and a jacket. She's talking
to a boy with dark hair. He's wearing shorts and a t-shirt. They
both look serious. The other boy has dark hair too. He's sitting
under a tree and he's writing something. He's wearing shorts and
a t-shirt.

7. Now write a similar description of Picture B below.

8. 7a) Look at the underlined verbs in Exercise 6a. They are stative
verbs. These are verbs which are not used in the present
continuous when they have a certain meaning.
• They are verbs about:
• thoughts (believe, know, think, remember,
understand)
• feelings and opinions (like, love, hate, want,
wish, prefer, seem, look)
• owning (have, belong, own).
• Compare these pairs of sentences:
• I think they're friends. I'm thinking about my friend.
(my opinion) (I'm doing it now.)
They both look serious. I'm looking out of the window.
(my opinion) (I'm doing it now.)
The boy has dark hair. The boy is having lunch.
(it belongs to him) (He's eating it now.)

9. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form of the
present simple or the present continuous
• (think) Do you think this jacket suits me?
• That girl (wave) is waving to you. She (seem) seems to
know you.
• Jane can't talk to you now. She (have) is having a
shower.
• (remember) Do you remember Peter's phone number? I
can't find it.
• I (not want) don’t want to go out. I (watch) am watching
this film which is really good.
• 'Where's Luisa?'
• 'She (sit) is sitting over there. She (look) looks
tired.'
• My sister (have) has black hair and blue eyes.
• Hurry up. Mauro (wait) is waiting for us. He (hate) hates
being late