Lesson 2. More Useful Phrases
Introduction
In this lesson, you’ll explore how the present simple and present continuous differ, and you’ll learn when each tense is used in everyday English. You’ll also pick up several new useful phrases along the way.
At the end of the lesson, you’ll find Chapter 2 of the story Ana and Alejandro in Vancouver. In this chapter, Ana and Alejandro arrive at their friends’ house, where they will be living for the next year while they take a course to improve their English skills.
Advertisement
Grammar: Present Simple vs. Present Continuous
In this lesson, you'll learn the difference between the Present Simple and the Present Continuous, how to form them, and when to use them.
Present Simple
The present simple is used for:-
Habits and routines: things you do regularly.
I get up at 7 a.m. -
General truths and facts: always or usually true.
Water boils at 100°C. -
Permanent situations: long-term or stable.
She lives in Vancouver. -
Schedules and timetables: fixed future events.
The train leaves at 6 p.m.
Here is how the present tense is formed using the verb work as an example.
| I | work |
| You | work |
| He / She / It | works |
| We | work |
| They | work |
The Negative Form of Present Tense
| I | don't work |
| You | don't work |
| He / She / It | doesn't work |
| We | don't work |
| They | don't work |
Examples
| I don’t work on Sundays. | |
| She doesn’t like coffee. |
Asking Questions with the Present Tense
| Do I work? |
| Do you work? |
| Does he / she / it work? |
| Do we work? |
| Do they work? |
Examples
| Do you play tennis? | |
| Does he live here? |
Present Continuous
The present continuous is used for:-
Actions happening now / around now: in progress at the moment.
I am talking to you right now. -
Temporary situations: not permanent, for a short time.
He is staying with his friend this week. -
Changing or developing situations:
The weather is getting warmer. -
Fixed future arrangements: personal plans with a time.
We are meeting our teacher tomorrow.
Here is how the present continuous is formed using the verb work as an example.
| I | am working |
| You | are working |
| He / She / It | is working |
| We | are working |
| They | are working |
Examples
| I am working all day. | |
| She is reading a book. | |
| They are playing a game. |
Negative Form of the Present Progressive
| I | am not working |
| You | aren't working |
| He / She / It | isn't working |
| We | aren't working |
| They | aren't working |
Examples
| I am not working now. | |
| He isn’t watching TV. |
Asking Questions with the Present Progresssive
| Am I working? |
| Are you working? |
| Is he / she / it working? |
| Are we working? |
| Are they working? |
Examples
| Are you listening? | |
| Is she coming? |
Key differences
| Use | Present Simple | Present Continuous |
|---|---|---|
| Habits / routines | I go to the gym on Mondays. | Not usually used |
| Actions happening now | Not usually used | I am going to the gym now. |
| Permanent situation | She lives in Toronto. | Temporary situation:
She is living in Toronto for a year. |
| General truth / fact | The sun rises in the east. | Not used |
| Future (timetable / schedule) | The bus leaves at 8. | Future arrangement:
I am meeting Anna at 8. |
Important: Some verbs (like know, like, love, want, understand, believe) are usually not used in the continuous form.
I know the answer. (NOT: I am knowing the answer.)
Signal words
Present Simple – common time expressions
- always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
- every day / week / month / year
- on Mondays / on the weekends
Example
I usually drink coffee in the morning.
Present Continuous – common time expressions
- now, right now, at the moment
- today, this week, these days
Example
She is studying for her exam this week.
Phrases
Press the 
button to hear the pronunciation of the phrase.
|
Don't worry.
|
|
|
Excuse me.
|
|
|
Good luck.
|
|
|
I don't like it.
|
|
|
I don't know. |
|
|
I'm sorry.
|
|
|
I think so.
|
|
|
It's easy.
|
|
|
Let's go.
|
|
|
That's fine.
|
|
|
That's right.
|
|
|
What's wrong?
|
|
|
What do you think?
|
|
|
What happened?
|
|
|
What is that?
|
Chapter 2: Their New Home
Chapter Vocabulary
| porch | |
| luggage | |
| suspicious | |
| to unpack | |
| neighborhood | |
| seawall | |
| sunset | |
| eventually | |
| faintly | |
| landmarks | |
| possibility |
The car stopped in front of a small blue house with a wide porch and a garden full of flowers.
"Welcome to our house," Sarah said. "Your home for the next year."
They carried in Alejandro and Ana's luggage and put it in the living room.
"Follow me," Sarah said, "I'll show you to your rooms."
"I'll get dinner started," Eric said as he disappeared into the kitchen.
A cat sat on the stairs, watching them with the suspicious intensity of a security guard. “That’s Maple,” Sarah said. “She’s friendly… eventually.”
Maple blinked once, then trotted down the stairs and jumped onto the Sofa.
Sarah led them up the stairs, then she opened the first door along the hallway. “This one’s yours, Alejandro.”
Alejandro looked in the room. It contained a small bed, a desk, and a dresser.
Sarah opened up another door. “Here's the bathroom you two will share."
Finally, Sarah opened up a third door. “And here is your bedroom Ana. Get settled in. I’ll go help Eric with dinner.”
After unpacking a little, they joined Sarah and Eric in the kitchen. Eric handed them mugs of hot chocolate.
“Have a seat,” he said. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”
After dinner, Eric said, “If you're up for it, we'll take a short walk to Kits Beach. Sunset is in half an hour. Perfect timing."
Just then, Maple walked by with a sock in her mouth.
“Hey!” Alejandro laughed. “I’ve been robbed!”
“That means she likes you,” Sarah said. “She only steals from people she trusts.”
They put on their jackets and stepped outside. The air was cool and smelled faintly of the ocean. As they walked, Sarah pointed out the neighbourhood landmarks: the tiny bakery on the corner, the community garden, the bus stop they’d use for school.
When they reached the beach, the sky was turning orange and pink. People jogged along the seawall, dogs chased sticks, and a group of teenagers played volleyball in the sand. The mountains across the water glowed in the fading light.
“This is beautiful,” Ana said softly.
Alejandro nodded. “I think I’m going to like it here.”
They walked slowly along the beach, listening to the waves and watching the sun sink behind Vancouver Island in the distance. They felt calm and hopeful. A new life was beginning, and it already felt full of possibility.
