EDUPRI C1 Spring 2016 Unit 1: Origins
1. The continuous aspect 2. Describing Habits 3. Speculating Index
1. The continuous aspect
Aspect is the way we look at things Verb forms have 3 aspects: 1.1. Simple 1.2. Perfect 1.3. Continuous
Emphasizes that an action is complete Typically used to talk about: Facts: Columbus discovered America in 1492 Permanent situations: I am Spanish Finished actions: I finished the exam Habits: I go to the gym everyday 1.1. Simple aspect
Emphasizes that an action is completed before another time. I’ve cleaned the house while you were away Perfect aspect
Focuses on an action and its duration rather than on the result. Used to show that an activity is temporary and its duration limited 1.3. Continuous aspect
State verbs > not used in continuous form: Verbs that describe feelings: love, prefer I am preferring a chocolate ice-cream Verbs that describe senses: hear, smell It’s smelling coffee Verbs that describe thoughts: believe, understand I’m believing in God Continuous aspect
Used to talk about: Actions that we see happening over a period of time They’ve been waiting here for an hour Actions in progress when another thing happens John was crying when I arrived 1.3. Continuous aspect
Temporary or incomplete situations He’s living with his parents until he can find a house Repeated actions (that may be annoying) She’s always playing her music loudly. Situations in the process of changing The economy is getting better 1.3. Continuous aspect
Plans (often in the past continuous) I was thinking of going camping for the weekend Tentative ideas (to avoid being too direct with a request) I was wondering if I could borrow some money Actions in progress at a particular time Everyone seems to be working at the moment 1.3. Continuous aspect
2. Describing habits
Will To describe present habits and behavior He’ll always bring me flowers Not used to describe states He’ll stay home on Saturdays May be stressed to emphasize the annoyance at a habit He will turn up late
Pres. Cont. + always He’s always telling me what to do Keeps + -ing She keeps texting me Will keep + -ing They will keep nagging me to visit them Often imply annoyance
Would To describe past habits and behavior My brother wouldn’t let me drive his car Not used to describe states My boss would get be angry very easily May be stressed to emphasize the annoyance at a habit They wouldn’t listen to me
Past continuous + always They are always complaining Kept + -ing We kept asking for a refund, but we were ignored Would keep + -ing He would keep insisting; it drove me mad
Keep on To emphasize that the action is repeated frequently Sorry, I keep on forgetting your name Tend to To describe physical states She tends to shout a lot
I’m inclined to/ I have an inclination Andy is inclined to act first and think later I tend to/ I have a tendency to He has a tendency to be very critical I’m prone to I’m prone to falling asleep in front of the TV
I’ll spend hours/ I’d spend hours I’d spend hours looking at this painting As a rule, I As a rule, I go to the gym everyday Nine times out of ten, I Nine times out of ten, I have no breakfast
3. Speculating
I suppose/ guess/ reckon he’s about… I guess he’s about to come. I’d say he looks/ he doesn’t look... I’d say he looks tired. I wonder what he... I wonder what he is doing right now. I’d hazard a guess (that)... I’d hazard a guess that he left it in the bus.
If I had to make a guess, I’d say (that)... If I had to make a guess, I’d say that they broke up. I’m pretty sure he... I’m pretty sure he is being promoted. There’s something... about him There’s something creepy about him. I don’t like him. She gives the impression of being… She gives the impression of being very hard-working
He could be/ might be/ must be... He must be really in love with her. It seems like he.../ It seems to me.../ It looks to me as if he... It seems like he wants to change his job It makes me think (that) maybe he... It makes me think that maybe he is not happy It might suggest (that) It might suggest that he is guilty
THE END