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Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
✓
Distinguish Present Simple from Present Continuous in context
✓
Use time markers correctly with each tense
✓
Recognize these tenses in authentic listening exercises
✓
Apply the grammar confidently in speaking and writing
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Tip for this lesson

Focus on context: ask yourself if the action is regular (Simple) or temporary/in progress (Continuous). This key question will guide you to the right choice.

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Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
Present Simple

Habits & Permanent Facts

Subject + base verb (+ s/es for he/she/it)

Use for: Habits, routines, general facts, permanent situations

always usually often sometimes never every day
Present Continuous

Actions in Progress & Temporary

Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing

Use for: Actions happening now, temporary situations, future plans

now at the moment today this week currently
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Key Method

Ask yourself: "Does this action happen regularly (Simple) or temporarily (Continuous)?"

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Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

Present Simple Context

🏢 Job: "I work in marketing"
🏠 Routine: "I wake up at 7 AM"
🌍 Fact: "The sun rises in the east"
📅 Schedule: "The train leaves at 9:30"

Present Continuous Context

📱 Now: "I'm texting my colleague"
🏨 Temporary: "I'm staying at a hotel"
📅 Plan: "I'm meeting the client tomorrow"
📈 Change: "Business is improving"
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Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
✓

Correct Professional Usage

✓
"I work for a consulting company."

Permanent position

✓
"I'm working on a new project this month."

Temporary assignment

✓
"Our company provides business solutions."

Permanent service

✓
"We're currently expanding to new markets."

Ongoing process

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Common Business English Mistakes

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"I am working for this company since 2020."

Use: "I work for this company." or "I've worked here since 2020."

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"I work on a special project this week."

Use: "I'm working on a special project this week."

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"I am knowing the client's requirements."

Use: "I know the client's requirements." (state verb)

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Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to Marie, a project manager, talking about her usual schedule and this week's changes:

🎵 Audio: Marie's Professional Day
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Speed:

Audio: Marie's Professional Day

"Hi, I'm Marie and I work in project management for an international consulting firm. Let me tell you about my typical day and what's happening this week.

I usually start work at 8.30am. I always check my emails first and then I have my morning coffee while I review the day's schedule. I normally attend three or four meetings during the day, mostly with different project teams.

But this week is quite different. I'm working with a new client from Japan, so I'm starting much earlier at 7am because of the time difference. I'm also learning some basic Japanese phrases to make a good impression.

Usually, I have lunch at 12.30 with my colleagues in the office cafeteria. We often discuss our current projects and share ideas. However, today I'm having lunch with the Japanese delegation at a traditional restaurant downtown. It's quite exciting.

In the afternoons, I typically prepare reports and update project timelines. I usually finish work around 6pm and then I go to the gym. But this week I'm staying late every day because we're preparing a major presentation for Friday. The whole team is working overtime and we're all quite stressed but also excited about this opportunity.

I normally drink coffee all day but today I'm trying green tea. The Japanese clients recommended it. It's actually quite nice.

So that's my day. Usually very structured and predictable but this week everything is different and much more international."

Question 1: What time does Marie usually start work?

💡 Hint: Listen for the phrase "I usually start work at..."

Question 2: Where does Marie usually have lunch?

💡 Hint: Listen for "Usually, I have lunch at..."

Question 3: Complete: "I normally _____ coffee all day but today I'm _____ green tea."

💡 Hint: The first verb is Present Simple (habit), the second is Present Continuous (temporary action).
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Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes

Choose the correct option for each professional situation:

1

Sarah _____ in the marketing department. (her permanent position)

A works
B is working
C work
2

Please be quiet! The director _____ an important conference call.

A has
B is having
C have
3

I _____ this proposal needs more work. (professional opinion)

A think
B am thinking
C thinks
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Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Fill in with the correct form

1.

I usually _______ (commute) by train, but today I _______ (drive) because of the transport strike.

💡 Hint: The first is a habit (Present Simple), the second is happening now (Present Continuous with "am").
2.

She _______ (manage) the French division, and she _______ (work) on the German expansion this quarter.

💡 Hint: Managing a division is permanent (Present Simple with -s), working on expansion is temporary (Present Continuous with "is").
3.

Our company _______ (provide) business training, but we _______ (develop) online courses this year.

💡 Hint: Providing training is what the company does permanently (Simple with -s), developing courses is a current project (Continuous with "are").

Exercise B: Professional Error Correction

1.

❌ "I am knowing all our company policies."

💡 Hint: "Know" is a state verb - it cannot be used in continuous form. Use Present Simple.
2.

❌ "She answers the phone at the moment."

💡 Hint: "At the moment" indicates an action happening now - use Present Continuous with "is".
3.

❌ "What do you doing in this meeting?"

💡 Hint: Questions in Present Continuous use "are you + verb-ing" not "do you doing".
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Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
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Practice Tips

Prepare your answers mentally or in writing. Use these questions as a base for professional English conversations.

💼 Prompt 1: Your Usual Work

Describe your typical work day. What do you usually do? What time do you start? What tasks do you normally handle?

📅 Prompt 2: This Week

What are you working on this week? Is anything different from your usual routine? What projects are you currently involved in?

🔄 Prompt 3: Compare

Compare: "I usually [Present Simple]... but this week/today I 'm [Present Continuous]..."

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Congratulations!

You've completed lesson 1.1. You now understand the difference between Present Simple and Present Continuous. Continue to lesson 1.2 or return to the A2 module.

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