Lecture: Unit 1 Exercises

Today, we'll go through the exercises for Unit 1, which focus on the use of the present continuous and present simple with state verbs and performative verbs.

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Exercise 1.1

In this exercise, you need to complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb provided in the box. Remember to use the present continuous or the present simple and to add any necessary words. Let's look at the correct answers and the reasoning behind them.

1. "I hear you're having your house repainted. How is it looking?" (or "How does it look?")

   • Here, both options are grammatically correct. Looking is a process, so the continuous form is appropriate to describe the house's current state of being painted. Does it look can also be used as look is a state verb, describing its appearance.

2. "What are you doing with that ladder? It's right in the middle of the kitchen."

   • The present continuous is the correct tense here because the action, "doing something with the ladder," is happening right at the moment of speaking.

3. "I suppose she might be at home tonight, but I doubt it."

   • Suppose and doubt are state verbs that are rarely used in the continuous form, so the simple present is the correct choice here.

4. "Flowers attract bees with their brightly-coloured petals."

   • The simple present is used to describe a general truth or a fact, which is the case here. Attract is a state verb and is not used in the continuous form.

5. "A new song by her is sounding a bit like one of her old songs."

   • While sound is a state verb, it can be used in the continuous form to emphasize that the observation is temporary or limited to the specific song being listened to now.

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Exercise 1.2

This exercise requires us to read an email and cross out the "improbable" answers, which means we must choose the more grammatically appropriate option. Let's review the best choices and why they work.

The text begins with a conversational opening, so the choices should reflect that tone.

• ...I **apologise** / **I'm apologising** for not getting back to you sooner...

  • The most probable choice is I'm apologising. While apologise is a performative verb, the continuous form adds a more personal and conversational feel to the apology in an email.

• ...I **don't realise** / **I'm not realising** I've been away for so long...

  • I don't realise is the correct option here, as realise is a state verb that isn't typically used in the continuous form.

• ...I'**m not suggesting** that I'm not enjoying it...

  • The use of the continuous tense for suggesting here is a good choice because it's a temporary action of "suggesting" in the context of the email.

• ...I'**m not really minding** / **I don't really mind** not having a car...

  • The correct choice is I don't really mind. Mind is a state verb, which means it should be in the simple form.

• ...I promise you I'll visit soon...

  • The simple present for promise is a classic example of a performative verb. You perform the action of promising as you say the words.

• ...I **was wondering** / **I'm wondering** about inviting Eva over...

  • In British English, I was wondering is a polite and common way to introduce a request or suggestion.

• ...I'**m not guaranteeing** / **I don't guarantee** not to lose it...

  • I don't guarantee is the better choice, as guarantee is a performative verb and is used in the simple form.