Day 2 Adjectives and adverbs Present Simple and Present Continuous

1.vocabulary adjectives and adverbs

1.1 Adjectives
Adjectives are words that describe nouns.

scruffy
not neat or clean
Example: He’s wearing a scruffy old t-shirt.

casual
informal and comfortable
Example: I like to wear casual clothes when I’m relaxing at home.

smart
neat and stylish
Example: Stuart looks very smart in his new shirt and tie.

formal
serious, important clothes for special events, for example, weddings
Example: You must wear a formal suit for the interview.

fashionable
new and popular
Example: Stripy trousers were fashionable a few years ago.

1.2 Adverbs
Adverbs are words that describe verbs.

scruffily
He dressed scruffily in an old t-shirt.

casually
I dress casually when I relax at home.

smartly
Dave’s smartly dressed today in a new shirt and tie.

formally
Everyone will dress formally at the wedding.

fashionably
Sarah was fashionably dressed in a blue coat.

2.Grammar Reference

Present simple and present continuous

Meaning and use
We use the present simple for:
things that we do regularly
facts and truths
habits
permanent situations

We often use adverbs of frequency and time expressions like every day, once a week, on Fridays.

I check my email every day. (regular activity)

Sheryl works at the bank. (permanent situation)

We use the present continuous for:
things that are happening now – at the time we are speaking,
temporary situations
activities that are in progress
We often use time expressions like at the moment, today, this week.

Just a minute. I’m checking my email. (now)

She usually works in London, but she’s working from home this week. (temporary situation)

I’m studying Economics (activity in progress)

Form - Positive
The present simple has the same form as the infinitive without ‘to’’ for I, you, we and they. For he, she and it, we add -s or -es to the infinitive.

They live in Rome.
Julian starts work at nine o’clock and finishes at five.

The present continuous for I is subject + am + verb-ing For you, we and they: subject + are + -verb-ing. For he, she, it: subject + is + verb-ing. We usually use contractions (I’m, he’s, they’re, etc.) when we are speaking.

Can I call you back later? We’re having dinner right now.

Form - Negative
The negative present simple is subject + don’t (do not) + infinitive without ‘to’ for I, you, we and they, and subject + doesn’t (does not) + infinitive without ‘to’ for he, she and it.

I don’t eat meat.
It doesn’t usually snow in October.

The negative present continuous for I is I’m not + verb-ing. For you, we and they: subject + aren’t + verb-ing. For he, she, it: subject + isn’t + verb-ing.

He isn’t answering his mobile at the moment.

Form - questions
The present simple question form is do/does + subject + infinitive without ‘to’.

Do you read the news online every day?

Does the supermarket sell stamps?

The present continuous question form is am/is/are+ subject + verb-ing.

What are you doing?

Is it raining?

Take note: spelling changes
In the present simple, regular verbs end in -s or -es, but -y changes to -i.

marry – marries study – studies

In the present continuous, all verbs end in -ing, but sometimes the spelling changes.

make – making sit – sitting die – dying

Take note: spelling
In the present simple, regular verbs end in -s or -es, but -y changes to -i.

marry – marries
study – studies

In the present continuous, all main verbs end in -ing, but sometimes the spelling changes.

make – making
sit – sitting
die – dying

Take note: verbs we don’t use in the present continuous
There are some verbs that we don’t usually use in the continuous form. They are often verbs linked to the senses and thinking, for example: hear, see, smell, hate, know, understand, believe, want, need.

Wrong: Could you explain that again? I’m not understanding.
Correct: Could you explain that again? I don’t understand.

3.vocabulary list

smart
nice and stylish

casual
informal and comfortable

jumper
warm piece of clothing that you pull over your head and that covers your upper body and arms

scruffy
not neat or clean

trendy
modern, popular and fashionable

suit
smart jacket and trousers or skirt made from the same material

hoodie / hoody
– casual clothing for the top part of your body, usually made of cotton, with a hood to cover your head

jumper
– warm clothing for the top part of your body, usually made of wool

trainers
– comfortable sports shoes

smart casual
– describes clothes that are a mix of smart and casual, for example, nice jeans and a shirt

graphic designer
– someone who designs pictures and text for things like websites, magazines and posters

branding
– giving a company a particular look, feel or design to help it sell its products or services

berths
beds in a ship, boat or train

boom
a pole that supports the bottom of the sail and can move from side to side

bow
front end of the boat

deck
outside part of the boat that people can walk on

galley
the kitchen in a ship, boat or plane

mainsail
the largest sail on a boat

mast
a tall pole that supports the sail on a boat

plain sailing
an expression that means a job or task is going well, easily, without problems

rudder
a flat piece of wood or metal at the back of a boat that controls the direction of travel (by moving from side to side)

seasick
feeling ill, vomiting or feeling you are going to vomit or be sick because of the movement of the ship or boat you are travelling in

stern
back end of the boat