ON THE PHONE

GRAMMAR LOG1

The Present Continuous Tense

We use the Present Continuous tense to:

This week we are getting up half an hour earlier.  

I am meeting my boyfriend at noon.

He is always complaining about the food.   

GRAMMAR LOG 2

Adverbs of frequency


With the Present Simple Tense, we often use adverbs of frequency to say 'how often' we do something. Here's a list of common adverbs:

We usually put these adverbs in the middle of the sentence, between the subject and the verb:
We often watch TV.

They sometimes buy sweets.
He usually drinks tea.    

We can also put them at the very beginning or end of the sentence. This makes them stronger:

Often I go to the cinema.
I go to the cinema often.   

She is often ill.
You should always turn the light off.   

Some other expressions can be used to say 'how often'. They go at the beginning or the end of the sentence but not in the middle.

They go to the cinema once in a while.
He drinks tea every now and again.
From time to time we visit our friends.

We can also use a number or 'several' or 'many', followed by 'times'.(Mind if the number is one, use 'once' if the number is two use 'twice') Then add 'a' and a period of time:

They visit us twice a week.
He plays tennis three times a month.
We eat meat once a fortnight.
We meet several times a year.
We write tests once a month.

With the Present Continuous adverbs are placed at the start or at the end of a sentence.

With verbs denoting actions that take place now, we use:

now, at present, at the moment
You're studying English grammar at the moment.
At the moment you're studying English grammar.

When verbs refer to temporary actions, we use:

today, this month, this week      
I'm cycling to school this week.

To stress the speaker's annoyance, you can use:

always, continually, constantly
He's always borrowing my CDs. 

AUDIO SCRIPT

A: Hello.

B: Hello, it’s Donna.

A: Oh, hi Donna. It’s so nice to hear from you. How are you?

B: I’m fine…. I guess.

A: You don’t sound OK. What’s wrong?

B: Tim really upset me. . . Teenagers! Why don’t they listen to their parents? Why do they have to argue about everything we say or do?

A: What upsets you ?

B: Bedtime. You know, he’s always getting up late. Then he misses the bus that leaves at 6:45 and consequently, he doesn’t get to school on time. I’m thinking of removing the telly from his room because he watches films late into the night. He totally flipped out when I told him that.

A: It won’t help if you take away his telly. He can watch films on his tablet PC. Does he still go to those evening football trainings? I remember reading an article about how to get a good night's sleep where an expert claimed that physical activities should end at least three hours prior bedtime. Donna, I think you two should sit down and discuss the bedtime routine peacefully.

B: I doubt he’ll listen to me.

A: Try it. You’ve got nothing to lose.

B: We’ll see. Enough about me. What’s new with you?

A: Hmmm. Let me think. Kevin is abroad on a business trip till Friday and I don’t have a car, so I’m cycling to work this week. I'm still reading that bestseller you gave me but I must say I don't like it that much. Oh, and I'm seeing Jane tomorrow at lunch time.

B: Jane, who?

A: Jane, Bob‘s fiancée, you know. She phoned me just the other day and. . . What's that smell? Something's burning! Shoot, I forgot I'm baking biscuits. I have to go, sorry. I'll call you back soon, I promise.

B: All right. Bye!

A: Bye!