Cover of the textbook New Total English Advanced - Students' Book

The key answer of exercise 7

The key to exercise solutions in chapter 8.2 - Idlers and strivers for the textbook New Total English Advanced - Students' Book with authors JJ Wilson with Antonia Clare from Pearson Education

Question

  1. Rewrite the sentences (1-8), changing the verb forms into the continuous. Does this change the meaning? If so, how?
  2. Are the responses (1-8) to the simple or continuous form of the sentences in exercise 7a? Could they be replies to both?

Answer

a)

  1. I've read that book. - I've been reading that book. (Simple = she's finished the book. Continuous = she hasn't finished it.)
  2. He gets bored. - He's getting bored. (Simple = this usually happens. Continuous = at this particular moment it's happening.)
  3. I'll work till about 8 p.m. tonight. - I'll be working till about 8 p.m. tonight. (Simple and continuous = basically the same meaning here.)
  4. She hit me. - She was hitting me. (Simple = she did it once. Continuous = she did it repeatedly.)
  5. The first chapter is written. - The first chapter is being written. (Simple = it is finished. Continuous = it isn't finished.)
  6. What music do you listen to? - What music are you listening to? (Simple = generally. Continuous = at this particular moment it's happening.)
  7. He had lost his hair. - He had been losing his hair. (Simple = the hair was all gone. Continuous = the hair was in the process of going. He still had some left.)
  8. The coach leaves at 11 p.m. - The coach is leaving at 11 p.m. (Simple and continuous = basically the same meaning here, BUT Simple = for a formally organised timetable. Continuous = may be a decision made by an individual.)

b)

  1. Simple (reply to 'I've read that book')
  2. Continuous (reply to 'He's getting bored')
  3. Both (as either form could be used in the sentence from 7a)
  4. Continuous (the phrase 'go on' in the reply indicates a continued / repeated action)
  5. Simple (the reply indicates the action is finished)
  6. Continuous (the reply refers to the music playing now, not in general)
  7. Simple (the reply indicates that there is no hair left - a finished action)
  8. Both (as either form could be used in the sentence from 7a)

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