Flo-Joe for Cambridge English Exams

Cambridge English: Preliminary

Vocabulary practice for the Cambridge PET exam

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Grammar: Present Simple & Continuous as Future Tenses

1: Work it Out

We can use the present simple and the present continuous to talk about the future. Do you know the difference between the two? Look at these sentences and see if you can work out the rules.

The train leaves at 9.00.
John takes his exam next week.
What time do you finish college tonight?
I'm staying in this evening.
I'm going to bed in a minute.
When are you taking your holiday this summer?

Now try the quiz below to check your ideas.

2: Check Present Simple or Continuous

Complete each sentence by choosing the most likely future form:

1) anything later? I thought we could go out.
2) The lesson soon so we need to get back to college.
3) Susan me for lunch later.
4) The match at 3.00.
5) What time later?
6) I my Nan next Sunday.
7) I work early today as I have an appointment at the dentist.
8) I've just phoned the centre and the doors at 1.00.

Well done. We use the present simple to talk about future actions that are fixed such as a timetable or a schedule (2, 4, 5 and 8). We use the present continuous to talk about future arrangements (1, 3, 6 and 7).Try again. Tip: We use the present simple to talk about future actions that are fixed such as a timetable or a schedule (2, 4, 5 and 8). We use the present continuous to talk about future arrangements (1, 3, 6 and 7).Your answer has been saved.Check your answer

 

 

 

3: Multiple Choice Cloze Practice

Read the text below.
For each question choose the best answer to complete the gap.

MEMO
To: Sarah
From: Director of Studies

As you know, I have quite a busy week coming up. On Monday I A) with the Marketing team all day to discuss next year's brochure. On Tuesday I B) our partner school in London. My train C) at 7.30 so I won't be coming to the office first. We have interviews for the new teacher's job on Wednesday. The first one D) at 9.30 and they E) at 3.30 - 6 people altogether I think. I F) the deputy head on Thursday and as soon as I get back there's the weekly team meeting - that usually G) on until 5.30. I have a day's holiday owed to me so I H) a day off on Friday. But as the new term next Monday I in on Saturday or Sunday briefly to check everything is OK. Email me at any time if you need advice.

Well done. The correct answers are: A) am meeting, B) am visiting, C) leaves, D) starts, E) end, F) am seeing, G) goes, H) am taking I) starts, J) am coming.Your answer has been saved.Check your answer

 

Study Tip, Grammar

Practise present simple and continuous future forms by talking about what's happening in your life in the coming week. For example:

I'm seeing my friends this evening.
My English lesson starts at 6.00 on Thursday.
I'm finishing work early on Wednesday.