simple present tense exercise

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Philip  #452828  Thu, 13 Dec 07 03:48 PM
 Pucca wrote:

3.                 Tonight we ____________  (see) a play at the thereatre.


hmm..why is the verb "to see" and not "to watch"?

Thanks in advance!

I know of no rules governing this, but I think many people make this distinction:

I watched a movie (aired or on CD) last night [on television]. ~  I saw the new film/play [at the theater]. 

 

  
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Grammar Geek  #452851  Thu, 13 Dec 07 04:38 PM

Generally, you go "see" a play or a movie. Once you're there, you may not watch it. You could be too busy necking with your boyfriend, for example.

  
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Barbara, who answers in American English.
Anonymous  #452854  Thu, 13 Dec 07 05:01 PM
 Yileililly wrote:

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of words given:

 

1.                 I  __read__________ (read) a very interesting book now.

2.                 Joanne  _works___________  (work) eight hours a day.

3.                 Tonight we ___see_________  (see) a play at the thereatre.

4.                 Who ____are ________  you __speaking__________ (speak) to just now?

5.                 I  _dont know ___________  (not know) him very well.

6.                 What will you do if she _comes___________  (come) late?

7.                 My wife __likes__________  (like) coffee for breakfast.

8.                 What __time__________  Tom usually __have__________(have) for breakfast?

9.                 Your train ___left_________  (leave) at 17.25 from platform 3.

10.             What ___is_________  Mary ____doing________ (do) ? She's a student.

11.             My whole family ___goes____________(go) to church once a week.

12.             My wife and I _____goes____________(go) to the beach in the summer.

13.             Listen! The phone _____rings___________(ring) in the other room.

14.             Rain seldom ______falls__________(fall) in the Sahara.

15.             He is thirteen years old now, and his voice ______changed_______________(change).

16.             Let's change the conversation. It _____getting____________(get) too serious.

17.             Leap year _____comes_____________(come) every four years.

18.             My grandfather ______grows_________(grow) tomatoes in his garden this summer.

19.             He ___grows _____________(grow) them every summer .

20.             The children _____left_________________(leave) for school right now.

21.             The children ____leaves______________(leave) at 8:30 every morning of the week.

22.             Shu! The baby ______takes________________(take) her nap.

23.             In the north the season ______changes______________(change) four times a year .

24.             Unfortunately, the patient _______died_______________ (die).

25.             The monsoon _____comes________________(come) once or twice a year.

26.             It's spring and the days ________gets_____________(get) longer.

27.             The weather ______gets_______(get) very cold in Moscow in the winter.

28.             It ___rains______________(rain) hard, and I don't have an umbrella.

29.             It's November and the birds _______flies____________(fly) south.

30.     Many birds of Europe _____flies________(fly) south to Africa every winter.
  
Yoong Liat  #452859  Thu, 13 Dec 07 05:17 PM

To me, you go to see a movie or play. But once you are in the cinema/theatre, you are watching the movie/play.

So, we should say, "Let's go to see a movie/play." It is not correct to say, "Let go to watch a movie/play."

  
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Pucca  #452929  Thu, 13 Dec 07 09:28 PM
Thank you Philip, Barb and Yoong Liat for your answers! Smile [:)]

Do you mean that it's similar to "hear" and "listen"?

I don't really know how to say it but can it be that when you "watch", you are more concentrated?
  
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¿Alguna vez has tenido un sueño tan real que al despertarte no sabías qué creer?
Grammar Geek  #452930  Thu, 13 Dec 07 09:33 PM

I'd say it's exactly the same.

  
Pucca  #452934  Thu, 13 Dec 07 09:39 PM
Okies - Thanks once more, Barb! Kiss [K]
  
Yankee  #452935  Thu, 13 Dec 07 09:55 PM
Hi Anon

I'm glad that someone finally decided to try to do this test.  I assume that in this test you are supposed to decide whether to use the present continuous or the simple present tense .  (A few of the sentences will also work with a tense other than a present tense).

The words in pink letters are my corrections.  Sentence number 12 can use either the present continuous or the simple present tense.

 Anonymous wrote:
 Yileililly wrote:

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of words given:

 

1.                 I  __am reading__(read) a very interesting book now.

2.                 Joanne  __works__ (work) eight hours a day.

3.                 Tonight we ___are seeing____  (see) a play at the theatre.

4.                 Who __are __ you __speaking___(speak) to just now?

5.                 I  __don't know ___ (not know) him very well.

6.                 What will you do if she __comes___  (come) late?

7.                 My wife __likes___ (like) coffee for breakfast.

8.                 What ___does___ Tom usually __have___(have) for breakfast?

9.                 Your train ___leaves____  (leave) at 17.25 from platform 3.

10.             What ___does___ Mary ___do___(do) ? She's a student.

11.             My whole family ___goes___(go) to church once a week.

12.             My wife and I ___are going/go___(go) to the beach in the summer.

13.             Listen! The phone ____is ringing____(ring) in the other room.

14.             Rain seldom ___falls___(fall) in the Sahara.

15.             He is thirteen years old now, and his voice ___is changing___(change).

16.             Let's change the conversation. It ___is getting___(get) too serious.

17.             Leap year ___comes___(come) every four years.

18.             My grandfather ____is growing____(grow) tomatoes in his garden this summer.

19.             He ___grows ____(grow) them every summer .

20.             The children ____are leaving___(leave) for school right now.

21.             The children ____leave____(leave) at 8:30 every morning of the week.

22.             Shu! The baby _____is taking____(take) her nap.

23.             In the north the season ___changes____(change) four times a year .

24.             Unfortunately, the patient ____is dying____(die).

25.             The monsoon season ____comes____(come) once or twice a year.

26.             It's spring and the days ___are getting___(get) longer.

27.             The weather ___gets___(get) very cold in Moscow in the winter.

28.             It ___is raining___(rain) hard, and I don't have an umbrella.

29.             It's November and the birds ____are flying____(fly) south.

30.     Many birds of Europe ___fly___(fly) south to Africa every winter.
  
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Anonymous  #560052  Fri, 29 Aug 08 01:32 PM
These are my answers and I hope you'll correct the wrong ones.

  1. ..am reading..
  2. works
  3. see
  4. are you speaking to
  5. don't know
  6. comes
  7. likes
  8. does Tom usually have..?
  9. leaves
  10. does May do...?
  11. goes
  12. go
  13. is ringing
  14. falls
  15. is changing
  16. is getting
  17. comes
  18. is growing
  19. grows
  20. are leaving
  21. leave
  22. is taking
  23. changes
  24. died
  25. comes
  26. are getting
  27. gets
  28. is raining
  29. are flying
  30. fly