The Perfect Life — Present Simple & Continuous (B1 Grammar)

B1: present simple and continuous

The Perfect Life

PICTURE

(you add this)

"You're living my dream," they write. She is eating instant noodles.

Present simple vs present continuous · action and non-action (state) verbs

Reading

Speaking

LEAD-IN

Perfect people

Discuss in pairs.

1. Do you follow anyone online whose life looks perfect? Do you believe it?

2. What's the biggest difference between someone's life online and their real life?

PICTURE

(you add this)

BEFORE YOU READ

One second of a day

You are going to read a post by a travel influencer with 90,000 followers.

Read once quickly and choose the best headline

PICTURE

(you add this)

1. Why I'm quitting the internet forever

2. My perfect life is a lie

3. How to become a travel influencer

READING

My perfect life

"My perfect life" — by Marta Vidal

If you follow me online, you know me as @MartaEverywhere. I post photos from beaches in Thailand and rooftop bars in Mexico City. I work wherever I want, I don't have a boss, and 90,000 people watch my life every day. People constantly write to me: "You're living my dream."

Here's the truth. Right now, I'm writing this in a tiny rented room that costs more than my old flat in Lisbon. I'm eating instant noodles for the third night this week, because this month the advertising money is late again. My back hurts from working on a bed, and at the moment I'm sleeping about five hours a night because my clients are in three different time zones.

I love travelling — that part is real. But I don't love this. Influencers sell a fantasy: we get up at sunrise, we do yoga, we drink green juice. In reality, this week I'm getting up at 4 a.m., not for yoga, but for a video call with a company that sells teeth-whitening products. I need the money, so I smile and say the product is amazing. I've never used it.

My mother always says, "You seem tired, Marta." She's right. I know the photos look beautiful.

But a photo is one second of a day. You don't see the other 86,399.

COMPREHENSION

Right or wrong? Correct the wrong sentences.

1. Marta usually works in an office.

2. Her accommodation is cheap.

3. She's temporarily sleeping very little.

4. She genuinely enjoys travelling.

5. She recommends products that she uses herself.

GRAMMAR FOCUS

Two presents, two jobs

a) I post photos from beaches in Thailand.

b) Right now, I'm writing this in a tiny rented room.

c) I love travelling.

d) I'm loving travelling.

1. Which sentence describes a habit or something generally true — (a) or (b)?

2. Which describes an action in progress now, or around now?

3. Which tense is used for temporary situations (this week I'm getting up at 4 a.m.)?

4. Love, need, know and seem describe states and feelings, not actions. Do we normally use them in the continuous, even when we mean "now"?

THE RULES

Complete the rules

Complete each rule with simple or continuous.

• We use the present ________ for routines, habits and things that are always true.

• We use the present ________ for actions happening now or around now, and for temporary situations.

• Non-action verbs (love, hate, need, know, believe, seem, prefer, matter) are not normally used in the ________ form.

CAREFUL

Some verbs have both an action and a non-action meaning: I have a flat (possession) vs I'm having dinner (action). I think it's wrong (opinion) vs I'm thinking about my future (mental action).

PRACTICE

Circle the correct form.

1. Don't call her now — she talks / is talking to a client.

2. Marta doesn't usually eat / isn't usually eating in restaurants.

3. I think / am thinking influencers lie most of the time.

4. What do you think / are you thinking about? You look worried.

5. This month I stay / am staying at my brother's place while my flat is painted.

6. She seems / is seeming exhausted these days.

7. How often do you post / are you posting photos online?

8. I can't come out — I have / am having dinner with my in-laws tonight, unfortunately.

SPEAKING

Two lives

In pairs. Tell your partner about:

• Three things that are generally true about your life.

• Three things that are different at the moment — temporary situations, changes, things in progress.

• Your partner asks two follow-up questions about each one.

PICTURE

(you add this)

WRITING · HOMEWORK

Write Marta's next post: the honest version of a "perfect" photo.

• 80–100 words.

• At least four present simple verbs.

• At least four present continuous verbs.

• At least two non-action verbs.

• Start with the photo everyone sees. Then tell us what is really happening.

TEACHER'S REFERENCE · HIDE OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key

HEADLINE b — My perfect life is a lie

COMPREHENSION 1 wrong — she works wherever she wants and has no boss. 2 wrong — the room costs more than her old flat. 3 right. 4 right. 5 wrong — she has never used the teeth-whitening product.

GRAMMAR FOCUS 1 (a). 2 (b). 3 continuous. 4 no — non-action verbs stay simple.

RULES simple · continuous · continuous

PRACTICE 1 is talking

2 doesn't usually eat

3 think

4 are you thinking

5 am staying

6 seems

7 do you post

8 am having (an arrangement for tonight; have is acceptable if read as a habit, but the intended answer is the continuous)