English Grammar in Use · Murphy

Intermediate Grammar

Master English grammar one unit at a time. Clear notes, then 40+ interactive exercises with instant feedback – based on the topics in English Grammar in Use (Intermediate).

UNIT 1

Continuous or simple?

Present perfect cont.

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UNIT 10

Perfect: cont. or simple?

Future: present tenses

Future: will / going to

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UNIT 24

Future cont. & perfect

Must / mustn’t / needn’t

Had better / It’s time

If I knew / I wish I knew

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UNIT 40

If I had known / I wish I had known

Verb + -ing or to … 1

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UNIT 57

Verb + -ing or to … 2

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UNIT 3 · Intermediate · B1–B2

Continuous or Simple?“present tenses 1” – 44 interactive questions

Correct answers

🎉 Brilliant! You finished all 44 questions of Unit 3!

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Video lesson – coming soon

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📖 Grammar Reference – Continuous or Simple?

Study the notes, then work through the six exercises.

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What you’ll learnComparing present continuous (temporary) vs present simple (permanent)

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~20 min4-Tier notes + 4 exercises (3.1–3.4)

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26 questionsInstant automated feedback

1 Tier 1 – The Concept & Nuance: Temporary vs Permanent Situations

Compare the two tenses by focusing on permanence: the continuous is a bridge across a temporary window, while the simple is a permanent condition or regular routine.

⚡ Present Continuous (Temporary)

– “I‘m living with some friends until I find a flat.”
– “You‘re working hard today. — Yes, I have a deadline.”
– “The water is boiling. Can you turn it off?”

🏛️ Present Simple (Permanent)

– “My parents live in Scotland. They have lived there all their lives.”
– “John isn’t lazy. He works hard most of the time.”
– “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.”

2 Tier 2 – Dual Signal Word Contrasts

Today / this week / currently	Signals temporary continuous action: “I’m cycling to work this week because my car broke down.”
Every day / always / usually	Signals habitual simple action: “I usually drive to work every day.”

3 Tier 3 – Top 3 Common Learner Pitfalls

✗ ~~The moon goes round the earth right now.~~

✓ The moon goes round the earth.

– Rule: Eternal astronomical and scientific truths use present simple, never continuous.

✗ ~~I live with my brother for two weeks until my flat is ready.~~

✓ I am living with my brother for two weeks.

– Rule: Clearly temporary living arrangements require the present continuous.

✗ ~~What are you doing for a living?~~ (asking job)

✓ What do you do for a living?

– Rule: Inquiring about someone’s permanent profession uses What do you do?

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Tier 4 – Interactive Practice: Test your discrimination between simple and continuous in Exercises 3.1–3.4 below!

Made with care for English learners · allenglish4u.com
Original practice material inspired by the English Grammar in Use syllabus (Cambridge University Press). Example sentences and exercises are written by All English 4U.