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Football: The World’s Favourite Sport — simple present and present continous tenses

Football: The World’s Favourite Sport

Football is the most popular sport in the world. More than four billion people follow it, and millions of children dream about becoming famous players.

Nobody knows exactly when football begins, but people play games with a ball hundreds of years ago. Modern football starts in England in the nineteenth century. English schools make the first rules, and soon the game becomes popular in many countries.

Today, football is growing everywhere. People play it in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, and North America. Every weekend, thousands of matches take place around the world. Right now, millions of fans are watching games on television or on the internet.

Some countries are especially famous for football. Brazil is producing many talented players. Argentina is winning important international competitions. Spain and Germany have strong leagues and excellent teams. England is attracting fans from every continent.

Professional football is also a huge business. Top players earn millions of dollars every year. Famous clubs are paying enormous salaries and buying players for incredible amounts of money. At the moment, many clubs are spending more money than ever before.

Football stadiums are often full of supporters. Fans are singing, waving flags, and wearing their team colours. During big tournaments, people are celebrating together in streets, cafés, and homes. The atmosphere is exciting and emotional.

Football is popular because the rules are simple. You only need a ball and some space to play. Right now, children in many countries are kicking a ball with their friends and dreaming about becoming the next football star.

Although football is changing and becoming more professional every year, one thing stays the same: people everywhere love this beautiful game.

Vocabulary

  • follow – to watch and support a sport or team — követ, utána megy
  • dream about – to hope to do something in the future — álmodik vmiről
  • grow – to become bigger or more popular — nő/vekszik
  • take place – happen — megtörténik
  • league – a competition between teams — liga, versenysorozat
  • attract – make people interested — vonzóvá válik vki számára
  • earn – get money for work — pénzt keres / jövedelme van
  • salary – money somebody receives for a job — kereset, fizetés
  • supporter/fan – a person who supports a team — rajongó, támogató
  • atmosphere – the feeling in a place — atmoszféra, általános érzés egy helyzetben
  • professional – doing a sport as a job — professzionális, szakszerű

Examples of the two tenses in the text

Simple Present (facts and general truths)

  • Football is the most popular sport in the world.
  • People play it in many countries.
  • Brazil produces many talented players.
  • Fans sing and wear team colours.

Present Continuous (actions happening now or changing situations)

  • Millions of fans are watching games.
  • England is attracting fans from every continent.
  • Famous clubs are paying enormous salaries.
  • Many clubs are spending more money than ever before.
  • Football is changing and becoming more professional.

Comprehension Questions – Football: The World’s Favourite Sport

  1. What is the most popular sport in the world?
  2. How many people follow football?
  3. What do millions of children dream about?
  4. Do we know exactly when football began?
  5. Where does modern football start?
  6. Who makes the first rules of modern football?
  7. In which century does modern football begin?
  8. On which continents do people play football today?
  9. What are millions of fans watching right now?
  10. Which country produces many talented players?
  11. Which country is winning important international competitions?
  12. Which two countries have strong leagues and excellent teams?
  13. What is England attracting?
  14. Why is professional football also a huge business?
  15. How much money do top players earn?
  16. What are famous clubs paying and buying?
  17. What are fans doing in stadiums?
  18. Why is football popular all over the world?
  19. What are children in many countries doing right now?
  20. What is staying the same although football is changing?

Optional Discussion Questions (Speaking)

  1. Do you like football? Why or why not?
  2. Which football team do you support?
  3. Who is your favourite football player?
  4. Do you play football or another sport?
  5. Why do you think football is so popular?
  6. Do football players earn too much money? Why/Why not?
  7. Which country has the best football team in your opinion?
  8. Are you watching any football matches these days?
  9. Would you like to become a professional football player?
  10. What sports are becoming popular in your country?

Football – Simple Present or Present Continuous —  ex. 1

Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. Football __________ (be) the most popular sport in the world.
  2. Millions of people __________ (watch) football matches on TV right now.
  3. Many children __________ (dream) of becoming famous football players.
  4. Look! The fans __________ (wave) their flags.
  5. Brazil __________ (produce) many talented players.
  6. At the moment, my favourite team __________ (play) an important match.
  7. Football clubs __________ (pay) very high salaries these days.
  8. My friends usually __________ (play) football after school.
  9. Listen! The supporters __________ (sing) their team song.
  10. A professional football player usually __________ (train) every day.
  11. More and more girls __________ (play) football nowadays.
  12. My brother __________ (wear) his football shirt today.
  13. England __________ (have) one of the most famous football leagues.
  14. Right now, thousands of people __________ (wait) outside the stadium.
  15. My favourite player always __________ (work) hard in training.
  16. The coach __________ (talk) to the players at the moment.
  17. Many football fans __________ (travel) to other countries to watch matches.
  18. The children __________ (kick) a ball in the park right now.
  19. Football __________ (bring) people together from different countries.
  20. More and more clubs __________ (spend) huge amounts of money on players these days.

Simple Present or Present Continuous? — ex. 2

Correct (✓) or Incorrect (✗)?

Instructions: Read the sentences. Write ✓ if the sentence is correct and ✗ if it is wrong. Correct the wrong sentences.

  1. Football is becoming more popular in some countries. _____
  2. Millions of people watch football on TV right now. _____
  3. Brazil produces many talented players every year. _____
  4. Look! The fans wave their flags. _____
  5. My brother plays football at the moment. _____
  6. The players are training very hard these days. _____
  7. England is having one of the best football leagues in the world. _____
  8. Many children dream of becoming professional football players. _____
  9. Listen! The supporters sing their favourite song. _____
  10. Football clubs are spending more money nowadays. _____
  11. My favourite team usually is playing on Saturdays. _____
  12. Right now, thousands of fans are waiting outside the stadium. _____
  13. Professional players train every day. _____
  14. The goalkeeper catches the ball now. _____
  15. More and more girls are playing football these days. _____
  16. My dad watches every match of our local team. _____
  17. The coach talks to the players at the moment. _____
  18. Football brings people together from different countries. _____
  19. The children are kicking a ball in the garden right now. _____
  20. I am usually playing football with my friends after school. _____

Translate into English — ex. 3

(Use either the Simple Present or the Present Continuous.)

  1. A bátyám minden hétvégén focizik a barátaival.
  2. Most több ezer szurkoló várakozik a stadion előtt.
  3. A legjobb játékosok milliókat keresnek minden évben.
  4. Nézd! A gyerekek fociznak a parkban.
  5. Sokan arról álmodnak, hogy híres futballisták lesznek.
  6. A kedvenc csapatom éppen egy nagyon fontos meccset játszik.
  7. A profi játékosok minden nap keményen edzenek.
  8. Napjainkban egyre több lány focizik.
  9. Hallgasd! A szurkolók a csapat dalát éneklik.
  10. A futball összehozza az embereket a világ minden részéről.

Answer Key – Football: The World’s Favourite Sport

  1. What is the most popular sport in the world?
    Football is the most popular sport in the world.
  2. How many people follow football?
    More than four billion people follow football.
  3. What do millions of children dream about?
    They dream about becoming famous players.
  4. Do we know exactly when football began?
    No, we don’t.
  5. Where does modern football start?
    It starts in England.
  6. Who makes the first rules of modern football?
    English schools make the first rules.
  7. In which century does modern football begin?
    It begins in the nineteenth century.
  8. On which continents do people play football today?
    They play it in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, and North America.
  9. What are millions of fans watching right now?
    They are watching games on television or on the internet.
  10. Which country produces many talented players?
    Brazil produces many talented players.
  11. Which country is winning important international competitions?
    Argentina is winning important international competitions.
  12. Which two countries have strong leagues and excellent teams?
    Spain and Germany have strong leagues and excellent teams.
  13. What is England attracting?
    England is attracting fans from every continent.
  14. Why is professional football also a huge business?
    Because top players earn millions of dollars and clubs spend enormous amounts of money.
  15. How much money do top players earn?
    They earn millions of dollars every year.
  16. What are famous clubs paying and buying?
    They are paying enormous salaries and buying players for incredible amounts of money.
  17. What are fans doing in stadiums?
    They are singing, waving flags, and wearing their team colours.
  18. Why is football popular all over the world?
    Because the rules are simple and you only need a ball and some space to play.
  19. What are children in many countries doing right now?
    They are kicking a ball with their friends and dreaming about becoming football stars.
  20. What is staying the same although football is changing?
    People everywhere love this beautiful game.
 
 

Answer Key — ex. 1

  1. Football is the most popular sport in the world.
  2. Millions of people are watching football matches on TV right now.
  3. Many children dream of becoming famous football players.
  4. Look! The fans are waving their flags.
  5. Brazil produces many talented players.
  6. At the moment, my favourite team is playing an important match.
  7. Football clubs are paying very high salaries these days.
  8. My friends usually play football after school.
  9. Listen! The supporters are singing their team song.
  10. A professional football player usually trains every day.
  11. More and more girls are playing football nowadays.
  12. My brother is wearing his football shirt today.
  13. England has one of the most famous football leagues.
  14. Right now, thousands of people are waiting outside the stadium.
  15. My favourite player always works hard in training.
  16. The coach is talking to the players at the moment.
  17. Many football fans travel to other countries to watch matches.
  18. The children are kicking a ball in the park right now.
  19. Football brings people together from different countries.
  20. More and more clubs are spending huge amounts of money on players these days.

Answer Key — ex. 2

  1. ✓
    Football is becoming more popular in some countries.
  2. ✗
    Millions of people are watching football on TV right now.
  3. ✓
    Brazil produces many talented players every year.
  4. ✗
    Look! The fans are waving their flags.
  5. ✗
    My brother is playing football at the moment.
  6. ✓
    The players are training very hard these days.
  7. ✗
    England has one of the best football leagues in the world.
  8. ✓
    Many children dream of becoming professional football players.
  9. ✗
    Listen! The supporters are singing their favourite song.
  10. ✓
    Football clubs are spending more money nowadays.
  11. ✗
    My favourite team usually plays on Saturdays.
  12. ✓
    Right now, thousands of fans are waiting outside the stadium.
  13. ✓
    Professional players train every day.
  14. ✗
    The goalkeeper is catching the ball now.
  15. ✓
    More and more girls are playing football these days.
  16. ✓
    My dad watches every match of our local team.
  17. ✗
    The coach is talking to the players at the moment.
  18. ✓
    Football brings people together from different countries.
  19. ✓
    The children are kicking a ball in the garden right now.
  20. ✗
    I usually play football with my friends after school.

Answer Key — ex. 3

  1. My brother plays football with his friends every weekend.
  2. Thousands of fans are waiting outside the stadium right now.
  3. The best players earn millions every year.
  4. Look! The children are playing football in the park.
  5. Many people dream of becoming famous football players.
  6. My favourite team is playing a very important match at the moment.
  7. Professional players train hard every day.
  8. More and more girls are playing football nowadays.
  9. Listen! The supporters are singing the team’s song.
  10. Football brings people together from all parts of the world.

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