Present continuous Practice

Present continuous The present continuous (progressive) is used only with action verbs. Example: I am working at the moment NOT I am believing you. The present continuous (progressive) is also used to describe an action which is happening around this moment: Example: I'm reading 'Just in Time' this week. I'm not reading the book at this particular moment, but around this time. Examples Usage What are you cooking?Tom is studying for his exams at the moment.It isn't raining now. We can go outside. Actions happening at the present moment. What are you doing this weekend?I'm meeting Peter tomorrow morning.We're driving to Albany this weekend. Planned future events (usually in the near future) We're currently working on the Smith account.What classes are you taking this semester?We're studying Greek history this month. Actions or events happening around the present moment. Structure In the positive form, follow the form S + To be + Verb + -ing. Remember that you need to conjugate the auxiliary verb 'to be'. I am (I'm)You are (You're)He, She, It is (He's, She's, It's)We, You, They are (We're, You're, They're) eating lunch at noon. Conjugate the helping verb 'To Be' + Not + Verb + - ing to form negatives. I am not (I'm not)You are not (You aren't)He, She, It is not (He, She, It isn'tWe, You, They are not (We, You, They aren't) coming this evening. Conjugate the helping verb 'To Be' + S + Verb + - ing in question forms. Are youwethey listening to me? Is hesheit listening to me? http://esl.about.com/library/beginnercourse/bl_beginner_course_whatdoing.htm PRESENT CONTINUOUS AFFIRMATIVE SUBJECT+ AM / IS / ARE + VERB + ~ING Aux. verb Main verb They are playing football now. NEGATIVE AM / IS / ARE + NOT + VERB ~ING He isn’t listening to music at the moment. INTERROGATIVE AM / IS / ARE + SUBJECT + VERB Are you watching TV? [SOURCE: FOG - Intermediate] Read the letter and the news repot. Underline the Present Continuous verbs that describe something happening at the moment. Circle the Present Continuous verbs that describe things that are happening around the time of speaking. Dear Andrea, I’m sorry this letter is so late. I’m just so busy. I’m working very hard at the office these days, and I’m still looking for a new apartment. I have a new friend named Diana. Diana’s terrific. She’s really helping me a lot. She says I can live with her until I find my own place. We are good roommates. Right now Diana is in her room, and she’s studying for a test. I’m sitting in the kitchen and writing to you. I really miss you. How are you doing? Are you still working at the same place? Are you going to night school this year? Please write soon. Stephanie. [SOURCE: FOG - Intermediate] A TV NEWS BROADCAST NEWSCASTER: And now some local news. Jane Hill is at Arkansas Children’s Hospital with an interesting story. Jane, what’s happening? JANE: Well, as you can see I ‘m standing here outside Children’s Hospital where quintuplets were just born to Mary and John Quincy of North Little Rock. We don’t know much about the proud parents except that John is an engineer, and Mary is studying computer programming. The doctors are getting ready for a press conference, but they tell us the mother and all five babies are doing fine and are going back home on Thursday. I’ll give a complete report on the 10 o’clock news tonight. Now, back to you in the studio. WHAT IS EVERYBODY DOING? Put the verbs in brakets in the present continuous. ALAN Hello. CALLER Hello. It’s me. How’s everybody? ALAN Fine. How are you? CALLER Very well. What’s everybody doing? ALAN Well... John (paint) _______________ a picture ... Donna (play) _______________ the piano .... CALLER What about Edna? Is she at home? ALAN Yes, she (watch) _______________ TV. CALLER And, ____ Anna (sing) _______________ at the Opera? ALAN Yes. CALLER What about Ben? ____ he (write) _______________ another poem? ALAN That’s right. CALLER And I suppose Dan (read) ______________ the newspaper. ALAN Yes. CALLER I see you are very busy. Describe the pictures using the present continuous PRESS CONFERENCE The Quincy’s and the doctors are holding a press conference. Jane Hill, the reporter, is asking them questions. Read the answers to the questions. Then write the questions. Use the words in parentheses. 1. JANE: Hello. I’m sure you know everyone is waiting to hear about the quintuplets. (How / everyone / do?) ___________________________________________________________ DOCTOR: Everyone is doing very well. We are very pleased with the health of all five babies and with Mary Quincy’s recovery. 2. JANE: It’s very quiet (babies / sleep? ) ___________________________________________________________ MARY Yes, the babies are all sleeping. And the nurses and I are resting, too. 3. JANE: (How many nurses / help you with the babies?) ___________________________________________________________ JOHN: Right now, two. And, believe me, we need all the help we can get! 4. JANE: (How / prepare for your return home?) ___________________________________________________________ MARY: We are learning all we can from the nurses. And we’re asking all our friend and family to help. 5. JANE: (Plan / to move?) ___________________________________________________________ JOHN: We aren’t planning to move right away. We need more space, but it’s too expensive right now. 6. JANE: (Where / live / now?) ___________________________________________________________ MARY: We’re living in a two-bedroom apartment. Uh-oh, two of the babies are crying and the others will probably start soon. JANE: We should stop the interview, then. Thanks for your time. Making dialogues: A: Chief detective You are talking to the store detective by walkie-talkie. He’s watching a suspicious person. Ask him / her questions about the activities and ask him / her what the suspect is like. Useful language: - What he / she doing now? - Is he going right / towards ...? - What’s he / she like? - Does he /she have ...? - Is he / she wearing ... ? B: Store detective You’re talking to the Chief detective. You;re watching a suspect who’s behaving strangely. Tell the Chief everything you see. Describe the person too. Useful language: - He / She’s ...ing / ... / towards ... / past ... / left ... / next to ... - He / She’s wearing a ... - She / He has ... hair. A: You’re at home. Your teacher phones home. Try not to put him / her through to anybody at home. Make excuses. Tell him / her that everybody is busy in different rooms in the house. Useful language: - Hi! Who’s that? - Sorry, he /she’s in the ... - He / She’s ...ing ... - Because ... B: You are A’s teacher. You need to talk to A’s parents because his behaviour has been very bad lately. Phone his / her place and talk to one of his / her parents, grandparents or older brother or sister. Useful language: - Hi! This is ... - Can I speak to ...? - Where’s ...? - Where are ...? - What’s he /she doing? - Why is ...? GRAM-ACT/PRE-CONT GRAM-ACT/PRE-CONT