COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

NOUNS MEANING
MEANING and FORM Use the present progressive to talk about present activities:
Countable nouns can be singular and plural. Use a or an with things happening now or around now.
singular countable nouns. I can't talk now I'm planning my seminar. (now)
They're working quite hard these days. !around nowl
Uncountable nouns don't have a plural. You can't use a or an
with uncountable nouns. The present progressive is sometimes called the present
continuous.

FORM
be verb .. lag -

0 I'm going to a meeting now

You usually stress question words, numbers and lot.
. . She's / He's planning a seminar.
some pasta Iserrte-pastas You're / Were / They're working quite hard these days.
a book some books X a-pasta X)
I: I'm not feeling well.
Many nouns can be countable and uncountable. She / He isn't working at the moment.
He's not working ...
,04 You / We / They aren't writing a report.
You're not writing ...

@ Am I working late tonight?

Where are we / they / you going?
three some potato a chicken some Are you studying law?
potatoes chicken Is he working hard?
Are they designing a website?

Countable Uncountable
You can also contract are not and is not like this:
How many lettuces would you How much lettuce would He's not working at the moment.
like? you like? They're not having a sate this week
I'd like a lettuce. / one lettuce. No. he's not. /No. they're not.
I'd like six carrots / some Have some lettuce in your
sandwich. PRONUNCIATION
carrots.
I'd like a lot of lettuce. You don't usually stress am. is. are in positive sentences or
I don't eat a lot of carrots. questions.

PRONUNCIATION
They are working quote hard.

How is he feeling?
But you usually stress am. is, are in negative sentences and

How many potatoes would you like?
short answers.

are two apples for breakfast.
. They aren't writing a report.
I don't want a lot of rice.
Yes, he is. No, he isn't.
PRACTICE You stress not in these sentences.
1 Complete the sentences with a, an, some, much or many. They're not writing a report. No, he's not.
1 I eat________ orange every day
2 Would you like _________ pasta?
PRACTICE
3 Can I have ________ apple?
4 I had_________ toast for breakfast this morning. Complete the sentences with present progressive verbs.
1 'I'm a student. - -Really? What / you / study?"
5 rd like _________biscuits.
What are you studying?
6 Can I have _______ banana?
2 'I / go / out now. Bye. - - Bye. Have a nice time. -
7 How__________ meat do you eat?
8 How___________eggs would you like? 3 'Kevin. what / you / do r
-1 / talk / to someone on the phone."
2 Circle the correct word. 4 is this a good time, Mary?
1 How much/ many cheese do you usually buy every Sorry, no. I / make / dinner."
-

week? 5 Can I use the computer?"

2 How much/ many eggs would you like?
3 How much / many coffees did you drink yesterday?
4 How much / many fruit do you usually eat every day?
5 How much/ many onions did you buy?
6 How much/ many chocolate do you eat?
"Sorry, but I / use / it at the moment-
a "He / not / work /at the moment. He / do / a course in
marketing."

137