5 Present Continuous (1) 1. We form the Present Continuous like this: 3 But notice these irregular spellings: Here are the forms of the Present Continuous: (For more details on the spelling of the -ing form, see Appendix 2, page 243.) 4 We use the Present Continuous: > to talk about actions and situations in progress now: > to talk about actions and situations in progress around now, but not exactly at the moment we speak: 2 To make the -ing form, we add -ing to the verb: A Look at these pictures. Decide what is happening (/) and what isn't happening (x) in each picture, and then write positive or negative sentences. > (George/eat/breakfast) Gee (George/sleep) George is sleeping, 4 (They/work) (They/sitiin the garden) 2. (\study/music) (Wlearn/Japanese) PAGE 10 « TENSES: PRESENT3. (Helplay/tennis) (She/win) 4 (Welspend/a day at the seaside) (The sun/shine) ey Finish the postcard using the words in brackets ( ) in the Present Continuous. Use full forms (e.g. is sitting). Dear Peter, Jenny and I (>) a The sun (1). We (2), 3)... avin’ both tired. We (5).... the sea at the moment. They (6) but | can see fifteen or sixteen. Jenny (7). her book, and I (8)..... Jim and Jenny (stay) here for a week. (shine) and it's very hot (sit) on the beach and | . (drink) an orange juice. We (4) .... (not/swim) because we're .... (watch) the boats on . (write) all the postcards! (travel) fast, (read) Match the two halves of the sentences. Then put in the correct form of the verb in brackets ( ). > My aunt Is. stayina, (stay) with us this week «ral (go) to work by bike this week 2 My father settee (take) some medicine 3. Anna is not in the office this week 4 Pauline needs some exercise 5 We (eat) ina restaurant 6 Jill doesn't fee! well 7 Tom .. more now week (study) a so he can't drink beer at the moment. b because she .. sees (work) at home. c soshe .. . (Stay) at home today. d sol amleepina......... (Sleep) in the living room. e because our oven is broken. f because he wants to get a good mark. 4g. because | haven't got money for petrol h so she (walk) to school this week. TENSES: PRESENT + PAGE 116 Present Continuous (2) L_ Look at these questions: Are you enjoying that drink, Ann? Is he watching TV at the moment? Are they working hard? 2. We form Present Continuous questions like this: 3. Here are three common Present Continuous ‘questions. They all mean ‘How are you! How's it going? How are you getting on? How are you doing? 4. We do not usually use the Present Continuous to talk about opinions or thoughts: like tennis, I know your sister. (or Ee liking tennis. Pm knowing your sistor.) ‘We do not usually use these verbs in the Present Continuous: 5. think and have: > ‘we cannot use think in the Present Continuous to express opinions: I think he’s nice. (sor Pe-thinking he's nice) we can use think in the Present Continuous to talk about an action: Sho'c thinking about the film wwe cannot use have in the Present Continuous to talk about possessions: Thave a ticket. (so1 Fan havinga- ticket) wwe can use it to talk about actions: 'm having breakfast. He’s having fun. A Make questions by putting the words in brackets () in the right order. > (enjoying — your work - you ~ are ~ ?) (she — having lunch — is — 2) (playing football — are — they — 2) (the cat — sleeping — is - 2) (the sun — is ~ shining - 2) (you ~ are — coming to the cinema — ?) (eating — at the moment - she - is — 2) (it - raining hard ~ is - 2) (1 — getting better — at tennis — am — ?) ing the match — we ~ ?) 1 2 3 4 5 6 (listening — are — they — ?) 7 8 9 0 (are — wi PAGE 12 TENSES: PRESENT Arg, you enloying your work?B Make questions and answers. Use the Present Continuous. (QUESTIONS (she/work/in Peru this year?) a le.she working. in. Peru thie year?......... ~ (you/study/English at the moment?) - (theyilistenvto the radio?) ~ (Peteriwashinow?) “ a (they/livefin Madrid at the moment?) - (David/sing/in a group this year?) ~ ANSWERS (No, she/study/in Mexico) No, she's. studying in Mexico. (Yes, work/hard) (No, they/play/CDs) (Yes, he/nave/a bath) (Yes, they/learn/Spanish) (No, he/work/in a restaurant) © Puta tick (7) next to a correct sentence, and a cross (X) next to a wrong sentence. onenovy She's liking pop music. X He's learning French. 7 They'te enjoying the film. ‘We're loving Ice-cream. She's believing he’s right. John's thinking about my idea. He's having lunch al the moment 1 Soar She's eating a banana, He thinks ICS @ good Idea. ‘Huge’ is meaning ‘very big’. Mick is knowing Jane. She's hating classical music. D Complete this conversation. Use the verbs in brackets ( ) in the Present Continuous. (Iflook) for a new tennis (\/play) a lot of tennis at the moment, and | need a . (She/work) in France (theyldo)? (They/study) for an exam. They're always in the library at the (We/paint) the living-room. It's (help), Paul: Hi Steve! What are you doing? Steve: (>)! aolng (ligo) to the bank. What are you doing? Paul (1). (shop). (2) racquet. (3)..... new racquet. Steve: Where is Jackie? Do you know? Paul: Yes. She isn't in England at the moment. (4)... for a month. Steve: What (5)... .. (she/do) in France? Paul: (6)... (Shefsing) in a night-club. Steve: Really? What about Fred and Sue? What (7).. Paul: (8)... moment. Steve: How is your sister? Is she all right? Paul: Yes, she's fine, but she’s tired. (9) hard work. Steve: Can | help you? Paul: No, it's OK. My father (10) Steve: Well, | hope you find a good racquet. TENSES: PRESENT # PAGE 13