Chapter 8

To ask and give attention about in-progress activities.

Ask for information about in-progress activities Give information about in-progress activities
 What are you doing?  I’m doing my homework.
 What are they doing?  They are playing congklak.
 What is he doing?  He is reading a book.
 What is she doing there?  She is practicing English.
 Is she/he studying?  Yes She is
 No, He is not.

Present continues tense

We use present continues tense to:

 Describe an action that is going on at this moment.

Example sentence: You are studying English grammar.
 Describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend.
Example sentence: more and more people are becoming vegetarian
 Describe an action or event in the future, which has already been planned or prepared.
Example sentence: I am visiting my grandmother next winter.
 Describe a temporary event or situation.
Example sentence: the weather forecast was good, but it is raining at the moment.
 Describe an emphasize or continuing series of repeated action, with note using “always, forever,
or constantly”
Example sentence: Harry and Sally are always arguing about something.

Present continuous form:

 Positive
Subject + to be (am/is/are) + verb 1 + ing
For example: The ships are sailing.

 Negative

Subject + to be (am/is/are) + not + verb 1 + ing

For example: The ships are not sailing.
 Interrogative

to be (am/is/are) + subject + verb 1 + ing + ?

For example: Are the ships sailing?
 Remember

 Time expression
In present continuous tense, we usually use time expressions such as this morning, this
afternoon, this evening, today, nowadays, for the time being, right now, at this moment, at
present, now, etc.
 Rules when forming verb-ing

Delete –e and adding –ing To verb ending in –e Come-coming, change-

Directly add –ing
Double the consonant and
add –ing
Change –ie to –y the add –ing
Double –l and add –ing
Do not double –l directly and
–ing
To verb ending in –ee
To a verb ending in a
consonant
To verb ending in –ie
To to syllables verb ending in
–l
Two syllable verb ending in –l
changing
See-seeing, flee-fleeing
Get-getting, begin-beginning
Tie-tying, die-dying
Cancel-cancelling, control-
controlling
Seal-sealing, sail-sailing

 The usage of question word in present continuous

- If the sentence is using object, the form is

Question word + to be + Subject + Verb 1 + ing + ?

Example sentence: when is Rina visiting his uncle?

- If the sentence is not using subject, the form is:

Question word + to be + Verb 1 + ing + ?

Example sentence: who is reading a magazine?

Complete the present continuous sentences below with the available verbs.

Wear work stand ride walk

live drink wash eat watch

1. We … our dog to the park now.

2. The museum guard … next to the door.
3. Our teacher … (not) a uniform now.
4. … you … in a new house?
5. I’m a teacher. But I … (not) today.
6. … susan … a pizza?
7. John … milk for breakfast.
8. My friends … (not) a bike at the moment.
9. My sister is bored. She … TV now.
10. I … My hair at the moment.