Life Beginner Unit 12a

Present continuous

Sam! Who is it? It’s Greta. Greta? Sam’s

Can I call her back?
Telephone! having a shower. Can
I’m having a shower.
he call you back?

Presentation

Use the present continuous (to be + -ing) to talk about actions right now.

Affirmative and negative Key spelling rules

’m s Most verbs: read → reading, sleep → sleeping …

I
’m not s Verbs ending consonant + -e: have → having,
come → coming …
He ’s
She isn’t having a shower. See page 233: Spelling rules
You
’re
We
aren’t
They

Yes/No questions Short answers

you I am.
Are
they
having a shower? Yes, he / she / it is.
he
Is you / we / they are.
she

I ’m not.
Wh- questions
No, he / she / it isn’t.
you
are
What they you / we / they aren’t.
eating?
Where he
is
she

Key vocabulary Verbs: come, cook, have (a shower), play (chess), read, sleep, watch (television/a film)

Practical Grammar 1 1 © National Geographic Learning

 Beginner Unit 12a
Exercises
1 Look at the pictures and write sentences. Use the present continuous.
1 2 3

Sam Catherine and Ali Antonio and Julia

4 5 6

Lucia Julia Mike and Tom

1 Sam (cook). He (have) a shower.
Sam isn’t cooking. He’s having a shower.
2 Catherine and Ali (watch) television. They (read).
Catherine and Ali are watching televisión. They aren't reading.
3 Antonio and Julia (cook). They (play) chess.
Antonio and Julia aren't cooking. They are playing chess.
4 Lucia (read) a book. She (play) chess.
Lucia's reading a book. She isn't playing chess.
5 Julia (watch) television. She (sleep).
Julia isn't watching television. She is sleeping.
6 Mike and Tom (read). They (cook).
Mike and Tom aren't reading. They're cooking.

2 Answer the questions about the people in exercise 1.

1 Is Julia cooking? No, she isn’t.
2 Are Mike and Tom playing chess? No, they aren't.
3 Is Lucia reading? Yes, she is.
4 Are Catherine and Ali watching television? Yes, they are.
5 Are Antonio and Julia cooking? No, they aren't.
6 Is Sam having a shower?
Yes, he is.

3 Put the conversation in order. Then listen and check.

Lewis Marie
5 Me? I’m watching television. 6 What are you watching?
3 Hi, Marie. I’m fine. 2 Hello, Lewis. It’s Marie. How are you?
9 Yes, it’s excellent. Come and watch it. 4 What are you doing?
1 Hello? 10 OK. See you in five minutes.
7 I’m watching a film. 8 Is it any good?
Practical Grammar 1 2 © National Geographic Learning