Present continuous (I am doing) Study this example situation: Sarah is in her car. She is on her way to work. She is driving to work. ‘This means: she is driving now, at the time of speaking. The action is nor finished. Amvis/are + -ing is the present continuous: | Tam (=m) driving helshefit is (= he'sete.) | working welyouthey are (= we're etc.) | doing etc. Lam doing something = I'm in the middle of doing it; I've started doing it and I haven't finished yet © Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying to work. (not I try) © ‘Where's Mark?” ‘He's having a shower” (not He has a shower) 0 Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more, (jot It doesn’t rain) (at a party) Hello, Jane. Are you enjoying the party? (not Do you enjoy) What's all that noise? What's going on? (= Whae’s happer ?) . The action is not necessarily happening at the time of speaking. For example: Steve is talking to a friend on the phone, He says: I'm reading a really good book at the moment. I's about a man who Steve is not reading the book at the time of speaking. He means that he has started it, but has not finished it yet. He is in the middle of reading it. Some more examples: © Kate wants to work in Italy, so she's learning Italian, (but perhaps she isn't learning Iralian at the time of speaking) © Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope to finish it next summer, q ES] You can use the present continuous with today / this week / this year etc. (periods around now): You're working hard today. (not You work hard today) Yes, I have a lot to do. © The company I work for isn’t doing so well this year. We use the present continuous when we talk about changes happening around now, especially with these verbs: get change become increase rise fall grow improve begin start Is your English getting better? (rot Does your English get better) The population of the world is increasing very fast. (of increases) © At first I didn’t like my job, but I'm beginning to enjoy it now. (not I begin) 2 Present continuous and present simple > Units 3-4 Present tenses for the future —> Unit 19Exercises Unit 1 1 12 13 14 Complete the sentences with the following verbs in the correct form: get happen look make start. stay try work “You reworking. hard today.’ ‘Yes, I have a lot to do.” 1 21. . for Christine. Do you know where she is? 3 kt. wes dark, Shall I turn on the light? 4 They don’t have anywhere to live at the moment. They with friends until they find somewhere. 5 Things are not so good at work. The company money. 6 Have you got an umbrella? It to rain. FYOU a lot of noise, Can you be quieter? Tenens to concentrate, 8 Why are all these people here? Whar > Put the verb into the correct form. Sometimes you need the negative (I'm not doing ete. 1 Please don’t make so much noise. 1 ."”.trying... (try) to work. 2. Let's go out now. Ir ...'s1t. raining (rain) any more. 3 You can turn off the radio. I (listen) to it. 4 Kate phoned me last night. She’s on holiday in France, She sonen (have) a great time and doesn’t want to come back 5 L want to lose weight, so this Week [econo o~ (eat) lunch. 6 Andrew has just started evening classes. He “ (learn) German. 7 Paul and Sally have had an argument. They (speak) to each other. 81 (get) tired. I need a rest 9 Tim (work; this week. He’s on holiday. Complete the conversations. 1s: Tsaw Brian a few days ago. Oh, did you? ...WWhat's..he. doing... chese days? (what / he / do} He's at university. _? (what / he / study) A: Psychology. it? (he / enjoy) 2 Yes, he says it's a very good course. , Liz. How in your new job? (you / get on) Not bad. It wasn’t so good at first, but better now. (things / get) What about Jonathan? Is he OK? ws: Yes, but his work at the moment. (he / not / enjoy) He’s been in the same job for a long time and cnn (0 BE bored with it. (he / begin) Complete the sentences using the following verbs: begin change get inerease- rise 1 The population of the world _.is_ increasing... very fast. 2 The world soncmenmmnvnmmnnen + Things never stay the same. 3. The situation is already bad and it worse, 4 The cost of living " Every year things are more expensive. 5 The weather ccm nen €0 improve. The rain has stopped, and the wind isn’t as strong.Compare: Present continuous (Iam doing) ‘We use the continuous for things happening at or around the time of speaking. The action is not complete. Lam doing i . : ! Present continuous and present simple 1 | (I am doing and | do) Present simple (I do) ‘We use the simple for things in general or things tha happen repeated! _—__—_—— Ido past now o The 0 Listen to those people, What language are they speaking? © Let’s go out. It isn’t raining now. 1 T'm busy.” “Whar are you doing 0 Pm getting hungry. Ler’s go and ear. © Kate wants to work in Italy, so she’s earning Kralian, © The population of the world is increasing very fast. We use the continuous for temporary situations: T'm living with some friends until I find a place of my own. Ga: You're working hard today. Bb: Yes, I have a lot to do. See Unit 1 for more information. Talways do and I'm always doing I always do (something) = I do it every time: future ater is boiling, Can you turn ie off? past now future Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Excuse me, do you speak English? © Ie doesn’t rain very much in summer, 10 What do you usually do at weekends? U Lalways get hungry in the afternoon. 1 Most people learn to swim when they are children, O Every day the population of the world increases by about 200,000 people. We use the simple for permanent situations: 3 My parents live in London, They have lived there all their lives. John isn’t lazy. He works hard most of the time. See Unit 2 for more information. T always go to work by car. (not I'm always going) ‘I'm always doing something’ has a different meaning, For example: ie lat my ev ag Finan on) P’'m always losing things = I lose things very often, perhaps too often, or more often than normal. ‘Two more examples: 1 You're always watching television. You should do something more active. (= You watch television too often) 1 Tim is never satisfied. He’s always complaining. (= He complains too much) 6 Present continuous and simple 2 — Unit 4 Present tenses for the future —> Unit 19Exercises Unit 3 31 32 33 Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct them where necessary. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. OK. ‘The water boils. Can you turn it off? 46, boiling, nn Look! That man tries to open the door of your car 7 Can you hear those people? What do they talk about? oe ‘The moon goes round the earth in about 27 days. T must go now. It gets late. L usually go to work by car. “Hurry up! It’s time to leave.’ ‘OK, I come. Thear you've got a new job. How do you get on? 10 Paul is never late. He’s always getting to work on time... i ns 11 They don't get on well. They're always arguing. Ce AwawE Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple. 1 Let's go out. Te tS. raining... (not / rain) now. 2 Julia is very good at languages. She ....22¢AKS.... (speak) four languages very well. 3. Hurry up! Everybody (wait) for you. 46 vvnenmennnnmnnn (YOU / listen) to the radio?” ‘No, you can turn it off” Be - (you / listen) to the radio every day?” ‘No, just occasionally.” 6 The River Nile (flow) into the Mediterranean 7 The river (flow) very fast today ~ much faster than usual 8 We usually . -owenw (GFOW) vegetables in our garden, but this year we sm (not / grow) any. 9 a: How’s your English? 8: Not bad. I think it : improve) slowly. 10 Rachel is in London at the moment. She (stay) at the Park Hotel. She always «. a . (stay) there when she’s in London, 11 Can we stop walking soon? I (start) to feel tired. 12 a: Can you drive? BT sovsnawewe (learn), My father .. savennennmennnee (RACH) ME. 13. Normally I (finish) work at five, but this week I snnoennannnannnamnnne (WOTK) unt Six to carn a little More money. 14 My parents .. (live) in Manchester. They were born there and have never lived anywhere else. Where (your parents / live}? 15 Sonia : (look) for 2 place 00 live. She wooo tay) with her sister until she finds somewhere. 16 a: What {your brother / do}? b: He’s an architect, but he a (not / work] at the moment. 17 (ata party) Lusually (enjoy) parties, but I (not / enjoy) this one very much. Finish B's sentences. Use always -ing. 1 a: I've lost my pen again, B: Not again! ...You're. almays, Losing. your pen... 2A: The car has broken down again. i: That ear is useless, It 3 A: Look! You’ve made the same mistake again. 8: Oh no, not again! 1 4 A: Oh, I’ve forgotten my glasses again. : Typical! : .Unit Present continuous and present simple 2 (I am doing and | do) We use continuous forms for actions and happenings that have started but not finished (they are ‘eating / ic is raining etc.). Some verbs (for example, know and like) are not normally used in this way, We don’t say ‘Iam knowing’ or ‘they are liking’; we say ‘I know’, ‘they like’. The following verbs are not normally used in the present continuous: love hate want need prefer Know realise suppose mean understand believe remember | belong fit contain consist seem O P'm hungry. I want something to eat. (not I'm wanting) 1 Do you understand what I mean? (0 Ann doesn't seem very happy at the moment. Think When think means ‘believe’ or ‘have an opinion’, we do not use the continuous I think Mary is Canadian, but I’m not sure. (not I'm thinking) 3 What do you think about my plan? (= What is your opinion?) When think means ‘consider’, the continuous is possible: O I’m thinking about what happened, I often think about it. Nicky is thinking of giving up her job. (= she is considering it) He is selfish and He is being selfish ‘He's being = He’s behaving / He’s acting. Compare: 1 Tean’t understand why he’s being so selfish, He isn’t usually like that. (being selfish = behaving selfishly at the moment) 1 He never thinks abont other people. He is very selfish. (not He is being) {= He is selfish generally, not only at the moment) We use amvis/are being to say how somebody is behaving. It is not usually possible in other sentences: It’s hot today, (not It is being hot) (J Sarah is very tired. (not is being tired} See hear smell taste We normally use the present simple (not continuous) with these verbs: 15 Do you see that man over there? (nor Are you secing) © This room smells. Let’s open a window. We often use can + see/hear/smell/taste: 1 Lean hear a strange noise. Can you hear it? Look feel ‘You can use the present simple or continuous to say how somebody looks or feels now: You look well today. or You're looking well today. 1 How do you feel now? or How are you feeling now? but 3 Tusually feel tired in the morning. (not I'm usually feeling) Present continuous and simple 1 —> Unit 3. Have —> Unit 17 Present tenses for the future —> Unit 19Exercises 4a 42 43 44 Unit 4 Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct them where necessary. 1 Nicky is thinking of giving up her job. OK 2 Are you believing in God? i le 3 I'm feeling hungry. Is there anything to eat? 4 This sauce is great. It’s tasting really good. 5 Umthinking this is your key. Am I right? - ss Use the words in brackets to make sentences. (You should also study Unit 3 before you do this exercise.) 1 (you / not | seem / very happy today) You. don't seem very happy, today. {these gloves { not / fit / me) They’re 100 small Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple. 1 Are you hungry? ...20. you..want... (you / want) something to eat? 2 Don’t put the dictionary away. [o.com (use) it. 3 Don’t put the dictionary away. I (need) it. 4 Who is that man? What ..... oe (he / want)? 5 Who is that man? Why .... (he look) at us? 6 Alan says he’s 80 years old, but nobody (believe) him. 7 She told me her name, but I. (not / remember) it now. 8 Tceennnennennrinnnnnee (think) of selling my car, Would you be interested in buying it? oT (think) you should sell your car. You (not / use) it very often. 10 Air nn oom (Consist) mainly of nitrogen and oxyger Complete the sentences using the most suitable form of be. Sometimes you must use the simple (amjis/are) and sometimes the continuous is more suitable (am/is/are being). 1 Ican’t understand why ..e’s. being __ so selfish. He isn’t usually like thar. 2 Sarah “ very nice to me at the moment. I wonder why. 3 You'll like Debbie when you meet het, She so. very nice. 4 You're usually very patient, so why so unreasonable about waiting ten more minutes? 5 Why isn’t Steve at work today? on pone UIP336 In some of the exercises you have to use your own ideas to write sentences. Example answers are given in the Key. If possible, check your answers with somebody who speaks English well. UNIT 1 1 °m looking / am looking ‘Setting /is getting ‘re staying fare staying is losing ’s starting /is starting “re making / are making... *m eying / am trying 'S happening / is happening 1.2 3 ‘m nor listening /am not listening ‘shaving / is having °'m not cating / am not eating, *s learning fis learning aren't speaking /’re not speaking / are not speaking, “m getting / am getting isn’t working /'s not working His not working 13 1) What's / What is he studying Is he enjoying 2 are you getting on things are getting, he isn’t enjoying / he’s not enjoying he’s beginning / he is beginning 14 2 is changing 3's getting / is getting 4 is rising 5. is beginning UNIT 2 24 drink ‘opens live take 2 do the banks close don't use does Martin come do you do takes ... does it take does this word mean doesn’t do 3 make 5 don't eat 6 doesn’t believe 7 translates 8. don’ tell 2 flows 24 2 Does your sister play tennis? 3) Which newspaper do you read? 4 Whar does your brother do? 5 How often do you go to the 6 Where do your grandparents live? 25 2. I promise 3 Linsise 4 Lapologise 5 Trecommend UNIT 3 34 is trying are they talking OK Ies getting Ie is geting OK Pax coming /1 am coming are you getting Hie always gets OK 2 °s waiting /is waiting Are you listening Do you listen flows “s flowing /is lowing row... aren't growing /re not growing f are not growing 9's improving / is improving 10 *s staying /is staying ... stays 11 7m starting / am starting, 12 “im learning fam learning teaching / is teaching 13 finish ... ‘m working / am working 14 ive ... do your parents live 15 ’s looking /is looking ...’s staying / is staying 16 does your brother do ... isn’t working /’5 not working / is not working 17 enjoy ... 'm not enjoying / am not enjoying 38: 2 Ie always breaking down, 3 Tm always making the same take, J... that mistake. 4. You're always forgetting your plasses UNIT 4 44 2 Do you believe 3 OK 4 Ie tastes 5 Vthink 42 2 What are you doing? Pm thinking. 3. Who does this umbrella belong to? The dinner smells good. Is anybody sitting there? ‘These gloves don't fit me, 3 “musing / am using need does he want is he looking believes don't remember do not remember or can't remember § ‘mm thinking / am thinking 9 think ... don’t use 10 consists 44 2's being /is being 3 slis 4 are you b 5 Ishe NRGKUNE aoe 8 UNIT 5 51 2 had 3 She walked co work. 4 Ietook her (about) half an hour 5 She started work 6 She didn’t have (any) lunch. / eat (any) lunch. 7 She finished work 8 She was tired! when she got home. 9 She cooked 10 She didn't go 11 She went to bed 12. She slept 52 2 taught 3 sold 4 fell... hurt 5. threw ... caught 6 spent ... bought ... cost