Unit Five: Present continuous

tense, clothes, and colors.

The Present Continuous Tense

When we talk about things that happen now – at this moment – we can use the
Present Continuous tense.

How to form the Present Continuous tense

There are three parts to this tense:

1. Subject / Subject pronoun

2. Verb "to be"
3. Verb + ing

Use the verb "to be" as the auxiliary for questions and negatives (NOT do / does).
Here are the ways you can form affirmative, negative and questions in the Present
Continuous:

Affirmative sentences

I am working
You are working
He / She / It is working
We are working
They are working

Abbreviated form:

I'm working
You're working
He's working / She's / It's working
We're working
They're working

Negative sentences

I am not / I'm not working

You are not / You aren't working
He / She / It is not / He / She / It isn't working
We are not / We aren't working
They are not / They aren't working

Questions

Am I working?
Are you working?
Is he / Is she / Is it working?
Are we working?
Are they working?

Short replies

Use the verb "to be" as the auxiliary

Yes I am / No I'm not

Yes you are / No you aren't
Yes he is / No he isn't
Yes we are / No we aren't
Yes they are / No they aren't
Spelling rules
When the verb ends in a single vowel and consonant, double the consonant before
adding -ing:
rub = rubbing
bid = bidding
dig = digging
label = labelling (although in American English you don't double the 'l' = labeling)
spam = spamming
run = running
tap = tapping
sit = sitting

When the verb ends in -e, delete the -e and add -ing:
make = making
write = writing

But if the verb ends -ee, don't delete the -e:

agree = agreeing

Some verbs that end -ie change to -y + ing

die = dying
tie = tying
lie = lying

When to use the Present Continuous tense

Use this tense to:

– talk about things that are happening now / around now

For example:

"The people next door are shouting." (At this precise moment)
"Shhh. Tony's talking on the phone." (At this precise moment)
"Tom's working at the supermarket this summer." (Around now)
"Our football team is doing really well this season." (Around now)

These things are temporary, rather than permanent. For example, Tom is working
at the supermarket only for a few months this summer. It's probably not his
permanent job.

– talk about trends and developments

For example:

"It's getting more expensive to go to university."

"People are living longer."

Differences between the Present Continuous and the

Present Simple
Remember: in English grammar we use the simple aspect (ie the Present Simple
or Past Simple) for situations that are always true, and for routines or permanent
situations. We use the continuous aspect (ie the Present Continuous or Past
Continuous) for situations that are temporary, or changing.

I live in France. (Present Simple: it is my permanent home)

I'm staying in a small hotel during the conference. (Present Continuous: it is a
temporary place to stay for a limited period of time)

People live a long time in Japan. (Present Simple: a true situation / fact.)
People are living longer. ((Present Continuous: a trend that is happening now.)

When you see words and phrases such as at the moment, this week; use the
present continuous. When you see words and phrases such as always, never, from
time to time; use the present simple tense.

"We're working on a difficult project at the moment."

"He's doing some health and safety training this week."

"He always eats fish and chips on Fridays."

"They never watch TV after dinner."
"She goes to London on business trips from time to time."

ACTIVITY # 1 Track I'm staying in bed

WHILE LISTENING TO THE DIALOGUE TRY TO COMPLETE THIS
CONVERSATION.

Raoul: Hey ! Are you dressed?

Maria: Yes, I am.
Raoul: Why? is it?
Maria It's a to eight. I'm going to work.
Raoul: But it's Saturday !!
Maria: I'm working on Saturday mornings this month. Are you getting up?
Raoul: No, I'm not. I'm in bed.
Maria: OK. See you at noon.
Raoul: If I'm .

ACTIVITY # 2
FOR QUESTIONS 1-5 CHOOSE THE ANSWER WHICH FITS BEST ACCORDING
TO THE DIALOGUE.

1. “Getting dressed” means ...

Waking up.
Putting your clothes on.
Buying new clothes.

2. According to the dialogue, why do you think Raoul is staying in bed?

Because he is tired.
Because he wants to sleep more.
Because he is ill.

3. Maria is going to work ...

on Saturday mornings for two months.
on Sunday mornings this month.
on Saturdays mornings this month.

4. Maria will be back at ...

10:00 pm.
12:00.
6:00 pm.
night.

5. Raoul is thinking of ...

staying in bed.
stay in bed.
having stayed in bed.
 Clothes Vocabulary

Useful Vocabulary
MEN'S CLOTHES | WOMEN'S CLOTHES | UNI-SEX | BABY CLOTHES
HOLIDAY/LEISURE CLOTHES | NIGHTWEAR | UNDERWEAR | HEADWEAR | FOOTWEAR

MEN'S CLOTHES

suit(s) shirt(s) tie(s)

WOMEN'S CLOTHES

dress(es) blouse(s) skirt(s)

tanktop(s)
UNI-SEX

coat(s) jacket(s) t-shirt(s)

 trouser(s) jean(s) short(s)

sweatshirt(s)
jumper(s) pullover(s) cardigan(s) with a hood =
hoodie(s)

glove(s) mitten(s)
BABY CLOTHES

romper suit(s) nappy (nappies)

HOLIDAY/LEISURE CLOTHES

swimsuit(s)
swimming trunk(s) bikini(s) swimming costume(s)
bathing costume(s)
NIGHTWEAR

nightdress(es) dressing gown(s)

pyjama(s)
nightie(s)
UNDERWEAR

MENS

boxers Y-fronts
LADIES (LINGERIE)

pant(s)
bra(s)
knicker(s)

stocking(s) tight(s)

UNI-SEX
 vest(s)
FOOTWEAR

shoe(s) sandal(s) boot(s)

wellington(s) slipper(s) sock(s)

Colors - Colours
English Vocabulary

What is the difference betwen Color and Colour?

Both words mean the same thing and its spelling depends on the
country where the word is written.
The word Color is used in United States.
The word Colour is used in the rest of the English-speaking countries
(England, Australia, NZ etc.)
The names of the more common colours in English appear in the chart
below:
What is the difference betwen Gray and Grey?
The same as with the difference between color and colour, it depends on the country.
The word Gray is used in United States.
The word Grey is used in the rest of the English-speaking countries (England, Australia, NZ
etc.)

Word order with colours

There are three ways that you can use a colour in a sentence to describe something:
1. To Be + Colour. e.g. My car is blue.
2. Colour + Noun. e.g. The blue car is mine.

3. Colour is the Noun. e.g. Blue is the colour of my car.

Did you know that, because colours give us more information about a person or a thing, they
are adjectives in English?

Light - Dark - Bright

You can also talk in shades (or intensity) of colour in English by using such expressions as:
Light is the opposite of Dark.

Bright: a strong colour that is easy to see.

 Helen has dark green eyes.

 His light grey hair made him look very distinguished.
 Her bright pink lipstick doesn't look good.

The words Light, Dark and Bright are placed before the colour.

Colours + ISH
If you are not exactly sure how to describe a colour, we normally use the suffix -ish.

e.g. Greenish (= approximately green but not exactly green)

 The sunset is a beautiful pinkish-purplish colour today.

 His shirt is lightish blue in colour.

Typical Things of each Colour

The following is a list of things typically associated with each colour:
Red: Strawberry, Rose, Fire engine, Blood, Heart
Orange: Pumpkin, Carrot, Basketball
Yellow: Cheese, Sun, Butter, Lemon

Green: Grass, Lettuce, Frog, Leaf, Lizard

Blue: Sky, Ocean, Blueberry, Whale
Black: Bat, Night, Tire (tyre), Fly

White: Paper, Sugar, Milk, Snow, Sheep

Pink: Pig, Tongue, Cotton candy (Candy floss)
Brown: Wood, Cigar, Earth, Acorn, Horse
Grey / Gray: Rock, Lead, Dust, Mouse, Elephant
Purple: Bruise, Grapes