UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic.

Bibiana Fernandez
 Self-study Preview
Present Continuous:

http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/ELEMENTARY/unit5/page2.htm (Section:
Grammar).
http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/ELEMENTARY/unit5/page3.htm (Sections:
Grammar, Exercises and Listening x 2).

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez
 We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities that are happening
at the moment of speaking, for example:
A: What are you doing? B: I'm reading a book.
I think my brother is working at this time of the day.

 We also use this tense to talk about things that are happening around now but
are temporary. For example:
A: What are you doing these days? B: Fortunately I'm working a lot.
I’m riding my bike to work because I have my car broken.

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

 We also use the Present Continuous Tense to describe trends or situations that
are happening but may be temporary. For example:
Nowadays more and more people are shopping on the Internet.

 Activities in the very near future:

A: How are you going home after the party tonight?
B: I’m going home by taxi.

 ...and habitual actions (usually negative). For example:

He's always cleaning his car.
She is continually asking silly questions.

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

 Spelling Rules
• Rule 1: We generally add –ing at the end of the verb:
They are working (work) on a new project.
She’s playing (play) tennis right now.

• Rule 2: If the verb ends in a silent ‘-e’, then the ‘-e’ is left out and -ing is added at the end.
We are preparing (prepare) for the grammar test.
I am making (make) a chocolate cake.

• Rule 3: If the verb ends with ‘-ie’ drop the ending and add a ‘-y’ + -ing form.
He is lying (lie) about the real consequences of this situation.

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

• Rule 4: If a one-syllable verb ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, then
the last letter is doubled before the -ing ending.
Are they swimming (swim) faster now?
He’s sitting (sit) next to his mother.

• Rule 5: If a two-syllable verb ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, and
the stress is on the last syllable then we have to double the last consonant too.
I’m beginning (begin) a new English course this week.
He’s admitting (admit) his mistakes.

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

• Rule 6: If a verb ends with ‘y’ or ‘w’ and is preceded by a singular vowel, then the ‘y’ and
‘w’ is not doubled while the -ing is added at the end of the verb.
The student is drawing a beautiful picture.
You are paying attention to these spelling rules.

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

 Present Continuous Tense
Structure

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

Note:
The present continuous is usually used with dynamic verbs (verbs of action) not with stative
verbs (non-action). The following verbs are not used in the continuous form:

States and possessions : be, have, belong, cost, need, own, seem.
Feelings and emotions: like, dislike, love, hate, prefer, want, wish.
Mental states : believe, feel, know, mean, remember, think, realize, understand.
Senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch.

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez
Remember we use the Simple Present Tense for:
Habitual actions:
I usually work until 1 p.m.
He plays volleyball twice a week.
Facts:
The sun rises in the east.
The Earth goes around the Sun.
General or permanent situations:
My family lives far away.
She works in a hospital, she’s a nurse.
Permanent states:
They live in Villa María.
Mary is Italian.

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

Remember we use the Present Continuous Tense for:
Something that is happening now:
Tom is working right now, he is not at home.
Don’t bother the kids, they are doing the homework.
A temporary situation:
Sue and her brother are travelling around Europe for two weeks.
They are living with me until they find an apartment.
Activities in the very near future:
A: When are you leaving today? B: I’m leaving at 8 p.m.
Habitual actions which are annoying:
She‘s always complaining about everything.

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

 Simple Present - Signal words
• Signal words tell you what tense you have to use. For the Simple Present these are adverbs of
frequency:
always
often
usually
sometimes
seldom
never
• Other phrases of time can occur:
every day /week /year
once / twice… a week / a month / a year
in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, at night
on Mondays, at 2 o’clock, in summer
after school

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

 Present Continuous - Signal words
• In the Present Continuous these words are used in situations which happen at the time
of speaking.
Now
Right now
At the moment
In this moment
Look!
Listen!

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

 Complete using Present Continuous or Present Simple.
1. Excuse me, ______________ (you/speak) English?
2. Tom _________________ (have/shower) at the moment.
3. They _____________ (not/watch) television very often.
4. Listen! Somebody _______________ (sing)
5. She’s tired. She ____________ (want) to go home.
6. How often ____________________ (you/read) a newspaper?
7. Excuse me, but you __________________ (sit) in my place.
8. I’m sorry. I ___________________ (not/understand). Please speak more
slowly.
9.Where are you Roy? I am in the office. I ___________________ (read)
10. What time __________________ (she/finish) work every day?
11. You can turn off the radio. I _____________________ (not listen) to it.
12. He ____________________ (not/usually/drive) to work. He usually
________ (walk)
• Ask for the underlined part. Write the complete question into the gap. Use Simple Present or Present
Continuous.
1) ……………………………………………………………? John is writing an email.
2) ……………………………………………………………? My sister walks home from school.
3) …………………………………………………………….? The children are sitting in the garden.
4) ……………………………………………………………? My parents go to the mountains every summer.
5) ……………………………………………………………? My brother has a big company in Buenos Aires.
6) ……………………………………………………………? They go to work by bus.
7) ……………………………………………………………? The university is 30 kilometers away from my house.
8)  ……………………………………………………………? It is Jenny ’s .
9) ……………………………………………………………? We are studying Chemical Engineering.
10) ……………………………………………………………? I'm leaving now.
  11) ……………………………………………………………? Bruno usually gets up at 6.30 am.
12) ……………………………………………………………? I’m 37 years old.
13) ……………………………………………………………? Peter runs with his dog on Sundays.
14) ……………………………………………………………? The new CD costs $150.
15) ……………………………………………………………? There are twenty students in this class.
16) ……………………………………………………………? David likes cats because they are nice.

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez
Present Continuous:

https://
www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-continuous-exercise-1.html
(Section: Exercise).
http://www.english-room.com/grammar/presentcontinuous_1.htm (Section:
Exercise).
https://
www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/present_progressive_auxiliaries2.
htm
(Section: Exercise).
https://
www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/questions/present_progressive.htm
(Section: Exercise).
https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/
present_progressive_negation_contracted2.htm (Exercise).

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez

Simple Present – Present Continuous:

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs1.htm (Section: Exercise).

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs2.htm (Section: Exercise).
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/
simple_present_progressive2.htm(Section: Exercise).
https://www.grammar.cl/Games/Present_vs_Progressive.htm (Section:
Exercise).

UTN FRVM Lic. Evangelina Cecchel - Lic. Bibiana Fernandez