Present Continuous

Tense
Grammar
Semester1
Form of the present continuous tense

 We form the present continuous with the present of the verb be

and the present participle of the main verb (verb+ing) :
Statement: They are moving house next week.
Question: Are you coming to the meeting?
Negative: They are not moving home.
Use the present continuous tense for

 An ongoing incomplete action happening at the

moment of speaking.
Examples:
 Donna is doing her homework at the moment.
 Watch out, the water is boiling and about to spill over!
 Be quiet! The Prime Minister is speaking.
 Use the present continuous tense for
 An ongoing incomplete action being carried out during a
limited period of time, not necessarily now at the moment of
speaking (it could be these days, this month, this week...)
Examples,
 Scientists are looking for a cure to this deadly disease.
(Scientists began working on a cure a few months or years ago
and are still working on it, but not necessarily at this very
moment).
. Doctors are doing their best to help their patients. (not
necessarily as we are speaking now)
Use the present continuous tense for
 For planned arranged future events (especially
informal, personal events)
 Examples
I’m meeting my friends after work.
We are having dinner at 8:30 tonight.
Use the present continuous tense for

 For temporary actions

Examples
 I’m working in Rome this month.
 She is living with her aunt while her house is being
painted.
 Sami is working as a waiter for the summer.
 Use the present continuous tense for

 to describe things or states which are changing:

 Examples:

 Britishsummers are getting hotter and winters are

getting wetter.
 Medical service is becoming more and more
expensive
 His hair is getting grey
 Use the present continuous tense for

 With « always », « constantly », « forever » to talk about a

frequently repeated action that is annoying, irritating, or
surprizing.
Examples:
 My roommate is always leaving the kitchen in a mess.
 My young brothers are constantly fighting.
Use the present continuous tense for

 When speaking about current trends

Examples,
 Shopping online is growing in popularity these days.
 Nowadays, many young people are wearing ripped jeans.
 Today, most people are using text messages instead of phone
calls.
Practice
Choose the correct alternative(s) in the sentences
below.
1 Today she ’s spending/spends time with her grandmother.
2 They usually are going/go to the gym on Sundays.
3 We ’re having/have a barbecue later on. Do you want to come?
4 No, she can’t answer the phone, she has/is having a shower.
5 I always have/am having a coffee before I ’m leaving/leave for work in the
morning.
6 They sometimes fly/are flying to Sweden, but usually they are going/go by boat.
7 Where are you? I ’m sitting/sit outside in the sunshine!
8 He always brings/is bringing a monolingual dictionary to his English class.
Choose the correct alternative(s) in the sentences
below.
1 Today she’s spending/spends time with her grandmother.
2 They usually are going/go to the gym on Sundays.
3 We ’re having/have a barbecue later on. Do you want to come?
4 No, she can’t answer the phone, she has/is having a shower.
5 I always have/am having a coffee before I ’m leaving/leave for work in the
morning.
6 They sometimes fly/are flying to Sweden, but usually they are going/go by boat.
7 Where are you? I ’m sitting/sit outside in the sunshine!
8 He always brings/is bringing a monolingual dictionary to his English class.
 Use the present simple or continuous:
 Every year, thousands of tourists _____________ (go) to London and
many people _____________ (think) that London is one of the most
interesting cities in the world. I _______________ (stay) in London
now and every day we __________ (do) something different. At the
moment we __________________ (visit) St Paul’s Cathedral, which
is very old and beautiful. After this, we ______________ (plan) to go
to Tower Bridge. Sometimes the bridge _______________ (open) so
that a ship can go through, but I _____________(know) it won’t
happen today. I really __________ (love) coming to London. I always
________________ (enjoy) myself and I _____________ (enjoy)
myself today as well. In fact, the whole family __________________
(have) a good time.
 Use the present simple or continuous:
 go
Every year, thousands of tourists _____________ (go) to London and
think
many people _____________ (think) that London is one of the most
am staying
interesting cities in the world. I _______________ (stay) in London
do
now and every day we __________ (do) something different. At the
are visiting
moment we __________________ (visit) St Paul’s Cathedral, which
are planning
is very old and beautiful. After this, we ______________ (plan) to go
opens
to Tower Bridge. Sometimes the bridge _______________ (open) so
know
that a ship can go through, but I _____________(know) it won’t
love
happen today. I really __________ (love) coming to London. I always
enjoy
________________ am enjoying (enjoy)
(enjoy) myself and I _____________
is having
myself today as well. In fact, the whole family __________________
(have) a good time.
Complete the sentences below using one of the verbs in the box in the
correct form of the present simple of continuous:
enjoy prefer play work seem know interview wait talk finish

play
1. I always ________________ tennis on Fridays.
is finishing
2. He ______________________ his report. He will bring it into the office when it is complete.
are enjoying themselves in the Seychelles.
3. "My parents phoned me this morning. They _________________
In fact, they don't want to leave."
prefer
4. We _________________ to entertain our guests in a local restaurant rather than the canteen.
Although it is expensive, we can talk freely there.
know
5. I ______________ the answer to your problem. Get a new computer.
is waiting
6. "Where is John?" "In his office. He ____________________ for an important telephone call."
am interviewing
7. I can't make the meeting tomorrow. I _______________________ the applicants for the sales
manager's job.
works
8. My brother __________________ for Shink Inc. which makes bathroom fittings.
is talking
9. Who _______________________ to Bill? Is it the new secretary?
seems
10. The new contract ________________ fine to me. However, could you just check it through
once more?
Dear Aunt Mara,

Thanks for your message. I apologise / I’m apologising for not getting back to you sooner,
but I’ve been incredibly busy. When I went into nursing, you warned me that it would be really
hard work, but I admit / I’m admitting that I didn’t really believe you. Don’t get me wrong – I
don’t suggest / ’m not suggesting that I’m not enjoying it. It’s incredibly rewarding, but I now
realise / I’m now realising how hard the job is. When I get home I just don’t eat very well, I
confess / ’m confessing and go straight to bed. It doesn’t help that the bus journey to the
hospital is so slow. I consider / ’m considering buying a car, which will make things easier, I
hope. And what about you? How do you find / are you finding living in a village after so many
years in the city? I know / I’m knowing how difficult it is for you to travel such a long way, but it
would be lovely if you could come and stay with me for a weekend. I’ve got plenty of room in
my flat. I don’t guarantee /I’m not guaranteeing to cook as well as you do, but I promise / I’m
promising to find time to show you around this lovely old town. Hope to see you soon.
Keep in touch.
Love,
Martina
3. Put the verb in brackets in the correct form (present simple or present continuous)

 Next week, my friends and I ___________________ (go) camping in the

woods. I ________________ (organize) the food because I _____________
(like) cooking. Dave ________________ (have) a big car with a trailer, so he
_________________ (plan) the transportation. Sam ______________ (bring)
the tent — he ___________ (go) camping every year, so he ___________
(have) a great tent and lots of other equipment. My wife _______________
(think) we're crazy. She (like) __________________ holidays in comfortable
hotels, so she ___________________ (take) a trip to Paris instead.
 I- Complete the sentences using the correct form of the present simple or
continuous.
rains
1. It often _____________________(RAIN) in Ireland. That’s why they call it the
is not raining
“Green Island”. But it _____________________ (NOT RAIN) there at the moment.
makes
2. Such behaviour normally _____________________ (MAKE) me furious.
don’t believe (NOT BELIEVE) a word he says.
3. I _____________________
am wearing
4. I _____________________(WEAR) a hat today because it’s such a special event.
writes
5. Susan __________________ (WRITE) an email to her parents nearly every
Saturday evening.
break
6. Stop right now! You ___________________(BREAK) the flowers every time the
lands
ball _________________(LAND) in the flower bed.
7. Where is Jimmy?
think
– I don’t know. I _____________________ is playing
(THINK) he _____________________
(PLAY) tennis with his younger brother, Mark.
I- Complete the sentences using the correct form of the present simple or continuous.
organises
8. My mum _____________________ (ORGANISE) a party for her best friends once a year.
lives
9. She _____________________(LIVE) currently staying
in London, but she _________________________
(CURRENTLY, STAY) with friends up in Scotland.
teaches
10. Our headmaster rarely _____________________ has
(TEACH) a class. He _______________
(HAVE) a lot of administrative work to do.
read
11. As the private secretary of the boss I _____________________ (READ) up to a hundred
emails every day.
is smoking
12. Look at her! – She _____________________(SMOKE) in a non-smoking area.
Do you belong
13. _____________________(YOU BELONG) to a tennis club?
loves
14. Dana _____________________ (LOVE) reading a good novel.
do not sell
15. Songs that are not very popular _____________________ (NOT SELL) very well.
is touring
16. My brother isn’t here. He _____________________ (TOUR) Spain at the moment.
is asking
17. Tom always _____________________(ASK) the strangest questions in class.
buy
18.I _____________________(BUY) lottery tickets every week, but I(NEVER WIN) never win
6. Complete the dialogue. Use the present simple or the present continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
are you doing
A: Hi, Kate. What ____________________ (you / do)?
am looking
K: I ___________________ (look) at the photos of my holiday in Spain. Look at this one! My brother and I
is riding
____________________ (ride) horses.
is your doing
A: That’s great. What ____________________ (your dad / do) in this photo?
is dancing
K: Oh, he ______________________ enjoys
(dance) with some people from the village. He really ______________________
(enjoy) our holidays there.
Do you go
A: _______________________ (you /go) there every year?
stay
K: No, we sometimes _______________ (stay) in England. What about you?
spend
A: We usually ________________ lives
(spend) a week in Italy. My aunt _____________ (live) there and I’ve got three Italian
cousins.
7. Put the verbs in brackets into the right tense
go
Every year, thousands of tourists _____________ think
(go) to London and many people _____________ (think) that London
am staying
is one of the most interesting cities in the world. I _______________ (stay) in London now and every day we
do
__________ are visiting
(do) something different. At the moment we __________________ (visit) St Paul’s Cathedral, which is very
are planning (plan) to go to Tower Bridge. Sometimes the bridge _______________
old and beautiful. After this, we ______________ is open
know
(open) so that a ship can go through, but I _____________(know) love
it won’t happen today. I really __________ (love)
enjoy
coming to London. I always ________________ am enjoying (enjoy) myself today as well. In
(enjoy) myself and I _____________
is having
fact, the whole family __________________ (have) a good time.
 Present Simple or Continuous.

 am leaving (leave) for

Hi, my name’s Susan Smith and this is my family. As you can see I __________
is smiling
school now. Look, everyone ___________ (smile) and happy. That is because I ___________
am filming (film)
don’t talk
them - usually we ____________ (not talk) to each other in the morning
 catch
This is where I _____________ (catch) the bus to school every day. It’s the number 13, and it
is arriving
_____________ go
(arrive) now. These two girls are my friends. Tina and Becky. We all ___________
is wearing
(go) to the same school. Tina ___________ (wear) a skirt today, which is unusual. She hardly ever
_________________
wears (wear) skirts.
 am sitting
I ____________ arrives
(sit) on the bus now. It usually _____________ (arrive) at school at about a
quarter to nine. The bus driver __________________
is shouting (shout) at the children at the back of the bus
is telling
at the moment. He _____________ (tell) them to sit down. The kids on the bus usually
behave
_______________ don’t know (not know) what’s wrong with them today.
(behave) very well. I _____________
 sit
This is my classroom. I always ____________ (sit) at this desk, next to my friend Becky. Our
come
teacher usually _______________(come) in at five past nine. She won’t be very happy today
is making
because everyone _______________ have to
(make) a lot of noise. Oh, here she is! I _____________ (have
to) turn off the camera now. See you later!