UNIT 1

Present continuous (I am doing)

A Study this example situation:

B I am doing something = I'm in the middle of doing something; I've started doing it and I haven't finished yet.

Often the action is happening at the time of speaking:

* please don't make so much noise. I'm working, (not 'I work')

* 'Where's Margaret?' 'She's having a bath.' (not 'she has a bath')

* Let's go out now. It isn't raining any more. (not 'it doesn't rain')

• (at a party) Hello, Jane. Are you enjoying the party? (not 'do you enjoy')

* I'm tired. I'm going to bed now. Goodnight!

But the action is not necessarily happening at the time of speaking. For example:

Some more examples:

• Catherine wants to work in Italy, so she is learning Italian, (but perhaps she isn't learning Italian exactly at the time of speaking)

• Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope it will be finished befon next summer.

C We use the present continuous when we talk about things happening in a period around now (for example, today / this week / this evening etc.):

• 'You're working hard today.' 'Yes, I have a lot to do.' (not 'you work hard today')

• 'Is Susan working this week?' 'No, she's on holiday.'

We use the present continuous when we talk about changes happening around now:

• The population of the world is rising very fast. (not 'rises')

• Is your English getting better? (not "does your English get better')

EXERCISES

1.1 Complete the sentences with one of the following verbs in the correct form:

come get happen look make start stay try work

1 'You .'re. working... hard today.' 'Yes, I have a lot to do.'

2 I................................................... for Christine. Do you know where she is?

3 It................................................... dark. Shall I turn on the light?

4 They haven't got anywhere to live at the moment. They ................................................... with friends until they find somewhere.

5 'Are you ready, Ann?' 'Yes, I....................................................'

6 Have you got an umbrella? It................................................... to rain.

7 You ................................ a lot of noise. Could you be quieter? I................................ to concentrate.

8 Why are all these people here? What...................................................?

1.2 Use the words in brackets to complete the questions.

1 '..………………………….... this week?' 'No, he's on holiday.' (Colin/work)

2 Why ................................................... at me like that? What's the matter? (you/look)

3 'Jenny is a student at university.' 'Is she? What...................................................?' (she/study)

4 ................................................... to the radio or can I turn it off? (anybody/listen)

5 How is your English? ................................................... better? (it/get)

1.3 Put the verb into the correct form. Sometimes you need the negative (I'm not doing etc.}.

1 I'm tired. I ……………………..... (go) to bed now. Goodnight!

2 We can go out now. It ...isn't ra.ini.ng... (rain) any more.

3 'How is your new job?' 'Not so good at the moment. I................................................... (enjoy) it very much.'

4 Catherine phoned me last night. She's on holiday in France. She ................................................... (have) a great time and doesn't want to come back.

5 I want to lose weight, so this week I................................................... (eat) lunch.

6 Angela has just started evening classes. She ................................................... (learn) German.

7 I think Paul and Ann have had an argument. They ................................................... (speak) to each other.

1-4 Read this conversation between Brian and Sarah. Put the verbs into the correct form.

sarah: Brian! How nice to see you! What (1)................................................... (you/do) these days?

brıan: I (2)................................................... (train) to be a supermarket manager.

sarah: Really? What's it like? (3)................................................... (you/enjoy) it?

brıan: It's all right. What about you?

sarah: Well, actually I (4)................................................... (not/work) at the moment.

I (5)................................................... (try) to find a job but it's not easy.

But I'm very busy. I (6)................................................... (decorate) my flat.

brıan: (7)................................................... (you/do) it alone?

sarah: No, some friends of mine (8)................................................... (help) me.

1-5 Complete the sentences using one of these verbs: get change rise fall increase

You don't have to use all the verbs and you can use a verb more than once.

1 The population of the world .…………………………...., very fast.

2 Ken is still ill but he ................................................... better slowly.

3 The world .................................................... Things never stay the same.

4 The cost of living .................................................... Every year things are more expensive.

5 The economic situation is already very bad and it................................................... worse.