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.