Session 15

Current activities
Present Continuous Tense
We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening now.
Examples:
The kids are watching TV.
I am sitting down, because I am tired.
I am not learning German, because this is an English class.
Who are you writing to?
We can also use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening
around now, and not necessarily this very moment.
Examples:
Sally is studying really hard for her exams this week.
I am reading a really interesting book now.
How are you brushing up on your English for the trip?
We aren't working hard these days.
The Present Continuous Tense is also used to talk about activities happening in the
near future, especially for planned future events.
Examples:
I am seeing my dentist on Wednesday.
Polly is coming for dinner tomorrow.
Are you doing anything tonight?
We aren't going on holiday next week.
Exercise 1
What uses of the Present Continuous Tense do these sentences have? Circle the
correct answer. Number one has been done for you.
1. I am playing football tonight. Now/Around now/Future
2. I can't play with you now. I am finishing my homework. Now/Around now/Future
3. Where are you studying? Now/Around now/Future
4. What are you doing these days? Working? Now/Around now/Future
5. Sally is taking a bath. Now/Around now/Future
6. What are you doing at the weekend? Now/Around now/Future
7. Peter and Mary are going out. They met at Adam's party last week. Now/Around
now/Future
We make the Present Continuous tense with the correct form of the verb to be
(am/is/are) and the ing form of the main verb.

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'm

playing football.

You

're

standing up.

He

's

listening to music.

She

's

swimming.

It

's

playing with the ball.

We

're

going home.

They

're

running.

Exercise 2
Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Example: I am listening (listen) to you.
1. The train to Glasgow _____________ (leave) from platform 8.
2. I _____________ (begin) to understand the Present Continuous now.
3. Sue _____________ (work) tonight.
4. Listen! The telephone _____________ (ring).
5. Ms. Johnson _____________ (see) a customer at 3 o'clock.
Usually we add ing
work
stand
learn

working
standing
learning

When the verb ends in an e, we drop the e and add ing

come
have
write

coming
having
writing

If a one syllable (with only one vowel sound) verb ends in one consonant (for
example p, t, r) that follows one vowel (for example a, o, e), we double the
consonant.
swim
swimming
get
getting
stop
stopping
Some verbs have irregular ing form
lie
die
travel

lying
dying
Br. travelling
Am. traveling

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In English language there are verbs that are not normally used in the Continuous
Tense, because they describe rather state than an action. They are called state
verb (stative verbs, non-progressive verbs).
The verbs that can be used in the Continuous Tense are
calledaction verbs (dynamic verbs).
Some verbs can be both state and action verbs depending on their meaning.
Here are some verbs that are not normally used in the Continuous Tense.
like
prefer
mean
need

dislike
remember
seem
know

love
forget
understand
belong

hate
believe
want
own

Here are some a few verbs that can be both state and action verbsdepending on
their meaning.
I think you made a mistake.
think = believe
I am thinking about my mum now.
think = mental process

I have two cars.

have = possess, own
I am having my lunch now.
have = eat

I am seeing my friend tomorrow evening.

see = meeting with
I see what you mean.
See = understand
Exercise 3
Choose the correct form of the verb depending on whether in this meaning it is an
action or a state verb. If both the Present Continuous and the Present Simple tenses
are possible, use the Present Continuous tense.
Example: 1. a) Why are you smelling the soup?
b) Why do you smell the soup?
1. a) Are you having an English dictionary?

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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

b) Do you have an English dictionary?

a) What are you thinking about?
b) What do you think about?
a) I am feeling much better today.
b) I feel much better today.
a) What are you looking at?
b) What do you look at?
a) I am not hearing you.
b) I can't hear you.
a) What are you thinking of me?
b) What do you think of me?
a) I am feeling we should go home now.
b) I feel we should go home now.
a) This bread is tasting funny.
b) This bread tastes funny.