PROJECT GRAMMAR 19

19.3 Present continuous — questions

19 Present continuous
Am I speaking English?
we doing your homework?
19.1 Present continuous — affirmative Are you having a shower?
they writing a letter?
am he setting the table?
I
’m doing a project. Is she going to school?
We playing the piano. it listening to the radio?
are
You having a shower. Where is she going?
’re
They cleaning the house. What is he doing?
He getting dressed. Why are they talking?
is
She putting the clothes in the washing machine.
’s
It To make questions in the present continuous, we put Am, Is or
Are in front of the subject. For Wh questions add the question
a We use the present continuous for actions that are happening word at the beginning.
now.
Translate
b We make the present continuous tense with to be (am, is, are)
Are you wearing trainers?
and the present participle -ing.
Are they dancing?
c Note these spelling rules for the present participle:
1 With most verbs, add -ing.
clean – cleaning 19.4 Present continuous — short
play – playing answers
do – doing
2 With verbs ending in e, remove the e and add ing. I am.
have – having we
dance – dancing you are.
write – writing Yes, they
3 With verbs with a short vowel + one consonant, double he
the consonant and add ing. she is.
set – setting it
sit – sitting I’m not.
get – getting we
you aren’t.
Translate
No, they
She’s washing her hair.
They’re wearing jeans. he
she isn’t.
it
19.2 Present continuous — negative
In short answers we only use the verb to be, NOT the present
am not participle.
I getting dressed.
’m not The verb to be is in the full form.
playing the piano.
We Is she wearing jeans?
are not skiing.
You Yes, she is. (NOT Yes, she is wearing.)
aren’t setting the table.
They Are you doing your homework?
working.
He Yes, I am. (NOT Yes, I am doing.)
is not washing clothes.
She Is he doing his homework?
isn’t swimming.
It No, he isn’t. (NOT No, he isn’t doing.)
Are you going home?
Translate
No, I’m not. (NOT No, I’m not going.)
He isn’t sleeping.
They aren’t having lunch. Translate
Is she going to school? Yes, she is.
Are you doing the washing-up? Yes, I am.
Are they playing basketball? No, they aren’t.

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PROJECT GRAMMAR
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 PROJECT GRAMMAR 19

PRACTICE 19 ✱ C Look and write the names.

✱ A Write the present participles of the verbs

in the correct columns.

write ✔ swim make get look

put like have run sing

+ -ing double letter + -ing minus e + -ing

writing

Ronaldo Beyoncé Knowles

✱ B Put the verbs into the present continuous.
Use short forms where you can.

Melissa’s sitting (1sit) in the living room

with her dad. They (2watch) a
film on television called Dinosaur Adventure.
Look at the dinosaurs. They
Tom Cruise Adriana Karembeu
(3sleep) in their cave. A boy
(4go) into the cave. He (5look 1 He isn’t wearing a jacket. Ronaldo
for) the dinosaurs. 2 He isn’t wearing shorts.

The dinosaurs (6get up). 3 He isn’t playing football.

Melissa’s dad (7hide) behind 4 He isn’t sitting.

the sofa! 5 He isn’t running.

6 She isn’t singing.
The boy (8give) the dinosaurs
7 She isn’t wearing a dress.
some food. The dinosaurs
8 She isn’t dancing.
(9eat) the food. The boy
9 She isn’t smiling.
(10smile).
10 She isn’t wearing jeans.

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PROJECT GRAMMAR
© Oxford University Press www.oup.com/elt