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Unit 1. Present continuous (I am doing).




Unit 1; Part A

Study this example situation:
1.1.jpgSarah is in her car. She is on her way to work. She is driving to work.
This means: she is driving now, at the time of speaking.
The action is not finished.

Am / is / are + -ing is the present continuous:

I                         am   (= I'm)
he / she / it        is     (= he's etc.)
we /you / they   are   (= we're etc.)  
driving
working
doing etc.  

Unit 1; Part B

I am doing something = I'm in the middle of doing it; I've started doing it and I haven't finished yet:
Please don't make so much noise. I'm trying to work.   (not I try)
'Where's Mark?'   'He's having a shower.'  (not He has a shower)
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)
What's all that noise? What's going on?  ( = What's happening?)

The action is not necessarily happening at the time of speaking.
For example:
Steve is talking to a friend on the phone. He says:
1.2.jpg
Some more examples:
Kate wants to work in Italy, so she's learning Italian.  (but perhaps she isn't learning Italian at the time of speaking)
Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope to finish it next summer.

Unit 1; Part C


You can use the present continuous with today / this week / this year etc.
(periods around now):
A: You're working hard today.  (not You work hard today)
   B:  Yes, I have a lot to do.
The company I work for isn't doing so well this year.

Unit 1; Part D

We use the present continuous when we talk about changes happening around now, especially with these verbs:
get     change     become      increase      rise      fall      grow      improve      begin      start
Is your English getting better?  (not Does your English get better)
The population of the world is increasing very fast. (not increases)
At first I didn't like my job, but I'm beginning to enjoy it now.  (not I begin)

 



Exercises

flag.jpgComplete the sentences with the following verbs in the correct form:
Key.2 'm looking / am looking
3 's getting / is getting
4 're staying / are staying
5 is losing
6 's starting / is starting
7 're making / are making ...
  'm trying / am trying
8 's happening / is happening

 
get       happen        look        lose       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 don't have anywhere to live at the moment. They ___________ with friends until they find somewhere.
5    Things are not so good at work. The company ___________ money.
6    Have vou got an umbrella? It ___________ to rain.
7    You ___________ a lot of noise. Can you be quieter? I ___________ to concentrate.
8    Why are all these people here? What  ___________?
flag.jpgPut the verb into the correct form. Sometimes you need the negative (I'm not doing etc.).
Key.3 'm not listening / am not listening
4 's having / is having
5 'm not eating / am not eating
6 's learning / is learning
7 aren't speaking / 're not speaking / are not speaking
8 'm getting / am getting
9 isn't working / 's not working / is not working


1    Please don't make so much noise. I  'm trying  (try) to work.
2    Let's go out now. It  is'n raining  (rain) any more.
3    You can turn off the radio. I ___________ (listen) to it.
4    Kate 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 ___________ (eat) lunch.
6    Andrew has just started evening classes. He ___________ (learn) German.
7    Paul and Sally have had an argument. They ___________ (speak) to each other.
8    I ___________ (get) tired. I need a rest.
9    Tim ___________ (work) this week. He's on holiday.
flag.jpgComplete the conversations.
Key.1 What's / What is he studying
   Is he enjoying
2 are you getting on
   things are getting
   he isn't enjoying / he's not enjoying
   he's beginning / he is beginning

1    A: I saw Brian a few days ago.
      B: Oh, did you?  What's he doing these days?  (what / he / do)
      A: He's at university.
      B: ________________?  (what /he /study)
      A: Psychology.
      B: ________________ it?  (he / enjoy)
      A: Yes, he says it's a very good course.

2    A: Hi, Liz. How ________________ in your new job?  (you / get on)
      B: Not bad. It wasn't so good at first, but ________________ better now.  (things / get)
      A: What about Jonathan? Is he OK?
     B: Yes, but  ________________ his work at the moment,  (he / not /enjoy). He's been in the same job for a long time and ________________to get bored with it.  (he / begin)
flag.jpgComplete the sentences using the following verbs:
Key.2 is changing
3 's getting / is getting
4 is rising
5 is beginning

 
begin       change       get       increase        rise
 
1    The population of the world  is increasing  very fast.
2    The world _______________. Things never stay the same.
3    The situation is already bad and it _______________ worse.
4    The cost of living _______________. Every year things are more expensive.
5    The weather _______________ to improve. The rain has stopped, and the wind isn't as strong.


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