Unit 1. Present continuous (I am doing).
Unit 1; Part A
Study this example situation: Sarah 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:
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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: |
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
| Unit 1 Unit 2 | |