Grammar Exercises Exercise 1. Which use is expressed in the following sentences:

an activity happening now, an activity happening around now, a planned future arrangement.

1. It’s eight o’clock, Meg. Are you getting ready for school?

2. What time are Pat and Peter coming for dinner tonight?

3. I’m working hard these days.

4. «Where’s Jim? » – «He’s taking the dog out for a walk».

5. Why are you laughing?

6. «What are you doing after school? » – «I don’t know. Why? »

7. I’m learning French at night school.

8. Charles is taking psychology this semester.

9. What are you thinking about?

10. Look! The bus is stopping.

Exercise 2. Write in the «-ing» form of the following verbs.

e.g.

read swim come

– reading – swimming – coming

think wait rain

wear shine smoke

have take get

stop run begin

Exercise 3. Write what is true for you now, around now, or in the near future.

e.g.

I/study – I/watch TV –

I’m studying. I’m not watching TV.

1. I/ sit in class.

2. It/ rain.

3. The sun/ shine.

4. I/ wear jeans.

5. I/ go out tonight.

6. We/ have a holiday soon.

7. My parents/ work.

Exercise 4. Use the frame below to make sentences without changing the verb.

Alex I The children We Mr. Peters The Browns

am working hard is looking at Sally are leaving is knitting are taking history is smoking

now. right now. in a minute. this year this semester.

Exercise 5. Change the sentences using the Present Continuous Tense and one of

the expressions given in the list below. (now, right now, at this very moment).

1. Kate plays the piano.

2. Miss Gray explains grammar rules.

3. The secretary gives them important information.

4. Dr. Ross stays at the Hilton Hotel.

Exercise 6. Make the following sentences a) negative; b) interrogative.

A. B.

I have some books. There is some news. They want some paper. The boy has some more cake. I see someone there. He knows something. They see somebody at the window. I am expecting a call. The students are listening to the speaker. We are concentrating on French this term. The child is crying. We are dining out tonight. Mr Palmer is painting the house.

Exercise 7. Make appropriate questions for these answers.

1. Jeff is writing a letter to his parents.

2. The students are working at the library today.

3. Professor Morse is talking to a student in the hall.

Exercise 8. Add tag questions to the following sentences.

1. Nora is seeing her boy friend tonight.

2. The bus isn’t stopping.

3. Peter is having breakfast now.

4. The weather isn’t getting colder.

Exercise 9. Make alternative questions.

1. The students are working in the library. (in the language laboratory)

2. You are studying Swedish. (Norwegian)

3. John is trying to find a telephone number in his note-book. (in the telephone directory)

4. Mrs Carr is going shopping today. (tomorrow)

Exercise 10. Add «some» or «any» as required:

1. There is ... apple juice in the fridge.

2. Are there ... tomatoes in the kitchen?

3. There isn’t ... coffee in my cup.

4. I know ... nice people in Canada.

5. «Please give me ... more pudding » – «I’m sorry but there isn’t ...».

6. You have ... fine flowers in your garden.

7. Go and ask him for more paper. I haven’t ... in my desk.

8. I’d like ... milk, please.

9. Is there ... cheese in the fridge?

10. Have you got ... American friends?

11. I must have ... ink and ... paper, or I can’t write ... thing.

12. There aren’t ... matches left; we must buy ... more.

13. Would you like ... more coffee?

14. It has never been ... good.

15. He answers my questions without ...hesitation.