8
Present Continuous
We use the Present Continuous to talk about:
a)actions happening now, at the moment of speaking.
Angela is talking to a client at the moment.
The network isn’t working – the IT department are trying to remove a virus.
b)temporary actions or situations happening around now, but not at the actual moment of speaking.
I am looking for a new job these days.
We are negotiating with the trade union. The next meeting is on Monday. c) changing or developing situations, current trends.
Prices are rising. Everything is getting more and more expensive.
Turkey is developing its links with the EU and the standard of living is improving. d) actions which happen very often, usually to express annoyance, irritation or anger
with adverbs always, constantly. I am always making silly mistakes.
You’re constantly interrupting me when I am talking!
We form the present continuous with to be (its present forms – am, is, are) and the main verb with the -ing suffix.
|
Positive |
Negative |
|
Questions |
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
I |
I am working now |
I am not working |
Am |
I working? |
||
|
(I’m working) |
(I’m not working) |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|||
He/She/It |
She is working |
She is not working |
Is she working? |
|||
|
(He’s working) |
( He isn’t working) |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You/We/They |
You are working |
We |
are |
not |
Are |
you working |
|
(We’re working) |
working now |
now? |
|
||
|
|
(They |
aren’t |
(Where are they |
||
|
|
working |
now) |
working now?) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time expressions used with present continuous are:
at present, at the moment, now, currently, nowadays, right now, these days, etc.
See page 55 for more information about future meaning of present continuous.
9
Practice
Exercise 1
Complete the sentences with the correct present continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1. Please don’t disturb me! I …….. (write) the monthly report. 2. “What …….. Ben (do) these days?” “He …….. (study) Japanese at a school in Tokyo.” 3. The company …….. (not| recruit) at the moment. 4. …….. I (work) with the new customer today? 5. My parents are in London on holiday. They …….. (stay) at a hotel near Hyde Park. 6. Computers …….. (become) more and more important in our life. 7. You …….. (not| watch) the TV at the moment. Why don’t you switch it off? 8. We …….. currently
(negotiate) a new pay deal with the boss. 9. “…….. Maria (have) her lunch?” “No, she isn’t. She …….. (interview) someone for the new job.” 10.”What …….. you (work) on? Any interesting projects?” 11. “You …….. always (loose) everything!”
Exercise 2
There are mistakes in some of the sentences. Correct the mistakes where necessary.
1. The lift doesn’t working. We have to take the stairs. 2. The number of people without jobs is increase at the moment. 3. Mr. Sorensen is busy at the moment. He is expecting you? 4. I training to be a shop manager. 5. You isn’t listening to me. 6. Are we look at the right report? 7. He is still ill but he is getting better slowly.
Exercise 3
Match the present continuous forms 1–4 with their uses a) – d) below.
1.Great conference! And I’m staying at the Sheraton, only five minutes away.
2.More and more people are using the Internet to make telephone calls.
3.You are always leaving the door open.
4.I’m calling about our order number K356.
a)something happening right at this moment
b)something happening around now, but not at this moment
c)a long term trend/development
d)expression of criticism or annoyance
10
Exercise 4
Complete the conversation by putting the verbs into the present continuous.
Frank: Hello Jackie, what …….. (you/do) here in Hamburg?
Jackie: I …….. (visit) someone at Axel Springer, the publisher. We …….. (develop) a project together to share digital media content.
Frank: That sounds interesting. Where …….. (you/stay)?
Jackie: At the Crowne Plaza. And what about you? How …….. (business/go)?
Frank: As you know, the advertising industry …….. (not/do) very well at the moment. Luckily our agency is OK, but the market …….. (become) very fragmented – digital TV channels, films, specialist magazines, Internet sites. A lot of advertisements …….. (not/reach) the target audience like they used to, and our clients know it.
Jackie: I can see the problem, but I’m sure you’ll be OK in the long term. After all, business can’t survive without advertising.
Exercise 5
Ask questions using question words in brackets.
1.The company is developing a new drug against asthma. (What?)
2.More people are recycling their rubbish these days. (Who?)
3.It is raining outside. ( Is …?)
4.He isn’t managing the sales team any more. (Why?)
5.I am planning the IT conference at the moment. (Are….? What conference?)
11
Present Simple or Continuous?
Compare:
Present Simple |
|
Present Continuous |
|
|
|
- permanent situations |
|
- temporary situations |
I work for a Russian oil company. |
|
I am working from home today. |
|
|
|
- habits and routines |
|
- current activity, in progress now |
We have a meeting every Monday. |
|
Ana is busy right now – she is having a |
|
|
meeting. |
|
|
|
- facts that don’t change |
|
- developments and trends |
All people get old one day. |
|
The population of Japan is getting |
|
|
older. |
|
|
|
|
Practice |
|
Exercise 1
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form: the present simple or the present continuous.
1. Ali …….. (speak) Arabic. Arabic is his native language, but right now he …….. (speak) English. 2. I …….. (sleep) on the sofa these days, because my bed is broken. I always …….. (sleep) eight hours every night. 3. There’s something wrong with Simon’s car at the moment so he …….. (go) to work by bus this week. He usually …….. (drive) to work instead. 4. …. (rain) it ….. a lot in southern California? 5. Look out the window. …. (rain) it …. ? Should I take my umbrella? 6. It rarely …….. (get) very hot in Britain. 7. It …….. (get) dark. We have to go home. 8. Many of the world’s natural resources …….. (disappear). 9. Sally never …….. (go) abroad for her holidays. It’s too expensive. 10. The traffic …….. (move) very slowly on the motorway today. Workmen …….. (repair) the road. 11. The planet Mercury …….. (travel) round the sun every eighty-eight days. 12. You always …….. (break) things!
Exercise 2
Put each verb into the present simple or present continuous.
1.We …….. (spend) a lot of money on advertising this year.
2.Every year we …….. (spend) over €500,000 on raw materials.