Self-study materials for unit II The Present Continuous Tense

Formation
+			–			?
I	am	writing	I	am not	writing	am	I	writing?
you	are		you	are not		are	you
he she it	is		he she it	is not		is	he she it
we you they	are		we you they	are not		are	we you they

The Usage

1. action in progress at the moment of speaking

Where are the children? They are watching TV.

2. action in the near future

They are going on holiday in a few days.

Exercise 1. Add –ing to the verbs to form The Present Continuous.

1. I’m …….. a report (write).

2. They are ….. English (study).

3. She is ….. abroad (travel).

4. We are …. to the teacher now (listen).

5. Don’t make noise. Sandra …. on a new project (work).

Exercise 2. Complete the sentences about Russia using one of the verbs in the necessary form positive or negative.

get become change rise increase fall pay

1. The population of Russia ………. at the moment.

2. The economic situation in the country is not really good but it ….. .

3. The number of people without jobs ………… now.

4. The cost of living ………. Every year things are dearer.

5. These days food ……. more and more expensive.

6. The government ……… more attention to the social programme now.

7. People ….. more and more patriotic.

Exercise 3. Translate the sentences using the Present Continuous Tense and the vocabulary of the lesson.

1. На нашей улице строиться новый торговый комплекс.

2. Наш город становиться все больше и красивее. Появляются новые улицы и проспекты, высотные дома, театры и музеи.

3. Из-за загрязнения окружающей среды климат на планете меняется. У нас, например, зимы становятся очень мягкими, а летом стоит невыносимая жара.

4. – Возьми зонт. Идет дождь.

5. Хорошо. После такой жары нам нужен свежий воздух.

6. Послушай, мы переезжаем в пригород. Там не так шумно и опасно. Воздух там чище, так как нет такого количества автотранспорта.

Exercise 4. Choose the correct sentence. Explain your choice.

1. a) My parents live in Moscow.

b) My parents are living in Moscow.

2. a) We read many books in the original. Now we are reading Tales by Oscar Wild.

b) We are reading many books in the original. Now we read Tales by Oscar Wild.

3. a) The USA consists of 50 states.

b) The USA is consisting of 50 states.

4. a) Look at him. He wears a hat and a long coat. He looks like a real gentleman.

b) Look at him. He is wearing a hat and a long coat. He is looking like a real gentleman.

5. a) Many shops in Britain as well as theatres and cinemas are closing on Sunday.

b) Many shops in Britain as well as theatres and cinemas close on Sunday.

Exercise 5. Use the verbs in brackets in the correct tense forms The Present Continuous or the Present Indefinite.

1. My elder sister (travel) around Scotland now. She always (travel) in summer.

2. Who you (wait) for? – I (wait) for Ann, she must come in ten minutes.

3. London (stand) on the river Thames.

4. Russian people (celebrate) the Victory Day on the 9^th of May. It is a popular national holiday in Russia.

5. My dad (not work) at the moment. Today is his day off.

6. Why is it so noisy out-of-doors? Our neighbours (have) a party. They always (organise) parties in spring in the open air, when the weather is warm.

7. Usually the Englishmen (live) in their own houses not flats.

8. I can’t give you the book about British customs and traditions, because my brother (use) it. He (need) it now, he (prepare) a report for the English class on Monday.

9. Silvia is in America for three months. She (learn) English.

10. Ben is in London now. He (stay) at the Hilton Hotel. He always (stay) there when he is in London.

Exercise 6. Translate from Russian into English using the necessary tense form the Present Continuous or the Present Simple.

1. Он всю неделю бегает по магазинам в поисках подарков к празднику. В канун праздников люди обычно выбирают подарки для своих родственников и друзей.

2. Чего ты ждешь? Ты можешь начинать украшать дом к празднику и без нашей помощи.

3. Британцы очень любят держать домашних животных. Они могут часами ухаживать за своими любимыми кошками, собаками, лошадями, канарейками, попугаями и так далее.

4. 1 января тысячи людей приходят на Таймс Сквер, чтобы встретить приход Нового Года.

5. Я с нетерпением жду предстоящих праздников, но не потому что я люблю получать подарки. Мне больше нравиться дарить их.