The present continuous tense

Ex.19. Add –ing to the verbs. Make spelling changes where necessary.

A.

hope – hoping give – argue – use – change – note –

hop – hopping sit – plan – swim – rub – put –

B.

refer – referring begin – control – omit – upset – but: open -

C.

copy – copying study – fly - employ – buy –

tie – tying lie – die -

Ex.20. Add –ing to the verbs in these sentences.

1. Where are you _________ ? (go)

2. I’m _________ to catch a taxi. (try)

3. He is _________ of thirst. (die)

4. I’m coming. I’m just _________ on my shoes. (put)

5. Nellie is _________ the contract at the moment. (copy)

6. He is _________ the process. (control)

7. I can’t believe a word. You’re always _________ (lie).

8. Why are you _________ important details? (omit)

9. Listen to him! He is _________ sense. (talk)

10. We _________ to make some renovation in the house next year. (plan)

Ex.21. Read the following sentences and match them with a, b, с, d. Explain the use of the Present Continuous in every case. Translate the sentences.

a - actions taking place now, at the moment of speaking;

b - temporary actions or situations happening around now;

c - actions which happen too often and we want to express our annoyance or criticism;

d. - actions which we have planned and arranged to do in the near future;

e. - changing or developing situations

1. Don’t rush me. I’m doing it as fast as I can.

2. We are moving into our new flat next Friday.

3. This actor.... I’m always forgetting his name.

4. Why are you packing the suitcase? – I’m helping Paul. He’s flying to Paris tomorrow morning.

5. Nowadays, it seems everything is changing in the world. Even the climate is getting warmer.

6. Steve is still in the office. He is working so hard these days.

7. What time are your parents arriving? – At 9.30.

8. You are never happy. You are always complaining about something.

9. Catherine, I hear you are looking for a new job, aren’t you?

10. The economic situation in the country is bad and it is getting worse and worse.

11. We are attending a seminar on Wednesday.

Ex.22. Read the following description of one morning in the life of Gregory and the way he is getting to work. Choose the correct tense form to complete the sentences.

1. It is 8 o’clock in the morning. Gregory drives/is driving to the furniture factory.

2. His trip usually takes/is taking 25 minutes. This morning it takes/is taking much longer, because workers repair/are repairing the highway.

3. So Gregory has to use Larson Road. He usually does not use/is not using Larson Road.

4. Normally, he takes/is taking M 25.

5. Traffic always moves/is moving faster on this road.

6. Today, the weather slows down/is slowing down the traffic.

7. It rains/is raining heavily, and the roads are slippery.

8. Gregory doesn’t like/is not liking to drive in the rain.

9. He is a careful driver, and he always drives/is driving slowly when the roads are wet.

10. The radio in his car is on, and Gregory listens/is listening to the traffic report.

11. He always listens/is listening to the radio on his way to work.

12. The announcer describes/is describing an accident on Larson Road.

13. Gregory doesn’t want/is not wanting to be late for work, but there is nothing he can do about the traffic conditions.

14. Cars actually don’t move/are not moving, and he gets/is getting more and more nervous.

15. He understands/is understanding that it isn’t the best idea to drive to work while the main road is under repair.

Ex.23. Match two parts of the sentences in the box to make up logical sentences describing people’s criticism, annoyance or surprise.

BEGINNING	ENDING
You are always interrupting me Boys at school are always bullying Sherry because of My wife is always nagging me Alan’s mom is always criticizing It’s so strange. I’m always meeting Mary says she wants to lose weight, but she is always eating I don’t want to invite Helen. She is always flirting Why are you always finding You’re always asking me	a) fault with whatever I do? b) to buy her a red Ferrari. c) her red curly hair. She refuses to go to school. d) Alice Marshal in the supermarket. e) when I’m talking. f) with my brother. His wife doesn’t like it. g) silly questions. h) something between having meals. i) me and the way we live.

Ex.24. In these dialogues, finish the replies using the construction ‘be always + –ing’.

Model: - I’m afraid I’ve lost my glasses again.

- Oh no, not again! You’re always losing your glasses, Granny.

1. - Phil, have you paid the phone bill?

- Sorry, Sue, I’ve completely forgotten.

- You ________________________________________________.

2. - Look, Nick! You’ve made the same mistake again.

- My god! I ____________________________________________.

3. - Lucy, we can’t go to Bristol today. Our car has broken down again.

- This car is absolutely useless! It ___________________________.

4. - Why are you laughing at our new manager?

- Because he ______________________________ (forget my name).

5. - I’ve no patience with Betty.

- Why?

- Because she __________________________ (talk only about herself).

6. - And I have no patience with Nick.

- You? Why?

- Because he ______________ (boast of his great sporting achievements).

7. - Pete, the teacher is angry with you.

- Is she really? Why?

- Because you _____________________ (cheat in tests).

8. - Lucy, stop nagging!

- It’s so annoying! You ______________(grumble at me).

9.- I’m going to sell my laptop.

- Are you really? Why?

- Because something _______________ (go wrong with it).

Ex.25. Make up dialogues using the words and expressions in the box. Refer to the first dialogue as a pattern.

DVD fridge record player mobile phone

get on my nerves get out of order make a strange noise let me down

1. - I’m going to sell my car.

- Are you really? Why? It isn’t old.

- Because something’s always going wrong with it.

- In that case you’d better get rid of it.

2. - I’m going to sell my notebook.

- ______________________________

- Because it’s always ______________

- _______________________________

3 - I’m going to sell my ______________

- Are you really? Why?

- _______________________________

- _______________________________

4. - I’m going ______________________

- ________________________________

- ________________________________

- ________________________________

5. - I’m _____________________________

Ex.26. Correct the mistakes if there are any.

1. Look! They try to open the door of your car.

2. We are needing an answer from you before Thursday.

3. The taxi is arriving in 15 minutes.

4. Excuse me, what platform is the London train leaving?

5. It’s getting hotter and hotter these days.

6. I’m not believing a word he’s saying.

7. I think about buying a new car soon. - Why? I am thinking your car is fine. You don’t need a new one.

8. Why are you smell the fish? - I think it is smelling a bit strange.

9. Nellie can’t come to the phone, she has a shower now.

10. I can’t find the TV programme. Rebecca, when is this film starting?

11. The technician mends the photocopier so you can’t use it right now.

12. I’m studying a lot now because we having exams next week.

13. She always leaving her computer on.

14. I make coffee. Would you like some?

15. Attention! Flight BA 125 to Stockholm is boarding now. All passengers please go to Gate 20.

Ex.27. Translate into English.

1. Я знаю, ви переїжджаєте до нового офісу днями.

2. Я телефоную, щоб дізнатися вашу нову адресу.

3. Завтра я зустрічаюсь з менеджером. Я думаю обговорити з ним це питання.

4. Здається, у них зараз проблеми з замовленнями.

5. Заспокойтесь (calm down), Шері. Ти завжди панікуєш.

6. Поки ми всі дивимось телевізор, Ганна готує вечерю. Люсі, давай допоможемо їй.

7. Правда, що Чарльз і Мелані одружуються наступного тижня?

8. До речі, ти йдеш на вечірку до Метью у цю суботу?

9. Ні, не йду. Я не хочу зіткнутися (bump into) там зі своїм попереднім бой-френдом.

10. Усе міняється у наші дні. Все більше людей кидають села і перебираються до міст. Міста ростуть. Населення збільшується.

11. Так, часи змінюються, і ми змінюємося з часом.

12. Тільки не наш Роберт. Мій молодший брат як і раніше позичає у мене гроші і не хоче повертати. Так, Роббі, ти завжди забуваєш свої борги.