13. The Present Continuous

13.1. Make the following sentences negative and interrogative.

1. The secretary is typing a letter. 2. The sun is shining brightly. 3. The cat is running along the wall. 4. The children are singing a new song. 5. His French is getting better. 6. My friends are coming next week. 7. He is playing football this season. 8. She is constantly forgetting phone numbers.

13.2. Change the following sentences according to the pattern.

Pattern: He usually has breakfast at 7, but today he is having breakfast at

8 a.m.

1. She usually drinks coffee in the morning, but today she … tea. 2. They usually play tennis on Sundays, but today they … football. 3. I usually watch TV after dinner, but today I … TV, I … a newspaper. 4. Martin usually drives to college, but today he …. 5. Brian usually has breakfast very early, but today he … breakfast late. 6. I usually skate alone, but today I … with my friends.

13.3. Ask questions

a) to the sentences beginning with the words in brackets:

1. They are writing a composition now (What? Who?). 2. He’s translating an English article (Who? What?). 3. The dog’s running after a cat (What? What … after?). 4. He is having dinner in the canteen now (Who? Where?). 5. I’m learning this poem by heart (Who? What? How?). 6. You’re talking too fast (How? Why?).

b) to the underlined part of the sentences:

1. It is raining heavily outside. 2. They are trying to translate this exercise. 3. He is drinking tea in the garden. 4. She’s listening to the rock music; 5. The birds are flying over the sea. 6. She is looking at the boys and girls. 7. My boss is leaving the city tomorrow morning.

c) ask all the types of questions:

1. All the town is talking about this story. 2. You are eating too much. 3. My parents are talking about Fred’s new car. 4. Archie is always talking about his baby son. 5. He is being somewhat strange today.

13.4. Use the Present Continuous Tense instead of the infinitives in brackets.

1. Look! It (to rain). 2. You (to make) a lot of noise. 3. They (to quarrel) again! 4. What you (to talk) about? 5. I constantly (to forget) things. 6. What you (to wait for)? Why you (to sit) here? 7. He is on holiday, he (not to work) today. 8. What Tom (to do)? Why he (not to practice)? – He (to have) some rest. 9. Jim (to take) his driving test now. 10. What Barry (to try) to get at? 11. Stop making that noise! And what you (to do)?-I (to try) to get some sleep! 12. You (to read) any English books?

13.5. Use the Present Continuous or the Present Simple Tense.

1. I (to think) you (to be) rather foolishly, honey. 2. I (to think) about your behavior. 3. Your German (to get) better. 4. He (to understand) the rule, but he still (to make) mistakes too often. 5. Why he (to look) so gloomy? – Oh, he (to have) a toothache. 6. What you (to look) at? – I (to look) at the girl over there. You (not to think) her dress is wonderful. 7. Who this house (to belong) to? 8. I (want) to go to the disco. 9. Listen! You (to hear) that noise? 10. Where’s Mom? – She’s in the kitchen. She (to cook) dinner – I (to think) I’ll go and give her a hand. 11. This fabric (to feel) like wool. 12. I (to feel) your forehead to see if you are getting better. 13. Your perfume (to smell) wonderful! 14. She (smell) the roses her boyfriend has presented this morning. 15. I (to see) you (to look) strange today. 16. He (to see) with his friends in the café tonight. 17. I really (to enjoy) homemade food. 18. Ann (to be) a very romantic person, isn’t she? 19. This pullover (not/fit) you any more.

13.6. Complete the sentences using the most suitable form of to be.

Something you must use the simple (am / is / are) and sometimes the continuous is more suitable (am /is / are / being).

1. I can’t understand why … so selfish. He isn’t usually like that. 2. Jack …very nice to me at the moment. I wonder why. 3. You’ll like Jill when you meet her. She …very nice. 4. Normally you are very sensible, so why … so silly about this matter. 5. Why isn’t Sarah at work today … ill?

13.7. Translate into English.

1. Кто сейчас сдает экзамен? – Моя подруга. 2. Вечно она со всеми ссорится. 3. Почему ты всегда ворчишь? 4. Что ты ищешь? – Я ищу свои часы. 5. Он ведет себя ужасно. 6. У них сейчас урок немецкого. 7. Что ты ешь? 8. Завтра мы идем в театр. 9. Послушайте, в соседней комнате кто-то плачет. 10. Я не понимаю, о чем они говорят, так как они говорят очень тихо. 11. Почему ты нюхаешь суп? 12. Что ты делаешь? – Я рассматриваю фотографию моего детства. 13. У него большая семья. А сегодня он отмечает день рождения. Похоже у них там весело. 14. Ты выглядишь усталой. Я думаю тебе надо отдохнуть. 15. Я думаю о приближающемся отпуске и не знаю куда поехать.

13.8. Oral work.

You’re on a leave and are writing a letter to a friend of yours, describe everything you and other people are doing at the moment and let your friends guess the place you’re in, the time of year and the weather you’re having.