1. The Present Progressive Tense

Exercise 1

Translate into Russian and comment on the use of the Present Progressive Tense.

1. He looked at her. 'You're shaking. Are you all right?'

2. The rain is just beginning.

3. You can't talk to him. He is having dinner now.

4. It's snowing. Don't go out.

5. He isn't playing football this season.

6. 'I'm sorry', I said, 'I'm being clumsy'.

7. Hello. Are you enjoying the party?

8. His French is getting better.

9. You are forgetting yourself, young man.

10. He isn't doing very well at school, is he?

11. He frowned at her. 'Being funny? Or are you trying to pretend nothing's going on?

12. I'm revising for my spring English exam. Please try not to bother me.

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13. My friends are coming next week.

14. The tap is running. Can you fix it?

15. I'm having a clear-out. Throwing some rubbish away.

Exercise 2

Change the following sentences according to the pattern:

> Pattern: He usually has breakfast at seven, but today he is having breakfast at eight.

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 read books in the evening, but today now I ... a newspaper.

1. 'Usually you skate alone'.

'But today I ... with my friends'.

5. She usually washes the dishes at night, but tonight she ... dishes, she ... a book.

6. Brian usually has breakfast very early, but today he ... breakfast late.

7. They usually have lunch in the canteen, but today they ... lunch in the cafe.

8. I usually watch TV after dinner, but today I ... TV, I ... a newspaper.

9. Faith usually drinks tea with sugar, but today she ... tea without sugar. She's on a diet.

10. I usually do my morning exercises every day, but today I ... my morning exercises. I'm not well.

11. 'Usually you type your essays.'

'Yes, but today I ... it. Something's wrong with my computer.'

12. Martin usually drives to college, but today he… .

Exercise 3

Make the following sentences: — negative;

— interrogative.

1. The secretary is typing a letter.

2. The sun is shining brightly.

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2. The cat is running along the wall.

3. My mother is cooking a meal.

4. My father is reading a book.

5. They are having a German lesson now.

6. She is constantly forgetting phone numbers.

7. The doctor is feeling her pulse.

8. She is running home.

10. You are walking too quickly.

11. Margie is typing very fast.

12 You are making a lot of noise.

13. The lecturer is explaining some new material now.

14. The wind is blowing outside.

15. The children are singing a new song.

16. My brother is listening to some new record.

17. You are driving too slowly.

Exercise 4

The hidden Picture Game.

One of the players draws a sketch of someone doing something. Do not let anyone see what you are drawing. The others are to try to guess what the person you have drawn is doing. Ask general questions. The person who guesses correctly draws the second picture. (You can also draw pictures showing two people).

Here are some of the pictures that you can use:

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Exercise 5

The Verb Game.

Write down as many sentences as you can in the five minute time limit, player with the most correct sentences is the winner. Use the following verbs:

watch

make

clean

eat

listen to

write

play

have

put on

wash up

read

1. Choose a picture

2. Find the room

3. Write a sentence

> Pattern: He is reading a book in the living room.

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Exercise 6

Compare the pictures. Use the Present Progressive Tense.

A

Exercise 7

Ask questions to the following sentences beginning with the words in brackets.

1. They are writing a composition now. (What? Who?)

2. He is translating an English article. (Who? What? What kind of?)

3. The dog is running after a cat. (What? What … after?)

4. He is having dinner in the canteen now. (Who? Where?)

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5. She is looking for her glasses. (Who? Where? What ... for? Why?)

5. I'm learning this poem by heart. {Who? What? How?)

7. They are building a new school in our street. (What? Where?)

8. She is opening a letter from her mother. (What? What kind of?)

8. She is constantly nagging her husband. (Why? When?)

10. Tony is painting a new picture. (Who? What? What?)

11. You are talking too fast. (How? Why?)

10. My parents are redecorating our dining-room now, because they never liked its style. (Who? What? What? Why?)

Exercise 8

Ask questions to the underlined parts of the following sentences.

1. It is raining heavily outside.

2. They are trying to translate this exercise.

3. He is drinking tea in the garden.

4. Cinema audiences are declining now.

5. She's listening to the rock music.

6. You are trying to persuade him, but he won't listen.

1. They've moved to a new house and are buying new furniture.

7. You are constantly mispronouncing this word, because you're inattentive.

8. None of them is taking part in the discussion: they are not ready.

10. Ellen is reading a book on the veranda.

No one is trying to help him: he doesn't like it.

Exercise 9

Ask all types of questions to the following sentences.

1. Albert is doing quite nicely in his business.

2. All the town is talking about this story.

3. We are discussing what can be done about this situation.

4. He is working on some kind of invention.

5. You are eating too much.

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6. I am having dinner now.

7. Aunt Betty is talking to the butcher in the kitchen.

8. He is being somewhat strange today.

9. Liz is trying to fix her washing machine.

10. My parents are talking about Fred's new car.

11. I am dreaming about summer.

12. Archie is always talking about his baby son.

13. We are trying to talk Ron out of it.

Exercise 10

Use the Present Progressive Tense instead of the infinitives in brackets.

A

1. Look! It (to rain).

2. Why you (not to wear) your coat today? It's so cold.

1. Excuse me, I (to look for) the post-office. Is there one near here?

3. You (to make) a lot of noise.

4. They (to quarrel) again!

5. He is on holiday. He (not to work) today.

6. You (to read) any English books now?

7. They (to have) an English lesson. The teacher (to write) new words on the blackboard and (to explain) their meanings. The students (to sit) at the tables and (to make) notes. Through the window we see the school yard. The school children (to run about) there. They (to have) an interval between their lessons.

8. What you (to talk) about?

10. Jim (to take) his driving test now.

11. 'What you (to do) at the moment? Can you help me with my project?'

'Oh, I'm busy just now. I (to fix) my mixer. But if you can wait...'

'Yes, I can. We (to write) several projects this semester.

I don't know what to do about this one.'

10. 'What you (to play)? Is it something that I know?'

'It's mine.'

'You (to play) wonderfully.'

10. 'What Tom (to do)? Why he (not to practise)?'

'He (to have) some rest.'

14. I constantly (to forget) things.

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15. What you (to wait for)? Why you (to sit) here?

16. What Barry (to try) to get at?

17. 'Stop making that noise!'

'And what you (to do)?'

‘I (to try) to get some sleep!'

В

1. In a bed in the corner of the room her little boy (to lie) ill. He has a fever, and (to ask for) oranges. His mother has nothing to give him, so he (to cry). (O. Wilde)

2. We (to be) all truthful now, we (not to be)? (J. B. Priestly)

3. Robert: I (to wait) for your explanation. (J. В. Priestly)

4. Rоbert: I (not to say) good-bye to you I don't know you.

I (to say) good-bye to this [Indicates her face]. (J. B. Priestly)

2. I (to get) chilled to the bone. (B. Shaw)

6. Whatever you (to do) here? (B. Shaw)

7. They (to use) the telephone. (B. Shaw)

8. I (to behave) myself perfectly. (B. Shaw)

9. You (not to listen) to a word I (to say) ... and I (to make) the most delightful plans for your future. (O. Wilde)

10. Olwen: Let's leave it alone.

Miss Mockridge: ...Oh no, I (to enjoy) it — very much. (J. B. Priestly)

Exercise 11

Use the Present Simple or the Present Progressive Tense instead of the infinities in brackets.

1. I (to think) you (to behave) rather foolishly, honey.

2. I (to think) about your behaviour. What you (to think) you (to do)?

3. Your German (to get) better?

4. I (to see) that you (to have) some problems with this computer. Can I be of any help?

5. He (to understand) the rule, but he still (to make) mistakes too often.

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6. 'You (to believe) his story?'

'Oh no. I never (to believe) him. He always (to tell) lies.'

7. How many parts this text (to consist of)?

8. 'Listen! You (to hear) that noise?'

'That's our neighbours. They (to shout) again. They never (to tire) of it.'

'They always (to shout) like that?'

7. Now I (to see) everything clearly. You (to try) to swindle.

That won't do!

10. Who this house (to belong) to?

10. 'Hello there! Where you (to think) you (to go)?'

'I (to want) to go to the disco.'

'No. You (to do) your lessons now. And I (to mean) it.'

12. 'Where's Mom?'

'She's in the kitchen. She (to cook) dinner.'

'I (to think) П1 go and give her a hand.'

'Don't! She (to be) sulky today. She (not to want) to see anyone.'

13. 'Why he (to look) so gloomy?'

'Oh, he (to have) a toothache.'

13. 'What you (to look) at?'

'I (to look) at the girl over there. You (not to think) her dress is wonderful?'

15. 'What you (to think) about?'

'I (to think) that I won't really enjoy the party tonight.'

'You (to say) that I must go alone? You (to go) with me, and that's that'

13. 'Tony (to feel) something's wrong, but he can't say what.'

'Well, I (to believe) we'll soon learn everything.'

17. 'What we (to wait for)?'

'We (to wait for) Mother. She (to choose) presents. She (to think) that one of those dresses will do for Jessie, so now she (to look over) them and (to feel) the fabric'.

18. 'What Esther (to think) about it?'

'She (to find) it all very strange.'

18. You (to believe) in Santa Claus?

19. Gerry always (to find fault with) me.

20. Your letters (to be) very welcome, but he (to want) to know everything at first hand.

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Exercise 11

Translate into English.

A

1. — Кто сейчас сдает экзамен?

— Моя подруга.

2. — Почему Вы не смотрите телевизор?

– Я готовлюсь к занятиям.

3. У тебя всё еще дрожат руки.

4. Вечно она со всеми ссорится!

5. Он работает теперь в другом месте, и дела у него идут хорошо.

6. — Что делает твой племянник?

— Он работает в саду.

7. — Почему она плачет?

— Я не знаю. Я стараюсь успокоить её.

8. — Откуда Вы идете?

—Из магазина.

9. У них сейчас урок немецкого языка.

10. Мы сидим у окна, ярко светит солнце, мимо нашего дома спешат люди...

11.Студенты слушают объяснения преподавателя.

12. Куда Вы спешите?

13. — Что ты ищешь?

— Я ищу свои часы.

14. Почему ты всегда ворчишь?

15. — Что ты о нём думаешь?

— Я думаю, что он хороший собеседник.

16. — О чём ты думаешь?

— Я думаю о каникулах.

17. — Сколько глав в этой книге?

— Десять. Сейчас я читаю седьмую. Вы хотите взять её?

— Да, если можно.

18. Он ведет себя ужасно.

19. Я надеюсь, что он не опоздает.

20. Я знаю, что ты не любишь ходить по магазинам.

21. Сейчас мы подходим к церкви XIV века. Каждый год тысячи туристов приезжают в наш город, чтобы полюбоваться ею.

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В

1. Кто пытается Вас обмануть? (Б. Шоу)

2. Элиза: О чем же тогда речь?

Хиггинс: Я пытаюсь выразить, насколько я презираю коммерческий подход к жизни, (my contempt for commercialism) (Б. Шоу)

3. Хиггинс: О чем же мы спорим? (Б. Шоу)

4. Миссис Хиггинс: Экипаж ждет, Элиза. (Б. Шоу)

5. — Чего же мы ждем?

— Мы ждем маму. (Дж. Даррелл)

6. Дорогой мой, я не принижаю твоих достоинств. (Дж. Даррелл)

6. О, я замечательно провожу время! (Дж. Даррелл)

6. — Ты предаёшь своих друзей или ты угрожаешь нам?

Почему ты рассказываешь нам об этом?

— Я просто пытаюсь избежать неприятностей. (Дж. Р.Р. Толкин)