2. The Present Continuous Tense

The Present Continuous is used to denote:

1. An action going on at the present moment.

You are talking nonsense.

2. A changing situation or a state.

I’m getting better day by day.

3. A planned future action.

I’m leaving for Moscow tonight.

4. A temporary action.

I’m living with my friend until I find a flat.

5. An action in progress with another action which is habitual and is expressed by the Present Indefinite.

John never picks up the phone when he is working.

6. An emotionally coloured action (with the adverbs always, ever, constantly)

She is always grumbling. He is constantly smoking.

2.1 Put the verbs into the correct form.

1. Please don’t make so much noise. I__________( to study).

2. Let’s go out now. It_____________(not/ to rain) any more.

3. Listen to those people. What language ____________(they/ to speak)?

4. Please be quiet. I______________( to try) to concentrate.

5. Look! It______________________( to snow).

6. Why ________(you/ to look) at me like that? Have I said something wrong?

7. You_______________( to make) a lot of noise. Can you be a bit quieter?

8. Excuse me, I ___________( to look) for a phone box. Is there one near here?

9. ( in the cinema) It’s a good film, isn’t it?______________(you/ to enjoy ) it?

10. Listen! Can you here those people next door? They _____________( to shout) at each other again.

11. Why _____________(you/ to wear) your coat today? It’s very warm.

12. I ________________(not/ to work) this week. I’m on holiday.

13. I want to loose weight. I_________________( not/ to eat) anything today.

2.2 Complete these sentences using one of these verbs:

get become change rise improve fall increase

You don’t have to use all the verbs and you can use some of them more than once.

1. The population of the world ___________very fast.

2. The number of people without jobs ________________at the moment.

3. He is still ill but he ________________better slowly.

4. These days food______________ more and more expensive.

5. The world ______________. Things never stay the same.

6. The cost of living ________________. Every year things are dearer.

7. George has gone to work in Spain. When he arrived, his Spanish wasn’t very good but now it _______________.

8. The economic situation is already very bad and it ________________ worse.

2.3 Read the conversation between Tom and Jane. Put the verbs into the correct form.

Jane: Tom! I’m glad to see you! What ______________(you/ to do) these days?

Tom: I _______________( to train) to be a lawyer.

Jane: Really? What is it like? _____________(you/ to enjoy) it?

Tom: Yes, it’s great! What about you?

Jane: Well, actually I __________(not/ to work) at the moment. I have a baby and I _________( to nurse) it.

Tom: _________________(you/ to do) it alone?

Jane: No, my mother _______________( to help) me.

2.4 Complete the sentences with one of the following verbs in the correct form:

come get happen look make start stay try work

1. “You _______________hard today.” “Yes, I have a lot to do”.

2. I ______________for Betty. Do you know where she is?

3. It ______________dark. Shall I turn on the light?

4. I haven’t anywhere to live at the moment. I______________ with my friends until I find something.

5. “Are you ready, Bill?” “Yes, I_______________”.

6. Have you got an umbrella? It ______________ to rain.

7. You _________ a lot of noise. Could you be quieter? I _________ to concentrate.

8. Why are all these students here? What_________________?

9. How is your English? ______it _____________better?

10. Chi-jan ___________progress in Russian. He is speaking much better now.