ENGLISH GRAMMAR Present Continuous

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
FORM
W e f o r m t h e p r e s e n t c o n t i n u o u s w i t h Be + V-ing

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

I am I am not

You are You are not

He is He is not

She is She is not

working working
It is It is not

We are We are not

You are You are not

They are They are not

Contractions: Contraction:
I am= I´m are not = aren´t
are = ´re is not = isn´t
is = ´s

INTERROGATIVE
SHORT ANSWERS
Am I
Yes. I am
Are you
Yes. He/she/it is
Is he
Yes. You/we/they are
Is she
working ?
Is it No. I´m not

Are we No. He/she/it isn´t

Are you No. You/we/they aren´t
Are they

Alfonso López Rodríguez www.alfonsolopez.es

 ENGLISH GRAMMAR Present Continuous

USE
We use the present continuous:

To talk about things that are happening now, at the moment we speak.
A: What are you doing?
B: I´m writing an e-mail.

We´re leaving now. Goodbye.

The bus is coming.

To talk about things that are happening now, but not exactly at the moment we speak.
My brother is looking for a job at the moment.
You are spending a lot of money these days.

To talk about something we have already arranged or planned to do in the future.

We often give the future time (tomorow, in July, on Saturday, this afternoon, next week, etc…)

A: What are you doing on Saturday morning?

B: I´m meeting a friend.

We´re visiting our grandparents next weekend.

My sister is starting a new job next Monday.

IMPORTANT

Some verbs are not used in the present continuous. They are normally used in the simple forms.
Some of the most important ones are:

like know love hate understand

believe mean remember want prefer

I am liking tennis > I like tennis.

Are you knowing Maria? > Do you know Maria?.

Alfonso López Rodríguez www.alfonsolopez.es

 ENGLISH GRAMMAR Present Continuous

SPELLING RULES
With most verbs we add -ing.
go > going
play > playing
work > working

If the verb ends in consonant + -e we delete the -e and add -ing.

come > coming live > living
move > moving have > having

*Exception: be > being

If the verb ends in -ie, we change -ie to -ying.

die > dying
lie > lying

If the verb ends in one vowel + one consonant ,we double the consonant.
get > getting
run > running
shop > shopping
sit > sitting
put > putting

*Exceptions:

a) When the verb ends in one vowel + -y, -w or -x ,we just add -ing.
play > playing
snow > snowing
mix > mixing

b) When the last syllable verb is not stressed.

listen /´LIsen/ > listening
visit /´VISit/ > visiting

*Exception: travel /´TRAVel/ > travelling

Alfonso López Rodríguez www.alfonsolopez.es

5B GRAMMAR present continuous: be + verb + -ing
Complete the sentences with the verb in brackets in the present continuous.
Use contractions where possible.

1 A What’s that noise?

B It’s our neighbour.
A Not again! What 1’s he doing (do) now?
B He 2 (wash) his car and he
3
(listen) to the radio.
A What? At 7.30 on a Sunday morning! Why 4 he
(do) it now?
B I don’t know.
A What 5 you (do)?
6
B I (get) up. I can’t sleep with this noise!

2 A 7 you the match (watch)?

B Of course we are.
A What 8 (happen)?
B We 9 (win) 1–0, but we
10
(not play) very well. Why 11
you (not watch) the match?
A I 12 (work) and my boss
13
(watch) me.

3 A What can you see?

B There are three men downstairs.
A What 14 they (do)?
15
B They (count) money, I think. No, sorry.
They 16 (not count) money.
17
They (play) cards.
A Can you see Jim?
B Yes, he’s upstairs.
A What 18 he (do)?
19
B He (look) at me!

4 A How’s your sister?

B She’s fine.
A What 20 she (do) now? 21
she (work)?
B No, she’s in Thailand at the moment, with two friends.
They 22 (travel) round the world.
23
A What you (do) now?
24
B I (not work) at the moment.
25
I (look for) a job.

ACTIVATION
Practise the conversations with a partner.

181
English File fourth edition Teacher’s Guide Elementary Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2019
Cambridge University Press & Assessment
978-1-108-58662-7 — English Grammar in Use Book with Answers and Interactive eBook
Raymond Murphy
Excerpt
More Information

Exercises Unit
1
1.1 What’s happening in the pictures? Choose from these verbs:
cross hide scratch take tie wave

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 She’s taking a picture. 4 his head.

2 He a shoelace. 5 behind a tree.
3 the road. 6 to somebody.

1.2 The sentences on the right follow those on the left. Which sentence goes with which?

1 Please don’t make so much noise. a I’m getting hungry. 1 f

2 We need to leave soon. b They’re lying. 2
3 I don’t have anywhere to live right now. c It’s starting to rain. 3
4 I need to eat something soon. d They’re trying to sell it. 4
5 They don’t need their car any more. e It’s getting late. 5
6 Things are not so good at work. f I’m trying to work. 6
7 It isn’t true what they say. g I’m staying with friends. 7
8 We’re going to get wet. h The company is losing money. 8

1.3 Write questions. Use the present continuous.

1 What’s all that noise? What’s happening? (what / happen?)
2 What’s the matter? (why / you / cry?)
3 Where’s your mother? (she / work / today?)
4 I haven’t seen you for ages. (what / you / do / these days?)
5 Amy is a student. (what / she / study?)
6 Who are those people? (what / they / do?)
7 I heard you started a new job. (you / enjoy / it?)
8 We’re not in a hurry. (why / you / walk / so fast?)

1.4 Put the verb into the correct form, positive (I’m doing etc.) or negative (I’m not doing etc.).
1 Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying (I / try) to work.
2 Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining (it / rain) any more.
3 You can turn off the radio. (I / listen) to it.
4 Kate phoned last night. She’s on holiday with friends. (She / have)
a great time and doesn’t want to come back.
5 Andrew started evening classes recently. (He / learn) Japanese.
6 Paul and Sarah have had an argument and now (they / speak)
to one another.
7 The situation is already very bad and now (it / get) worse.
8 Tim (work) today. He’s taken the day off.
9 (I / look) for Sophie. Do you know where she is?
10 The washing machine has been repaired. (It / work) now.
11 (They / build) a new hospital. It will be finished next year.
12 Ben is a student, but he’s not very happy. (He / enjoy) his course.
13 (The weather / change). Look at those clouds.
I think it’s going to rain.
14 Dan has been in the same job for a long time. (He / start) to get bored
with it.
3

© in this web service Cambridge University Press & Assessment www.cambridge.org

 Present Continuous Tense

• Everyday Activities

VOCABULARY PREVIEW

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15

1. eating 6. teaching 11. watching TV

2. drinking 7. singing 12. listening to music
3. cooking 8. sleeping 13. playing cards
4. reading 9. swimming 14. playing baseball
5. studying 10. planting 15. playing the piano

17
What Are You Doing?

am I (I am) I’m
he (He is) He’s
is she (She is) She’s
What it doing? (It is) It’s eating.
we (We are) We’re
are you (You are) You’re
they (They are) They’re

18
1. A. What are you doing? 2. A. Mr. and Mrs. Lane doing?
B. reading the newspaper. B. cooking dinner.

3. A. you and Judy doing? 4. A. Rita doing?

B. eating dinner. B. studying English.

5. A. Henry doing? 6. A. Carol and Ken doing?

B. sleeping. B. watching TV.

7. A. Irene doing? 8. A. What are YOU doing?

B. playing the piano. B. I’m .

19
 What’s Everybody Doing?

A. Where’s Walter?

B. He’s in the kitchen.

A. What’s he doing?

B. He’s eating breakfast.

1. Karen 2. Mr. and Mrs. Clark

park dining room
eating lunch eating dinner

3. you 4. you
bedroom living room
playing the guitar playing cards

5. Gary and Jane 6. Miss Baker

yard cafeteria
playing baseball drinking milk

20
 7. you 8. Ms. Johnson
library classroom
studying English teaching mathematics

9. Marvin 10. Martha

bathroom hospital
singing watching TV

11. your friend 12.

park
listening to music

Checking Understanding
What am I You’re playing
A. Where’s Walter? the guitar.
B. He’s in the kitchen.
doing?
A. In the kitchen?
Pantomime an everyday
B. Yes. activity for the class. Ask
Practice conversations with students, “What am I doing?”
other students.

21
READING

IN THE PARK

The Jones family is in the park today.

The sun is shining, and the birds are singing.
It’s a beautiful day!

Mr. Jones is reading the newspaper. Mrs.

Jones is listening to the radio. Sally and
Patty Jones are studying. And Tommy Jones
is playing the guitar.

The Jones family is very happy today. It’s

a beautiful day, and they’re in the park.

AT HOME IN THE YARD

The Chen family is at home in the yard

today. The sun is shining, and the birds are
singing. It’s a beautiful day!

Mr. Chen is planting flowers. Mrs. Chen

is drinking lemonade and reading a book.
Emily and Jason Chen are playing with the
dog. And Jennifer Chen is sleeping.

The Chen family is very happy today.

It’s a beautiful day, and they’re at home in
the yard.

22
 READING CHECK-UP
TRUE OR FALSE?
1. The Jones family is at home in the Using this model, make questions and
yard today. answers based on the stories on page 22.
2. Mrs. Chen is planting flowers.
A. What’s Mr. Jones doing?
3. Patty Jones is studying. B. He’s reading the newspaper.
4. Jason Chen is reading a book.
5. The Chen family is singing.
6. The Jones family and the Chen
family are very happy today.

LISTENING
Listen and choose the correct answer.
1. a. She’s studying. 4. a. We’re cooking dinner.
b. I’m studying. b. They’re cooking dinner.
2. a. He’s eating. 5. a. We’re planting flowers.
b. She’s eating. b. They’re planting flowers.
3. a. He’s watching TV. 6. a. You’re playing baseball.
b. She’s watching TV. b. We’re playing baseball.

IN YOUR OWN WORDS

FOR WRITING AND DISCUSSION

AT THE BEACH

The Martinez family is at the beach today. Using

this picture, tell a story about the Martinez family.

23
PRONUNCIATION Reduced What are & Where are

Listen. Then say it. Say it. Then listen.

What are you doing? What are they doing?

What are Jim and Jane doing? What are Carol and Ken doing?

Where are Mary and Fred? Where are Mr. and Mrs. Lane?

Where are you and Judy? Where are you and Henry?

What are you doing now?

What are your friends doing?
Write about it in your journal.

GRAMMAR FOCUS
PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

am I (I am) I’m
he (He is) He’s
is she (She is) She’s
What it doing? (It is) It’s eating.
we (We are) We’re
are you (You are) You’re
they (They are) They’re

Match the questions and answers.

1. What’s Mr. Baker doing? a. She’s reading a book.
2. What are Susan and Jane doing? b. We’re eating lunch.
3. What are you and Sam doing? c. He’s cooking dinner.
4. What’s Ms. Garcia doing? d. You’re playing the piano.
5. What are you doing? e. They’re studying.
6. What am I doing? f. I’m watching TV.

Complete the sentences.

7. A. What Mr. Yamamoto doing? 10. A. are you and Carol doing?
B. sleeping. B. playing cards.
8. A. What Mr. and Mrs. Wu doing? 11. A. you doing?
B. eating breakfast. B. reading a book.
9. A. What I doing? 12. A. Ms. Lopez doing?
B. swimming. B. listening to music.

24
CHAPTER 3 • Check-up Test • Skills Check

Choose the correct answer.

1. A. What are you doing? 6. We’re studying .
B. watching TV. cards
He’s TV
They’re lunch
We’re English
You’re
7. He’s the piano.
2. A. Where’s Ms. Williams? playing
B. in the park. sleeping
I’m drinking
He’s cooking
They’re 8. He’s dinner.
She’s
studying
3. A. they doing? reading
B. They’re reading. eating
playing
What’s
What are 9. They’re drinking .
Where are the guitar
Where’s cards
4. A. Mr. and Mrs. Lee? milk
the car
B. They’re in the yard.
Where are 10. He’s music.
What are eating
Where’s listening to
What’s cooking
5. Carla reading the newspaper. sleeping
in
it
is
are

SKILLS CHECK
K

Match the “can do” statement and the correct sentence.

1. I can tell about my current activities. a. What are you doing?

2. I can tell about other people’s activities. b. My friends are watching TV.
3. I can ask about current activities. c. It’s a beautiful day!
4. I can ask a person’s location. d. She’s in the living room.
5. I can tell about a person’s location. e. I’m studying English.
6. I can describe the weather. f. Where are you?

169
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE TEST
1. Sam _____ on a project nowadays.
a) work
b) is working
c) working
d) works
e) is works

2. Mark: Oh no! It ____ outside. We can’t go out.

Amanda: It’s always snowy here in March.
a) is snow
b) has snowing
c) snows
d) snow
e) is snowing

3. Sally ____ very busy at the moment. She _____ a report.

a) is / writes
b) be / is writing
c) does / writes
d) is / is writing
e) was / is writing

4. Look! The bus _____.

a) are coming
b) is coming
c) comes
d) come
e) Coming

5. I can't come with you now. I _____ my homework.

a) do
b) is doing
c) does
d) am doing
e) Did
6. Hurry up! We ____ for you.
a) waiting
b) waits
c) are waiting
d) wait
e) to wait
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE TEST
7. We ___________ to Germany now.
a) fly
b) are fly
c) are flying
d) flying are
e) is flying

8. He _____________ his computer at the moment.

a) isn't using
b) using
c) aren't using
d) is use
e) are use

9. She is in Thailand at the moment with two friends. They

____________ round the world.
a) is travelling
b) are travel
c) is travel
d) are travelling
e) travel

10. Look! It _____________.

a) Snow
b) is snowing
c) are snow
d) snow is
e) snows

11. A: __________________ this week?

B: No. I'm on holiday.
a) Is you working
b) You are working
c) You working
d) You are work
e) Are you working

12. Hurry up! We ____ for you.

a) waiting b) waits c) 're waiting
d) wait e) to wait
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE TEST
13. I can't come with you now. I _____ my homework.
a) do
b) 's doing
c) does
d) 'm doing
e) did

14. Caroline is busy at the moment. She _____ for an exam.

a) studies
b) is studying
c) studied
d) studying
e) Study

15. I ______ the TV now. I don't watch TV in the morning.

a) 'm watching
b) not watching
c) don't watch
d) watch
e) 'm not watching