How is the present continuous formed?

The present continuous tense is formed from the present tense of the auxiliary verb be and the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb. Negatives are formed with the verb be + not. Questions are formed by inverting the subject and the auxiliary be.

Positive form	Liz is speaking on the phone.
Negative form	Liz is not speaking on the phone.
Question	Is Liz speaking on the phone?

When is the present continuous tense used?

We use the present continuous tense to talk about the present

· for actions in progress and for things happening at the time of speaking

Please don’t make so much noise. I’ m trying to work.

What’s all this noise? What’ s going on?

· when someone is in the middle of doing something (I’ve started doing it and haven’t finished yet); the action is not necessarily happening at the time of speaking

Anastasia wants to work in France, so she’ s learning French.

Michael is at university. He ’s studying management.

· for temporary situations and for things happening around the time of speaking, with periods around now (today, this week, this year, these days)

You ’re working hard today.

The company I work for isn’t doing so well this year.

These days most people are using email instead of writing letters.

· for changes happening around now, e.g. the action or situation is a current trend

At first I didn’t like my job, but I’ m beginning to enjoy it now.

Outsourcing is growing steadily.

· for something which happens again and again, sometimes we may find it irritating (we normally use always with this use)

They are always arguing.

George is great. He ’s always laughing.

+ Personal arrangements

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences with the following verbs in the correct present continuous form.

look       go    meet       prepare           print out          talk            wear                  resign    take care

 

1. I’ve been focused on the presentation for my client later this week. I ____ forward to it.

2. I want to let you know that I ____ from my position.

3. Mike is already so busy. But he __ to find time to take a course.

4. Carla ______ the briefing.

5. John is really busy. He ______ the contract.

6. As long as I am on holiday, Jane and Nick ________ of everything. I have arranged it.

7. Look! Barack _______ a tie today.

8. They are nervous, because they ______ their boss in the afternoon.

9. You act like you _______ at a hotel and we’re your employees.

10. Sorry, I can’t help you. I _______ on the phone.

 

Exercise 2

Put the verb into the correct present continuous form.

1. Picture this. I _______ (sit) in a conference room with a group of people I don't know.

2. “Can you see the people who ____ (stand) around a buffet table?” “Yes, they ______ (chat) about something.

3. When you ______ (talk) to someone, lean (наклонись) slightly. This position shows you ______ (listen) intently to what the other person ______(say).

4. To start a small talk in the office, try these questions: How ___you___ (do) today?”, “How __your morning ____ (go) so far?”

5. If your coworkers have had a cold or minor illness recently, you can ask, “__you___ (feel) better?” or “__ you __ (do) better today?”

6. A good listener should give signals he ____ (listen) to his partner. But if a person says ‘I hear you,’ as he ______ (play) with his smartphone, it is insulting.

 

Exercise 3

Put the words in brackets in the correct order. Use the verbs in the continuous form.

 

1. What/ Sue/ do? - She/ work / on the new design.

2. Where/ the company/ move / next year? – It / move/ to the new building.

3. Mr Clark/ talk to a customer? – No, he/ write an e-mail.

4. What language/ those people/ speak? – They/ speak/ Italian.

5. What/you/do? – I/try/to work.

6. What subject/ you / study at university? – Psychology, but I/ not/ enjoy/ it.

7. How/ you/ get in your new job? – Not bad, but I/ begin/ to get bored with it.

8. What language/ Liz/ learning? – French, and she /go/ to Belgium month.

9. Why/ Paul and Sally/ not/ speak? – They have had an argument.

10. What book/ you/ read?

 

PRACTICE WITH THE PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE

Ask yourself the following questions when checking the present simple tense: