6.2. Continuous Tenses

Exercise 6.2.1. Add "-ing" to the following verbs and put them in the correct list.

make, begin, hit, sit, shave, drink, play, lie, fly, die, cut, sleep, smoke, meet, take, type, drop, swim, stir, walk, wait, open, write, drive.

+ing -ie→y+ing -e→ing double consonant + ing

Exercise 6.2.2. Put the verbs in brackets into Present Continuous.

This is London airport. Many people___(wait) to go on holiday. The woman at the check-in desk___(take) the passengers’ tickets and she___(ask) them some questions. At the "Passport Control" a man who___ (wear) a uniform___ (look) at everyone’s passports. Some people___(sit) on chairs and while they ___ (wait) they___(read) books or magazines. There is a bar where a man ___ (serve) tea and coffee. Outside, a plane ___ (take off) and another one___ (come down). Some men ___ (put) the passengers’ bags onto another plane. A man who ___ (leave) ___ (say) goodbye to his family.

Exercise 6.2.3. Put the verbs in brackets into Present Continuous or Past Continuous.

1. I (sit) by the window when I heard the noise. 2. Look! My friends (to play) football. 3. Peter (to call up) his girl-friend all day long. 4. I saw a light in your window and I (pass) by. 5. While my son (wait) for my call, somebody knocked at the door. 6. What Nick (to do) yesterday from 6 till 8? 7. Where you (to go)? 8. The students (to go) on the meeting now. 9. He (not to arrive) tomorrow. 10. When you rang me yesterday, I (have) a bath. 11. Your mother (to cook) all day long? 12. What mother (to do) now? – She (to cook) dinner. 13. I (not to play) computer games yesterday. 14. I (to write) a letter to my cousin at 6 o’clock yesterday. 15. I (not to write) a report now.

Exercise 6.2.4. Put the verbs in brackets into Present Simple or Present Continuous.

1. Be quiet, please. We (work) at the translation and you (make) a lot of noise. 2. He always (go) for a walk in the evening. 3. Where is Jack? – He (meet) his girl-friend at the station. She (come) at 12 o'clock. 4. In the morning I (have) little time, so I (take) a shower in the evening. 5. A decade (describe) a period of ten years. 6. Her brother (work) in Canada at present. 7. She always (dream) but (do) nothing to realize her dreams. 8. He (be) so suspicious to me at the moment. I wonder why. 9. Hurry up, Jane! We all (wait) for you. 10. These cadets are still ill but they (get) better gradually. 11. Don't bother her. She (take) her French lesson: she always (take) it in the morning. 12. Tom and Mary (leave) for the Netherlands tomorrow. 13. I have just started English courses. I (study) English grammar. 14. Mercury (boil) at 357.23 degrees Centigrade. 15. It (surprise) me that they can't sell their flat.

Exercise 6.2.5. Choose the correct item (Future Simple or Future Continuous).

1. This time tomorrow they ___ in the train on their way to Chicago.

a) will sit b) will be sitting

2. I ___ at home if you need anything.

a) will be b) will being

3. Don’t phone Jim from 5 to 6 – he ___ English.

a) will have b) will be having

4. Why are you in a hurry? If you arrive at 8 o’clock, they ___ the meal.

a) will still cook b) will still coocking

5. He ___ at eight in the evening.

a) will come b) will be coming

6. ___ you ___ with me on Friday?

a) will ... have lunch b) will … be having lunch

7. – I’m not sure I’ll recognize Eve. I haven’t seen her for ages.

– She ___ a dark blue pullover and jeans.

a) will wear b) will be wearing

8. He ___ when you come back tonight.

a) will sleep b) will be sleeping

9. – Let’s meet at the station at 5 o’clock.

– O.K. I ___ for you there.

a) will wait b) will be waiting

10. My brother ___ the results of his exam on economy tomorrow.

a) will know b) will be knowing

Exercise 6.2.6. Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple or Past Continuous.

1. We (to prepare) for the lessons yesterday. 2. We (to prepare) for the lessons at five o'clock yesterday. 3. He (to prepare) for the lessons from two till three yesterday. 4. He (to prepare) for the lessons the whole evening yesterday. 5. What you (to do) when I rang you up? 6. I (not to sleep) at nine o'clock yesterday. 7. What he (to do) yesterday? – He (to read) a book. 8. What he (to do) the whole evening yesterday? – He (to read) a book. 9. She (to sleep) when you came home? 10. My brother (not to play) tennis yesterday. He (to play) tennis the day before yesterday. 11. My sister (not to play) the piano at four o'clock yesterday. She (to play) the piano the whole evening. 12. When I came into the kitchen, mother (to cook). 13. She (to cook) the whole day yesterday. 14. We (to wash) the floor in our room yesterday. 15. We (to wash) the floor in our room from three till four yesterday.

Exercise 6.2.7. Put the verbs in brackets into Present Simple, Future Simple, Past Simple or Present Continuous.

1. He (to spend) next summer in the country. 2. He (not to spend) last summer in the country. 3. We (to get up) at 6.30 every day. 4. He usually (play) tennis in the afternoon. 5. She (to help) mother yesterday? 6. Kate (to cook) dinner every day. 7. Kate (to cook) dinner tomorrow. 8. John is outside. He (wash) the car. 9. I (not to drink) coffee every day. 10. I (not to drink) coffee tomorrow. 11. You (to go) to university every day? 12. Look at him. He (row) a boat. 13. What your brother (to do) every day? 14. They (watch) TV at the moment. 15. What your brother (to do) tomorrow?