(Длительные, или продолжительные времена)

Временные формы Continuous выражают конкретное действие в процессе его совершения. Это действие может происходить в настоящем, прошедшем или будущем времени в определенный отрезок времени. Времена группы Continuous образуются при помощи вспомогательного глагола to be и причастия I смыслового глагола.

To be + PI (V ing)

Present Continuous:

I am writing

he/she/it is writing

you/we/they are writing

Past Continuous:

I/he/she/it was writing

You/we/they were writing

Future Continuous:

I/we shall be writing

he/she/it/we/you/they will be writing

Сравните:

She writes well.

She is writing a letter.

Первое предложение говорит о том, что она вообще пишет хорошо, а второе, что она в данный момент пишет письмо.

Задание VII.

Выполните упражнения.

1. Today she wears/is wearing jeans and a T-shirt.

2. She speaks/is speaking French, Spanish and English.

3. I never talk/am talking while I work/am working.

4. Ann plays/is playing chess very well.

5. The children ate/were eating apples when we came/were coming.

6. I did/was doing my homework at 7.00 last night.

7. Who do/are you speak/speaking to on the telephone?

Задание VIII.

Read the following text using some unknown words.

Mamayev Kurgan.

Mamayev Kurgan got its name during the period of the Mongol invasions (завоевание). The top of the hill used to be a guard-post during the reign (правление, царствование) on Khan Mamai. One hurdred troops (войска) that were devoted to the khan and picked (выбирать) from his personal body-guard would stand guard on this hill to protect the capital of the Sarai Berke Khanate from sudden attack.

But Mamayev Kurgan is not famed (известен, славится) so much for the legendary deeds (подвиг) of old as for those of the very recent past. In 1942 Soviet troops fought to the death on its slopes (склон). Placed as it is almost in the centre of the city its heights (высота) hold a commanding position over the whole city, the Volga and the area across the river. Thus he who commanded the hill, in a sense, commaded the city. This is why holding (зд. удерживать) it was a matter of life or death to the 62^nd Army under General Chuikov. The battle for Mamayev Kurgan lasted 135 days.

The situation on Mamayev Kurgan was particularly critical in the middle of October, 1942, when two fascist divisions had control of the northern, southern and western slopes and the top of the hill was turned into a center of resistance (сопротивление, противодействие).

In January 1943, Soviet assault (нападать, штурмовать) groups captured the top of Mamayev Kurgan and joined the Don Front units (соединения) which were advancing (продвигаться) from the west.

Just how bitter (ожесточенный) the fighting was on the Mamayev Kurgan can be judged (судить) by this fact: after the Battle of Stalingrad the ground was littered with fragments of mines, bombs and shells (снаряды) - from 500 to 1,250 per square metre. In each handful (горстка) of earth there were 7 to 8 pieces of shrapnel (шрапнель). In spring 1943 no grass grew on the Mamayev Kurgan.

In spring 1965 in honour of the 20^th anniversary of the victory over fascist Germany a new tradition was born in Volgograd-planting a tree at the foot of Mamayev Kurgan in memory of the fallen. This is how the memorial park was founded. The memorial complex on the Mamayev Kurgan is dedicated (посвящен) to all those who defended Stalingrad, living and dead, officers and men.

The deeds of the heroes have made the stones of Mamayev Kurgan immortal. Years and decades will go by, a new generation will take our place. But the sons and grandsons of the heroes will always come here to this magnificent monument to victory. Here they will bring their children; here they will lay wreathes (венки).

Tasks:

1. Define the main idea of the first passage. What new have you learned from the 1^st passage?

2. What is the 2^nd passage devoted to?

3. Who was the commended of the Soviet troops during the Battle of Stalingrad? What do you know about this General?

4. Why was the situation on the Mamayev Kurgan critical in October, 1942?

5. Why is spring 1965 so remartable in the life of our city?

6. Translate the last (7^th) passage into Russian.