UNIT 5

THE BLIND DATE

Focus on

Use of English

Grammar:

the Present Continuous Tense

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

to be going to

Would like to do vs. like doing

(a) Few / (a) Little

Indefinite Pronouns and Adverbs

Reflexive Pronouns

Further Practice: Articles

Reading Speaking	Intentions
	Pros and Cons
	Clothes

Social English

Days and Dates

USE OF ENGLISH

Grammar

The Present Continuous Tense

The Present Continuous is used:

to talk about something which is in progress at the moment of speaking

What are you doing at the moment? — I'm writing a letter.

to talk about something which is in progress around the present, but not necessarily at the moment of speaking

You are spending a lot of money these days.

to talk about a definite arrangement in the near future

What are you doing on Saturday evening? — I'm playing tennis with Ann.

with always to express anger or irritation that something happens too often

He's always saying stupid things.

Verbs not normally used in the continuous

a) verbs of thinking

think (=believe), believe, suppose, remember, see (understand), recognize, mean, realize, imagine, forget, know, understand

I think you are right. (Not: I'm thinking ...)

Do you know Billy Palmer? (Not: Are you knowing ...?)

b) verbs of feeling

like, dislike, hate, love, prefer, want, wish

I like this music. (Not: I'm liking ...)

Do you want to go now? (Not: Are you wanting ...?)

c) sense verbs

see, look, smell, taste, feel

This spaghetti tastes delicious. (Not: This spaghetti is tasting ...)

d) other verbs

have (= possess), own, belong to, owe, hear, include, cost, contain, weigh, sound, be, seem, need

I weigh 70 kilos. (Not: I'm weighing ...)

I m a manager. (Not: I'm being ...)

Positive form

a m/are/is + -ing

I You	am are	writing working	now. rather hard these days.	(I'm writing...) (You're working...)
He/She It	is	traveling stopping	a lot this year. now.	(He's/She's travelling...) (It's stopping...)
We You They	are	staying talking watching	at a small hotel in London. with my close friend. TV at the moment.	(We're staying...) (You're talking...) (They're watching...)

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences. Use the verbs in brackets in the Present Continuous.

1. Look! A man _ in the lake. (swim)

2. Hurry up! The bus _. (come)

3. Greg's in the kitchen. He _ the dinner, (cook)

4. Look at Sue! What a beautiful dress she _ today! (wear)

5. Sue and Joe _ a cake for tea. (make)

6. "Be careful! You _ on the broken chair." (sit)

7. The weather is awful. It _. (rain)

8. You _ too fast. (walk)

Negative form

am not/are not/is not + -ing

I	am not	reading	now.	(I'm not reading).
You	are not	seeing	your dentist today.	(You aren't seeing ...)
He/She	is not	having	a shower right now.	(He/She isn't having ...)
It	is not	snowing	at the moment.	(It isn't snowing ...)
We	are not	planning	our next holiday	(We aren’t planning…)
You	are not	learning	to skate	(You aren’t learning…)
They	are not	playing	outside	(They aren’t playing…)

Exercise 2. Complete the sentences with the negative form of the verbs in brackets.

1. My friend's parents _ a new car. (buy)

2. I __ for my keys. (look)

3. You _ very hard. (work)

4. My husband _ the dishes in the kitchen. (wash)

5. They_ tea. (drink)

6. My sister and her boyfriend _ a good time at the party, (have)

7. She _ him. (leave)

Exercise 3. What's happening at the moment? Write true sentences, positive or negative.

Example: I/have lunch. - I'm not having lunch at the moment.

My classmates/do these exercises. - My classmates are doing these exercises.

1. It/snow heavily.

2. I/listen to the music.

3. I/look/at my watch.

4. The sun/shine.

5. We/take exercises.

6. My classmates/sit on the sofa.

7. My friends and me/study at the moment.

8. The person next to me/sleep.

General questions

Am I	speaking	clearly?	- Yes, you are./ No, you aren’t.
Are you	reading	this book?	- Yes, I am. /No, I am not.
Is he/she	doing	the washing-up?	- Yes, he/she is./ No, he/she isn't.
Is it	raining	now?	- Yes. it is./No, it isn't.
Are we	having	a party tonight?	- Yes, we are./No, we aren't.
Are you Are they	looking living	for me? in Boston just now?	- Yes, we are./No, we aren't. - Yes, they are./ No, they aren't.

Exercise 4. Change these sentences into general questions Give short answers.

Example: It is raining. - Is it raining? - Yes, it is.

They aren't having lunch at the moment. - Are they having lunch at the moment? - No, they aren't.

1. The child is crying.

2. They aren't working in the garden.

3. We're driving too fast.

4. They aren't listening to the teacher.

5. The music is playing rather loud.

6. She isn't reading a detective story.

7. I'm not doing my homework.

Exercise 5. Ask general questions and match them with the answers.

Example: you/feel O.K.?

Are you feeling O.K.? - Yes, I'm feeling fine.

1) your friend/enjoy/ the party?	a. Yes, it's their favourite group.
2) the children/play?	b. No, these are my old ones.
3) you/have a date/on Sunday	c. No, it's broken.
4) that radio/work?	d. No, he's bored.
5) they/listen/to the "Beatles”?	e. No, too slowly!
6) he/drive/fast?	f. No, they are asleep.
7) you/wear/new jeans?	g. Yes, early in the morning.
8) you/leave tomorrow?	h. No, I'm working on Sunday.