Notes. Forms and Patterns.

1. The Present Continuous

(a)

Forms:

am is are

+

verb

+

ing

(present participle)

I am (I’m) eating you are (you’re) eating he/she/it is (he’s, she’s, it’s) eating we are (we’re) eating you are (you’re) eating they are (they’re) eating

am I eating? are you eating? is he eating? are we eating? are you eating? are they eating?

I am (I’m) not eating you are not (aren’t) eating she is not (isn’t) eating we are not (aren’t) eating you are not (aren’t) eating they are not (aren’t) eating

2. We use the Present Continuous:

3. to express an activity happening now.

e.g. They’re playing football in the garden now

She can’t answer the phone because she’s washing her hair

2. to express an activity happening around now, but perhaps not at the

moment of speaking.

e.g. She’s studying Maths at the University.

I’m reading a good book by Henry James.

3. to express a planned future arrangement.

e.g. I’m meeting Miss Boyd at ten o’clock tomorrow.

He’s starting French lessons next week.

(с) We use the following time expressions with the Present Continuous:

at the/this moment at present now right now

this week today

next week tomorrow

(d) Spelling of -ing forms.

Most verbs:	work - working wait - waiting
Verbs ending in -e:	take - taking come - coming
Verbs ending in one stressed vowel + one consonant	get - getting sit - sitting
Verbs ending in -ie:	lie - lying die - dying

5. Types of questions.

This bus is going to Charring Cross Road.

Is this bus going to Charring Cross Road? is this bus oing to Charring Cross Road or to Trafalgar Square? Where is this bus going to? This bus is going to Charring Cross Road, isn’t it? What bus is going to Charring Cross Road?

2. Indefinite Pronouns some, any and no.

3. We usually use «some» in affirmative (‘yes’) sentences, and «any» in questions and negative (‘no’) sentences.

There’s some bread. I’ve got some eggs.

Is there any bread? Have you got any eggs?

There isn’t any bread. I haven’t got any eggs.

2. «Some» in questions.

When we offer things or ask for things, we usually use «some» in questions.

e.g.	Would you like some coffee? Could you lend me some sugar?

(с) Compounds of «some», «any», «every» and «no» follow the same rules.

somebody something somewhere

anybody anything anywhere

everybody everything everywhere

nobody nothing nowhere

e.g.	Somebody telephoned when you were out. Would you like something to drink? Have you got anything to read? Everybody is late.

Drills

Drill 1. I am writing. ..... typing.

• I am typing.

cooking drawing dancing

singing reading swimming

eating a banana working in the garden having dinner

Drill 2. We are reading. ..... dancing.

• We are dancing.

writing working speaking talking

playing running swimming jumping

watching TV listening to music travelling about Italy travelling about France

Drill 3. He is writing.

• He is reading.

shaving dancing smoking sleeping

speaking working smiling translating

playing football reading a magazine washing his car painting the kitchen

Drill 4.

Are you reading? Yes, I am.

Is he reading? Yes, he is.

1. Are you cooking?

2. Are you doing your homework?

3. Are you typing?

4. Are you playing the piano?

5. Are you washing your dog?

6. Are you learning English?

7. Are you speaking English?

8. Is Paul driving?

9. Is Nora standing?

10. Are you and your friends having an English class now?

11. Are the students listening?

12. Are they talking?

Drill 5.

Are you going home? No, I am not.

Is he coming from Oxford Circus? No, he is not.

1. Are you watching TV at the moment?

2. Are you playing volley-ball now?

3. Is Paul eating an apple?

4. Are you speaking Japanese?

5. Are they writing a test?

Drill 6. John is writing. Susan ..... .

• Susan is not writing.

1. Mary is reading. Dick ..... .

2. John is sitting. Nancy ..... .

3. I am driving. She ..... .

4. You are having breakfast. We ..... .

5. They are working. You ..... .

6. You are going home. He ..... .

7. Bob is playing the guitar. Alice ..... .

8. Steve and Phil are eating ice-cream. Peter ... .

9. John is thinking. I ..... .

Drill 7. You are getting cold. She ...

• She is getting cold.

They It We He

I Miss Fisher The potatoes Your dinner

This room Shirley and I The children My fingers

Drill 8.

He isn’t eating rice. We We aren’t eating rice.

She You I They

The Queen Earl and I The baby The animals

Those guests The Americans The waiter The children

Drill 9. I am speaking English. ..... you .....?

• Are you speaking English?

1. I am writing. ..... you .....?

2. Henry is reading. ..... Mary .....?

3. John is sitting. ..... Bob .....?

4. We are playing chess. ..... they .....?

5. They are cleaning the house. ..... you .....?

6. Alice and Kate are going home. ..... we .....?

7. Helen is cooking. .... John .....?

8. I am speaking German. ..... Bob and Mary .....?

9. Bob and Mary are talking. ..... Bob and you .....?

10. You are asking the question. ..... he .....?

11. Mary is working. ..... I .....?

12. Roger is thinking. ..... Sue .....

Drill 10.

Is he coming? Yes, he is. They ... Are they coming? Yes, they are.

go we win I

lose you come the bus

leave Mr and Mrs Wilson your daughter call