Intermediate Grammar 1.

1
TENSES - PRESENT CONTINUOUS (Review and Expansion)
FORM
AFIRMATIVE
I
He
She
It
We
You
They

QUESTION

am working

Am

is working

Is

are working

Are

NEGATIVE

I working?
he working?
she working?
it working?

I
He
She
It

we working?
you working?
they working?

We
You
They

am not working
is not working
(isnt)

are not working

(arent)

To make affirmative sentences the pattern is:

SUBJECT + AM / IS / ARE + VERB ING
Example:

Oscar is sleeping.

To make a negative sentence we add the adverb not in the affirmative pattern right
after the helping verb (am, is, are):
SUBJECT + AM / IS / ARE + NOT + VERB -ING
Examples:

Emma is not talking on the phone.

The children arent drinking milk.

Finally, to ask questions, the position of the helping verb (am, is, are) is moved to the
beginning of the sentence:
AM / IS / ARE + SUBJECT + VERB -ING + ?
Examples:

Tom is teaching English.

SHORT ANSWERS

Is

Tom teaching English?

Yes, he is.
No, he isnt.

The women are eating pasta.

Are

the women eating pasta?

I 1.1 TENSES Present Continuous

Yes, they are.

No, they arent.
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Intermediate Grammar 1.1

Wh-Questions in the Present Continuous:

To ask about the subject we use:

WH-WORD + IS + VERB-ING + COMPLEMENT
Examples:

QUESTION

ANSWER

Who is working now?

Who is playing in the yard?

Paul is (working now).

The children are (playing).

To ask about the complement we use:

WH-WORD + AM / IS / ARE + SUBJECT + VERB-ING
Examples:

QUESTION

ANSWER

What are you doing?

Where is Sally going?

Im writing a letter.
Shes going to the park.

USE
1. To describe an action that is happening at the time of speaking.
Examples:

We are doing our homework now.

My brother-in-law is taking a nap.

2. To express actions which are happening within the present time span, but not necessarily at
the moment of speaking.
Examples:

She feels thrilled. Shes working for a prestigious law firm.

Im getting home late this month. Im taking an evening course.

3. To talk about future plans.

Examples:

What are you doing tomorrow?

I am going to a concert.
Are you doing anything this weekend?
Yes, we are having a barbecue.

4. The present continuous can be used with some expressions such as:
now - right now - at the moment - for the time being - this week / month / year, etc.
Examples:

The president is holding a meeting right now.

Were not doing anything at the moment.
Its getting harder and harder to get a job these days.

I 1.1 TENSES Present Continuous

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Intermediate Grammar 1.1

PRACTICE: PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I. Fill in the blanks with the present continuous of the verb in parentheses.
1. Theresa (come) ... is coming... to the dinner party in her own car.
2. We (have) ..........................some trouble with physics this term.
3. Angelica (wear) ........................an attractive skirt tonight.
4. The kids (make) .........................a lot of noise at the moment.
5. Henry (sleep) .................................now. Do we have to wake him up?
6. Look! That dog (destroy) ............................my garden.
7. I (read) ...............................a novel at the moment.
8. The teacher (correct) .................................our test papers right now.
9. She (pick up) ..............................her children from school this week.
10. Listen to me! I (talk) ..............................to you!
11. The children (go) ..................................camping this weekend.
12. It (get) .............................late. Wed better go back home.
13. Dont go into the bathroom. Anne (take) .............................a shower.
14. Be quiet, please. I (try) ......................................to concentrate.
15. I think you (run) ...................................too many risks at present.

II. Ask the appropriate question. Use the cues in parentheses.

1. ......Are the students taking a quiz?............ (the students / a quiz)
No, they arent. Theyre taking their final test.
2. ......................................................................? (Jerry / a foreign language)
Yes, he is. Hes studying German.
3. ......................................................................? (they / a swimming pool on campus)
No, they arent. Theyre building a tennis court.
4. ......................................................................? (you / the basement)
No, we arent. Were cleaning the garage.
5. ......................................................................? (Anne / a letter)
Yes, she is. Shes writing it to her aunt
6. .......................................................................? (Paul / in a hotel)
No, he isnt. Hes staying with some friends.
7. ......................................................................? (Jenny / dinner)
Yes, she is. Shes having a pizza.
8. .......................................................................? (you / to the concert)
Yes, I am. Im going with my girlfriend.

I 1.1 TENSES Present Continuous

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Intermediate Grammar 1.1

III. Write questions for the answers in bold.
1. ............Who is Jack working for?................ (Jack)
Hes working for his uncle.
2. ..................................................................? (camera)
Im using Helens.
3. ......................................................................? (those girls)
Theyre practicing ballet.
4. .....................................................................? (Jane)
Shes coming from the zoo.
5. ......................................................................? (that dog)
Its digging a hole in the garden.
6. ......................................................................? (James)
Hes talking to his son.
7. ......................................................................? (you and Walter)
We are going camping tomorrow.
8. ......................................................................? (the teacher)
Shes correcting homework papers.
9. ......................................................................? (Patrick)
Hes eating lasagna.
10. .....................................................................? (tonight)
Im going out with some friends.

I 1.1 TENSES Present Continuous

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Intermediate Grammar 1.1

ANSWERS: Practice I 1.1
Exercise I:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

is coming
are having
is wearing
are making
is sleeping
is destroying
am reading
is correcting

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

is picking up
am talking
are going
is getting
is taking
am trying
are running

Exercise II:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Are the students taking a quiz?

Is Jerry studying a foreign language?
Are they building a swimming pool on campus?
Are you cleaning the basement?

5.
6.
7.
8.

Is Anne writing a letter?

Is Paul staying in a hotel?
Is Jenny having dinner?
Are you going to the concert?

Exercise III:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Who is Jack working for?

Whose camera are you using?
What are those girls doing?
Where is Jane coming from?
What is that dog doing?

I 1.1 TENSES Present Continuous

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Who is James talking to?

When are you and Walter going camping?
What is the teacher doing?
What is Patrick eating?
What are you doing tonight?

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