Present Continuous

(to talk about what’s happening now)

Verb to be in the Present simple + main verb ending in -ing

I am writing / He is playing / They are watching

Affirmative
I am
He / she / it is fishing
We / you / they are

Negative
I am not
He / she / it is not (isn’t)
fishing
are not
We / you / they
(aren’t)
Short forms
Interrogative
I’m
Am I
You’re
Is he / she / it fishing?
He’s / she’s / it’s
fishing Are We / you / they
We’re
You’re
They’re

Uso:
- Acções que acontecem agora, no momento em que se fala
John is having a shower at the moment.
- Situações em mudança
Tim is getting better at Maths.
- Situações temporárias
She’s taking a course in shorthand this month.
- Compromissos num futuro próximo
She’s going to London this weekend
1. Complete with the present continuous of the verbs in brackets:

a) The children __________ in the house. (to play)

b) The cat __________under the tree. (to hide)
c) Andy and Joe __________home. (to come)
d) I __________on the sofa. (to sit)
e) Robert and Mark __________letters. (to write)
f) They __________to the radio. (to listen)
g) My mother __________breakfast at the moment. (to make)
h) We __________the grass. (to cut)

2. Complete the dialogue with the present continuous of the verb in brackets:

Estelle: Tommy! How are you? How’s work?

Tommy: I’m fine thanks, but I _______________ (not teach) at the moment.
I _______________ (take) a two-year break. What about you?
Estelle: I _______________ (work) at the travel agent’s as usual, but I
_______________ (not live) in my flat in Camden. I _______________ (stay)
with my mum. She’s ill, and I _______________ (look) after her. Anyway, what
are you doing in your break?
Tommy: I _______________ (study) Chinese, but I _______________ (not
learn) very fast! I want to work in China next year.
Estelle: Great! And how are Maddy and the new baby?
Tommy: They’re fine. Of course, we _______________ (not sleep) much at the

Ortografia:
- Aos verbos que terminam em –e, tira-se o –e e acrescenta-se –ing (take 
taking) excepto quando termina em duplo “e” (see  seeing).
- Aos verbos que terminam em –ie, tira-se o –ie e acrescenta-se –ying (die 
dying).
- Aos verbos que terminam em -y, acrescenta-se –ing (play  playing).
- Aos verbos monossilábicos que terminam em vogal + consoante, dobra-se a
consoante e acrescenta-se –ing (put  putting). Não dobramos y, w e x (fax 
faxing).
- Aos verbos que terminam em –l, normalmente dobra-se a consoante e
acrescenta-se –ing (travel  travelling).
moment. The baby wakes up every hour! She _______________ (grow) fast,
though.

3. What is Mike doing?

clean / the house cook / an omelette / for dinner

_____________________________ _____________________________
smile at / me run / to catch / the bus

_____________________________ _____________________________