Exercises Present Continuous

A. Find the ten verbs is the present continuous in this conversation and list them below . Beside
each one, indicate whether they are describing:
a. What is happening now
b. What is happening during the present period
c. What is happening in the future

JOSH : Are you having a break?

KAREN: Yes, Im waiting for the kettle to boil. Would you like a coffee?

JOSH: NO thanks. Im only drinking herbal tea these days.

KAREN: Is anyone using the fax machine at the moment?

JOSH: Yes, Johns trying to send all those papers to Nigeria. Its taking a long time. Sorry.

KAREN: Thats alright. I think the phone on my desk is ringing. Hello? Yes, who am I speaking to?
Oh, Mr Fanshaw!... Yes. No. Im going home at 5.30. Oh yes, Im really enjoying the training
course, thank you. Yes, Im doing the extra class this evening. See you later! Bye.

0.Are you having (a)

B. Fill in the missing word or part of a word.

0. Hello! Im trying to contact John Franklin.

1. .. I speaking to the sales department?
2. Who am . talking to?
3. Oh, hello Kerry Are .working in the sales department now?
4. Yes, .m still working as Susan Jarrods secretary.
5. Oh, yes! But ..re moving to a new office next week.
6. No, Susan .visiting the Tokyo office at the moment.
7. The directors are hav..a meeting at three oclock today.
8. Theymeeting in the conference room on the third floor.
9. Ok, is Mr Franklin com.. in tomorrow?
10. Thanks. Oh, someone .calling on the other line. Bye!
Lucy: Hi, Karen! How are you? Im really excited because Ive got an audition tomorrow! Im so
nervous!

Karen: Thats brilliant! What is it for?

Lucy: Its for a part in a new show which opens in the autumn. Its about the start of jazz music in
New Orleans. Theres a really big cast, so Ive got a pretty good chance of getting a small part.

Karen : What do you have to do? Ive never done an audition!

Lucy : Im doing a jazz solo, and you always have to do a routine that means they teach you a
sequence of steps and you all do them together.

Karen : That sounds really hard!

Lucy: Oh no! Thats fine! I do routines all the time. Im doing two dance classes a week at the
moment. Actually , Im feeling more nervous about singing! Im not very good at that. Anyway, hows
your new job?

Karen: Oh, its OK. Im working at Gargantuan Games now. I left my old job and started there last
week. Theyre very nice but they all work really hard! But theyre paying me quite well.

Lucy: What are you doing now? Are you busy?

Karen: Actually Im just cooking myself some supper, and then Im going to bed early.

Lucy: I have to go to bed too. I have to be at the theatre at 9 oclock.

Karen: Well,good luck! Phone me after the audition! Bye!

Lucy: Bye!

1.Present simple with present meaning

We use the present simple for facts and situations in the present that we do not expect to change

- My brother is a rock musician.

- The River Seine flows through Paris.
- Maria speaks English better than me.

We also use the present simple for frequent or regular events:

- The river floods every spring.

- Mark always walks to work.

2. Present continuous with present meaning

We use the present continuous when we are talking about something that is happening at this
moment:

- Sam is reading the Mitsubishi manual and trying to repair his engine.
- Are you listening to me?
We also use the present continuous to talk about things which happen during the present period of
time, but not necessarily at this particular moment:

- Phil is doing Spanish lessons this term.

- Im afraid were spending more than we should!

3. Verbs rarely used in the continuous

-verbs describing a state ( be, have, look, need, seem, sound, smell) and verbs describing feelings and
thoughts ( have to [=must], hope, feel, like, trust etc.) . With these verbs we use simple form to talk
about something that is happening now.

- Gary is very tired today. NOT Gary is being very tired.

- He seems to think there there isnt a problem. NOT Hes seeming
- I have to finish this report tonight. NOT Im having to

A few verbs that describe feelings, such as enjoy and feel, can be used in the continuous to talk about
what is happening now:

- Im enjoying this music what is it?

- Im not feeling very well. I thing Ill sit down for a bit.

Some vers have one meaning where they describe a state and another meaning where they describe
an action; we can use the continuous form for the action.

- That boy looks ill. ( state) - That boy is looking at the plane. (action)

4. present forms with future meaning

We use present simple with future meaning when we are talking about something which is
scheduled.

- The bus leaves is half an hour.

- Dont be late for the meeting. It starts at 2.

We use the present continuous when we are talking about something which is planned for the future.

- Sarah is coming for dinner tonight.

- Im taking my mother to the airport tomorrow morning.

Note : After when/ before/ after, we use the present simple to talk about peoples plans:

- Dan and Vanessa are visiting Pisa before they fly back to America.

5. present forms in stories and jokes

When we are telling a story in a very informal, idiomatic way, we ofter use the present tense even
when we are talking about something that happened in the past. We use the present continuous to
give the background informational and the present simple for the main events:

- Its raining and my friend is running, and then she slips on the pavement
Exercises for Present simple and Present Continuous

A. Read the passage and choose which verb form is better. Draw a circle around it.

Mary Ross (0) works/ is working in the packing room today. She (1) is packing/ packs
strawberries and they (2) smell/ are smelling very sweet and delicious. She (3) is being/ is
really tired. Peter (4) doesnt help/ isnt helping her this afternoon because he (5) s/ s
being in the office. He (6) phones/ s phoning the bank manager to ask for some advice.
They (7) have/re having a bit of a problem as they (8) employ/ are employing a new packer
and they (9) are needing/need to borrow some money from the bank. Mary (10) hates/ is
hating talking about money. She (11) is preferring/ prefers to work on the farm. But she (12)
s not working/ doesnt wok very hard at the moment.

B. Read the following data about Warren Daly then look at the questions. Write the
questions and correct the verbs in the questions if they are incorrect, and then answer
the questions.
NAME : Warren Daly
AGE : 37
PROFESSION : Film actor
HAPPY? : yes
HOLIDAY HOME : Yes. Beach house on Marthas Vineyard
MARRIED : Yes
WIFES NAME : Anthea
CHILDREN : Jake, Delilah, Star
WIFES JOB : Film editor
HOLIDAYS: England stay with friends there
PRESENT JOB : Film of life of the balloonist Montgolfier
CHILDREN AT SCHOOL?: Jake studying at Hish School in Greenwich Village. Delilah at
kindergarten; Star at home.
HOBBIES: golf, scuba diving, sailing
PRESENT ACTIVITY : rehearsing for a new film

Q: How old is Warren Daly being?

How old is Warren Daly?
Hes 37.

1. What is his wifes name?

2. What is his job?
3. Is he liking it?
4. Where are they living?
5. Have they got a holiday home? Where?
6. How many children are they having?
7. What are their children called?
8. Does his wife have a job? What?
9. Where are they going on holiday usually?
10. Where do they stay when they go to England?
11. Where is Jake going to school?
12. What hobbies is Warren enjoying?
13. Is Star being at school?
14. What is Warren doing right now?