Practice

Ех. 4 Explain the use of the Present Continuous in the following sentences:

1. Bill, stop that disgusting game you're playing. 2. They've moved to their London house. They are buying new furniture. 3. He paused and looked at her. " You're shaking. Are you all right?" 4. He is always having to check his emotions. 5. I am meeting Jason at his office on the 25th. 6. You know that cinema audiences are declining in the United States. 7. The rain is just beginning. 8. Sally put down the telephone. "It was Dan. He's staying at the club tonight. He's too tired to drive home." 9. You are always drinking tea when I come here for а snack. 10. I miss her very much, almost every minute of the day I think of her. 11. My father is always saying things that he shouldn't say in front of me. 12. "Don't go," he said. "I feel faint. The room is spinning around." 13. The aspirin isn't working. I’m in pain. 14. Albert is doing quite nicely in the used-car business. 15. Ву the way, I’m having some people over for dinner tonight. 16. We're having а boring gossip аll about Peter's chances. 17. You are looking wealthy, prosperous and fine. 18. "I've heard the whole story, аll the town is talking of it," he said.

Ex. 5 Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Continuous tense:

1. She (not work), she (swim) in the river. 2. He (teach) his boy to ride. 3. Why Ann (not wear) her new dress? 4. The airplane (fly) at 2,000 metres. 5. What Tom (do) now? He (clean) his shoes. 6. This fire (go) out. Somebody (bring) more coal? 7. It (rain)? - Yes, it (rain) very hard. You can't go out yet. 8. Why you (mend) that old shirt? 9. You (not tell) the truth. - How do you know that I (not tell) the truth? 10. Who (move) the furniture about upstairs? - It's Tom. He (paint) the front bedroom. 11. Mrs Jones (sweep) the steps outside her house. 12. What you (read) now? I (read) Crime and Punishment. 13. It is a lovely day. The sun (shine) and the birds (sing). 14. Someone (knock) at the door. Shall I answer it? - I (come) in a minute. I just (wash) my hands. 15. She always (ring) up and (ask) questions. 16. Why you (make) a cake? Someone (come) to tea? 17. Where is Tom? - He (lie) under the car. 18. Can I borrow your pen or you (use) it at the moment? 19. You (do) anything this evening? - No, I'm not. - Well, I (go) to the cinema. Would you like to come with me? 20. We (have) breakfast at 8.00 tomorrow as Tom (catch) an early train. 21. Ann usually does the shopping, but I (do) it today as she isn't well. 22. Why you (type) so fast? You (make) a lot of mistakes. 23. Mother (rest) now. She always rests after lunch. 24. They (dig) an enormous hole just outside my gate. - What they (do) that for? - I don't know. Perhaps they (look) for oil. 25. What (make) that terrible noise? - It's the pneumatic drill. They (repair) the road. 26. The children are very quiet. Go and see what they (do). - They (cut) up some notes. 27. What you (wait) for? - I (wait) for my change; the boy just (get) it. 28. I can't hear what you (say); the traffic (make) too much noise. 29. She always (lose) her glasses and (ask) me to look for them. 30. Mother: What you (look) at? Something (happen) in the street? 31. Child: Yes. The house opposite is on fire! Come and look. Mother: I can't. I (bath) the babies. Is the Fire Brigade here? 32. Child: Yes. Fire engines (rush) up and the firemen (jump) out and (unroll) their hoses. 33. Smoke (pour) from the windows! People (stop) to watch. A policeman (try) to move them on. 34. An old man (climb) out of a first floor window! A fireman (help) him! Two boys (slide) down a rope! 35. A woman (wave) from the attic and a fireman (go) up a ladder to help her! 36. Now he (come) down again! He (carry) a baby! The crowd (cheer).

Ex. 6 Complete the conversation. Put in a present continuous form of the verb:

Andrew: What... (you / do)?

Rachel:... (I / write) a letter to a friend. He's a disc jockey. Vicky and I... (try) to organize a disco.

Andrew: That sounds a lot of work. How... (you / find) time for your studies?

Rachel: Well, as I said, Vicky... (help) me.... (we / get) on all right.... (we / not / spend) too much time on it.... (it / not / take) me away from my studies, don't worry about that. Oh, sorry,... (you / wait) for this computer?

Andrew: Yes, but there's no hurry.

Rachel:... (I / correct) the last bit of the letter. I've nearly finished.

Ex. 7 Put in the present continuous or simple of the verbs:

Mark:... (you / look) for someone?

Alan: Yes,... (I / need) to speak to Neil. He isn't in his office.

Mark:... (he / talk) to the boss at the moment.... (I / think)... (they / discuss) money.

Alan: Oh, right. And what about you?... (you / look) for someone too?

Mark: Yes, Linda.... (you / know) where she is?

Alan: Oh, she isn't here today. She only... (work) four days a week.... (she / not / work) on Fridays. She'll be here on Monday.

Mark: Thank you.... (you / know) a lot about Linda.

Alan: Well, most days... (I / give) her a lift, or... (she / give) me one.... (she / live) quite close to me.... (it / save) petrol.

Mark: Yes, of course. Good idea. Yes,... (I/ agree). Well,... (I / waste) my time here then. I'll get back to my computer.

Ex. 8 Complete the sentences. Put in the present continuous or simple of the verbs:

1. (it / snow) outside. (it / come) down quite hard, look. 2. Normally (I / start) work at eight o'clock, but (I / start) at seven this week. We're very busy at the moment. 3. I haven't got a car at the moment, so (I / go) to work on the bus this week. Usually (I / drive) to work. 4. The sun (rise) in the east, remember. It's behind us so (we / travel) west. 5. I'm afraid I have no time to help just now (I / write) a report. But (I / promise) I'll give you some help later. 6. (I / want) a new car (I / save) up to buy one.

Ex. 9 Complete the sentences. Use always and the present continuous or simple:

Melanie: Tom talks too much, doesn't he?

Rita: Yes, and he's always talking about football.

Laura: You forget your keys every time.

Trevor: I try to remember them, but I always forget.

1. Claire: Sarah takes the train every day, doesn't she?

Mark: Yes,......... the train.

2. Vicky: Rachel misses lectures much too often in my opinion.

Emma: I agree........... lectures.

3. Mike: Every time I drive along here, I go the wrong way.

Harriet: But it's very simple, isn't it? Why.......... the wrong way?

4. David: Trevor and Laura argue much too often, I think.