Sarah is in her car. She is on her way to work. She is driving to work. This means: she is driving now, at the time of speaking. The action is not finished. Am/is/are + -ing is the present continuous:
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I've started doing it and I haven't finished yet: - Please don't make so much noise. I'm trying to work. (not I try) - "Where's Mark?" "He's having a shower." (not He has a shower) - Let's go out now. It isn't raining any more. (not It doesn't rain) - (at a party) Hello, Jane. Are your enjoying the party= (not Do you enjoy) - What's all that noise= What's going on? (=What's happening?) |
The action is not necessarily happening at the time of speaking. For example: Steve is talking to a friend on the phone. He says: |
Steve is not reading the book at the time of speaking. He means that he has started it, but has not finished it yet. He is in the middle of reading it. |
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Some more examples: - Kate wants to work in Italy, so she's learning Italian. (but perhaps she isn't learning Italian at the time of speaking) - Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope to finish it next summer. |
You can use the present continuous with today/this week/this year etc. (periods around now): - A: You're working hard today. (not You work hard today) B: Yes, I have a lot to do. - The company I work for isn't doing so well this year. |
We use the present continuous when we talk about changes happening around now, especially with these verbs:
- Is your English getting better? (not Does your English get better) - The population of the world is increasing very fast. (not increases) - At first I didn't like my job, but I'm beginning to enjoy it now. (not I begin) |
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1- "You.........hard today." "Yes, I have a lot to do."
2- I .........for Christine. Do you know where she is?
3- It ..........dark. Shall I turn on the light?
4- They don't have anywhere to live at the moment. They .........with friends.
5- Things are not so good at work. The company ........... money.
6- Have you got an umbrella? It .........to rain.
7- You .............. a lot of noise. Can you be quieter? I ..........to concentrate.
8- Why are all these people here? What.......?
1- Please don't make so much noise. I .......(try) to work. 2- Let's go out now. It ....... (rain) any more. 3- You can turn off the radio. I ...... (listen) to it. 4- Kate phoned me last night. She's on holiday in France. She ......... (have) a great time and doesn't want to came back. 5- I want to lose weight, so this week I ....... (eat) lunch.6- Andrew has just started evening classes. He ....... (learn) German. 7- Paul and Sally have had an argument. They ........ (speak) to each other. 8- I ......... (get) tired. I need a rest. 9- Tim ....... (work) this week. He's on holiday.
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1- A: I saw Brian a few days ago. B: Oh, did you? ........ these days? (what/he/do) A: He's at university. B: ...........? (what/he/study) A: Psychology. B: ............ it? (he/enjoy) A: Yes, he says it's a very good course. |
2- A: Hi, Liz, How ....... in your new job? (you/get on) B: Not bad. It wasn't so good at first, but ...... better now. (things/get) A: What about Jonathan? Is he OK? B: Yes, but ...... his work at the moment. (he/not/enjoy). He's been in the same job for a long time and ...... to get bored with it. (he/begin)
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1- The population of the world ...... very fast. 2- The world ....... . Things never stay the same. 3- The situation is already bad and it ..... worse. 4- The cost of living ...... . Every year things are more expensive. 5- The weather ......... to improve. The rain has stopped, and the wind isn't as strong. |