1. Complete the webpage with the present continuous form of the verbs from the box.
hold offer organise perform play sing
What’s on in Hampton this week?
The Arena
The world famous Company of Knights (1) __is performing__ a breathtaking horseback show from Wednesday to Saturday at 7.30 pm.
City Hall
Elisa Gonzalez (2) ________ songs from Brazil, Argentina and Mexico on Friday at 7 pm.
Hampton Sports Stadium
Hampton Juniors football team (3) ________ against a team from Germany at 11 am on Sunday.
The Pavilion
Local jewellers (4) ________ their Summer Sale this Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm.
Shoppers’ Paradise (off Main Street)
All shoe shops (5) ________ the chance to buy one pair get one pair free every day this week!
Hampton College of Further Education
The education department (6) ________ an open day on Thursday – discover their range of full- and part-time courses.
Show answers
2) is singing 3) is/are playing
4) are holding 5) are offering
6) is organising
2. Complete the sentences with the present continuous form of the verbs.
a JENNY: Hi, Zoe! (1) __Are you waiting __ (you / wait) for the London train?
ZOE: No, (2) ________ (I / meet) mother off the train from Bristol.
b MANDY: (3) ________ (this music / disturb) you?
JAMES: No, not at all. (4) ________ (I / enjoy) it.
c TOM: (5) ________ (anyone / use) this room today?
ELLIE: (6) ________ (We / have) a meeting here after lunch, but it’s free now.
d NINA: Why (7) ________ (those people / shout)?
FINN: (8) ________ (They / demonstrate) against the new taxes.
e BEN: (9) ________ (you / apply) for university?
CRAIG: (10) ________ (I / think) about it, but I haven’t decided yet.
f AVA: (11) ________ (Jane / leave) work early today?
KATE: Yes, (12) ________ (she / fly) to Brussels at five o’clock.
g JOSH: (13) ________ (you / come) to the party on Thursday?
MAX: No, (14) ________ (I / work) late, unfortunately.
Show answers
2) I’m meeting
3) Is this music disturbing
4) I’m enjoying
5) Is anyone using
6) We’re having
7) are those people shouting
8) They’re demonstrating
9) Are you applying
10) I’m thinking
11) Is Jane leaving
12) she’s flying
13) Are you coming
14) I’m working
3. Complete the description using the correct present continuous form of the verbs in the box. Sometimes you need the negative. Use some of the verbs more than once.
enjoy hang lie look stay sit turn wear
The Bellelli Family by Edgar Degas
This is a painting of two sisters, Giulia and Giovanna, with their mother, Laura, and father, Gennaro. Gennaro (1) __is sitting __ in an armchair by a desk. He (2) ________ towards his family. Laura and Giulia (3) ________ at something behind Gennaro, but Giovanna (4) ________ out of the picture towards the artist. Giulia (5) ________ on a chair with one foot on the floor. Both the girls look rather serious. Perhaps they (6) ________ very still for the artist and they (7) ________ that!
The girls and their mother all have black dresses and the girls (8) ________ white aprons, but their mother (9) ________ an apron. In the room we can see a picture which (10) ________ on the wall behind Laura and some papers which (11) ________ on the desk.
Show answers
2) ’s turning / is turning
3) are looking
4) ’s looking / is looking
5) ’s sitting / is sitting
6) are staying
7) aren’t enjoying / are not enjoying
8) are wearing
9) isn’t wearing / is not wearing
10) is hanging
11) are lying
4. Choose a picture or photograph you like and describe what is happening in it.
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
Show answers
Students’ own answers. See Exercise 3 for model answer.
5. Complete the text with the present simple form of the verbs.
What is an eclipse?
A solar eclipse (1) ________ happens (happen) when the moon (2) ________ (pass) in front of the sun. This only (3) ________ (take) place when there is a new moon. It (4) ________ (last) for up to 7.5 minutes.
During a solar eclipse, it is dark. The birds (5) ________ (not sing), and animals (6) ________ (keep) still and quiet. A solar eclipse (7) ________ (not happen) very often, and most people (8) ________ (enjoy) seeing one. However, it’s important not to look straight at the sun. If you (9) ________ (not remember) this, you can damage your eyes.
A lunar eclipse (10) ________ (occur) when the earth’s shadow (11) ________ (fall) on the moon. The moon (12) ________ (look) dim until it (13) ________ (come) out from the shadow.
Show answers
2) passes 3) takes 4) lasts
5) don’t sing 6) keep
7) doesn’t happen 8) enjoy
9) don’t remember
10) occurs 11) falls
12) looks 13) comes
6. Complete the questions with the present simple form of the verbs.
1) Which day of the week __do you go __ (you / go) to your yoga class?
On Thursdays.
2) What time ________ (the bank / shut)?
I think it’s five o’clock on weekdays.
3) ____ __ (your flat / have) air conditioning?
Yes, we really need it in summer.
4) How often ________ (you / see) your brother?
Nearly every weekend.
5) Why ________ (you / not / drive) to work every day?
Because the traffic’s so bad, it’s quicker by bike.
6) Where ________ (your sister / keep) her phone charger?
On that shelf beside the TV.
7) ____ __ (you / not / want) a cup of coffee? You look tired.
No, I’m OK thanks.
8) How many hours ________ (you / work) in a week?
About thirty-five, usually.
9) How long (you / spend) at the gym?
At least one hour most evenings.
10) ____ __ (the souvenir shop / not / sell) stamps?
No, only postcards.
Show answers
2) does the bank shut
3) Does your flat have
4) do you see
5) don’t you drive
6) does your sister keep
7) Don’t you want
8) do you work
9) do you spend
10) Doesn’t the souvenir shop sell
7. Choose the correct alternative.
From: Pedro Martinez pm3@rygl.com
To: Kai Muller
Subject: Hi from Canada
Hi Kai
(1) I’m having / I have a great time here in Canada. MSc course (2) isn’t starting / doesn’t start until next month, at the beginning of September, so (3) I’m making / I make use of the time to get to know the place. (4) I’m staying / I stay near Vancouver with Ryan, Canadian cousin. He and his brother Liam (5) are owning / own a software business.
In the evenings (6) we’re driving / we drive into the city and go clubbing or see a movie. (7) I’m making / I make a lot of new friends. (8) I’m thinking / I think pronunciation is much better already, and (9) I’m understanding / I understand almost everything. On weekdays (10) I’m helping / I help Liam. At the moment (11) he’s working / he works on their new website and (12) he’s needing / he needs help with it. (13) I’m learning / I learn some useful stuff about how people (14) are doing / do business in this country.
(15) Do you come / Are you coming to see me? (16) I’m spending / I spend the winter holiday skiing with Ryan and Liam. (17) They’re wanting / They want to meet you and there’s plenty of space. You must bring lots of warm clothes because (18) it’s getting / it gets really cold here in the winter. Let me know as soon as (19) you’re deciding / you decide. And tell me what (20) you’re doing / you do these days.
See you in December, I hope.
Pedro
Show answers
2) doesn’t start 3) I’m making
4) I’m staying 5) own
6) we drive 7) I’m making
8) I think 9) I understand
10) I help 11) he’s working
12) he needs 13) I’m learning
14) do 15) Are you coming
16) I’m spending 17) They want
18) it gets 19) you decide
20) you’re doing
8. Choose words from the box and make sentences ending as shown. Use verbs in the present continuous or present simple and any other words you need.
I best friend boss boyfriend classmates family
father sister wife None of friends Our children
Our next-door neighbour Our teacher Several of colleagues
1) __ boyfriend is studying for his final exams __ this term.
2) __ sister doesn’t go to the cinema __ very often.
3) __ classmates aren’t talking much __ right now.
4) _____ this year.
5) _____ every week.
6) _____ at the moment.
7) _____ this year.
8) _____ at weekends.
9) _____ this term.
10) _____ right now.
Show answers
Example answers:
4) father is working in Poland this year.
5) wife goes to the gym every week.
6) Several of colleagues are learning English at the moment.
7) Our next-door neighbour is building a garage this year.
8) Our children go to bed late at weekends.
9) I’m working hard this term.
10) best friend is waiting for me right now.
9. Put the verbs into the correct form: present continuous or present simple.
Tony Hunt, a journalist, is interviewing Leila Markham, an environmental scientist.
TONY: So tell me, Leila, why is it important to save the rainforests?
LEILA: There are so many reasons. One reason is that lots of the plants which (1) __grow __ (grow) in the rainforest could be useful in medicine. We (2) ________ (not / know) all the plants, but there are tens of thousands of them. Chemists and doctors (3) ________ (try) to discover their secrets before they are destroyed.
TONY: I see. What other reasons are there?
LEILA: Well, scientists (4) ________ (believe) that the rainforests (5) ________ (have) an influence on the world’s weather systems and this (6) ________ (help) to slow down global warming. But, unfortunately, these days the forests (7) ________ (disappear) at a terrifying rate and we (8) ________ (not / do) enough to save them.
TONY: What is the main danger of global warming, in your opinion?
LEILA: The polar regions (9) ________ (consist) of millions of tons of ice. If they (10) ________ (melt), the level of the sea will rise and cause terrible floods. Most scientists (11) ________ (agree) that global temperatures (12) ________ (already / rise). We must do everything we can to prevent global warming, and that includes preserving the rainforests!
TONY: Thank you, Leila, and good luck in your campaign.
LEILA: Thank you.
Show answers
2) don’t know 3) are trying
4) believe 5) have 6) helps
7) are disappearing
8) aren’t doing 9) consist
10) melt 11) agree
12) are already rising
10. Tick (✓) the sentences which are correct. In some pairs, one sentence is correct. In other pairs, both sentences are correct.
|
1) What do you think of hair? ✓ |
What are you thinking of hair? |
|
2) You look great today! |
You’re looking great today! |
|
3) Do you enjoy your meal? |
Are you enjoying your meal? |
|
4) I think of selling car. |
I’m thinking of selling car. |
|
5) Where do you live? |
Where are you living? |
|
6) I don’t believe his story. |
I’m not believing his story. |
|
7) The students seem tired today. |
The students are seeming tired today. |
|
8) He weighs 80 kilos. |
He’s weighing 80 kilos. |
|
9) How often do you play tennis? |
How often are you playing tennis? |
|
10) brother looks for a new job. |
brother is looking for a new job. |
Show answers
2) Both
3) Are you enjoying your meal?
4) I’m thinking of selling car.
5) Both
6) I don’t believe his story.
7) The students seem tired today.
8) He weighs 80 kilos.
9) How often do you play tennis?
10) brother is looking for a new job.
