Unit

1 Present continuous (I am doing)

A Study this example situation:
Sarah is in her car. She is on her way to work.
She’s driving to work. (= She is driving …)
This means: she is driving now, at the time of speaking.
The action is not finished.
am/is/are + -ing is the present continuous:
I am (= I’m) driving
he/she/it is (= he’s etc.) working
we/you/they are (= we’re etc.) doing etc.

B I am doing something = I started doing it and I haven’t finished; I’m in the middle of doing it.
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)
How’s your new job? Are you enjoying it?
What’s all that noise? What’s going on? or What’s happening?
Sometimes the action is not happening at the time of speaking. For example:

Steve is talking to a friend on the phone. He says:

I’m reading a really good book at the moment.

It’s about a man who …

Steve says ‘I’m reading …’ but he is not reading the book at

the time of speaking.
He means that he has started reading the book, but has not
finished it yet. He is in the middle of reading it.

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.

C 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.

D We use the present continuous when we talk about a change that has started to happen. We often use
these verbs in this way:
getting, becoming changing, improving
starting, beginning increasing, rising, falling, growing
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 starting to enjoy it now. (not I start)

2 Present continuous and present simple ➜ Units 3–4 Present tenses for the future ➜ Unit 19
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 Unit
Exercises 1
1.1 What’s happening in the pictures? Choose from these verbs:
cross hide scratch take tie wave

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 She’s taking a picture. 4 his head.

2 He a shoelace. 5 behind a tree.
3 the road. 6 to somebody.

1.2 The sentences on the right follow those on the left. Which sentence goes with which?

1 Please don’t make so much noise. a I’m getting hungry. 1 f

2 We need to leave soon. b They’re lying. 2
3 I don’t have anywhere to live right now. c It’s starting to rain. 3
4 I need to eat something soon. d They’re trying to sell it. 4
5 They don’t need their car any more. e It’s getting late. 5
6 Things are not so good at work. f I’m trying to work. 6
7 It isn’t true what they say. g I’m staying with friends. 7
8 We’re going to get wet. h The company is losing money. 8

1.3 Write questions. Use the present continuous.

1 What’s all that noise? What’s happening? (what / happen?)
2 What’s the matter? (why / you / cry?)
3 Where’s your mother? (she / work / today?)
4 I haven’t seen you for ages. (what / you / do / these days?)
5 Amy is a student. (what / she / study?)
6 Who are those people? (what / they / do?)
7 I heard you started a new job. (you / enjoy / it?)
8 We’re not in a hurry. (why / you / walk / so fast?)

1.4 Put the verb into the correct form, positive (I’m doing etc.) or negative (I’m not doing etc.).
1 Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying (I / try) to work.
2 Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining (it / rain) any more.
3 You can turn off the radio. (I / listen) to it.
4 Kate phoned last night. She’s on holiday with friends. (She / have)
a great time and doesn’t want to come back.
5 Andrew started evening classes recently. (He / learn) Japanese.
6 Paul and Sarah have had an argument and now (they / speak)
to one another.
7 The situation is already very bad and now (it / get) worse.
8 Tim (work) today. He’s taken the day off.
9 (I / look) for Sophie. Do you know where she is?
10 The washing machine has been repaired. (It / work) now.
11 (They / build) a new hospital. It will be finished next year.
12 Ben is a student, but he’s not very happy. (He / enjoy) his course.
13 (The weather / change). Look at those clouds.
I think it’s going to rain.
14 Dan has been in the same job for a long time. (He / start) to get bored
with it.
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Unit Present continuous and present simple 1
3 (I am doing and I do)
A Compare:

present continuous (I am doing) present simple (I do)

We use the continuous for things happening at We use the simple for things in general or things
or around the time of speaking. that happen repeatedly.
The action is not complete.

I am doing I do
past now future past now future

The water is boiling. Be careful. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Listen to those people. What language Excuse me, do you speak English?
are they speaking?
Let’s go out. It isn’t raining now. It doesn’t rain very much in summer.
‘I’m busy.’ ‘What are you doing?’ What do you usually do at weekends?
I’m getting hungry. Let’s go and eat. I always get hungry in the afternoon.
Kate wants to work in Italy, so she’s Most people learn to swim when they
learning Italian. are children.
The population of the world is Every day the population of the world
increasing very fast. increases by about 200,000 people.
We use the continuous for temporary situations We use the simple for permanent situations
(things that continue for a short time): (things that continue for a long time):
I’m living with some friends until I find a My parents live in London. They have
place of my own. lived there all their lives.
a: You’re working hard today. Joe isn’t lazy. He works hard most of
b: Yes, I have a lot to do. the time.
See Unit 1 for more information. See Unit 2 for more information.

B I always do and I’m always doing

I always do something = I do it every time:
I always go to work by car. (not I’m always going)
I’m always doing something = I do it too often or more often than normal.
For example:

I’ve lost my keys again. I’m always losing them.

I’m always losing them = I lose them too often,

or more often than normal.

Paul is never satisfied. He’s always complaining. (= he complains too much)

You’re always looking at your phone. Don’t you have anything else to do?

6 How long
Present have you and
continuous (been) Unit
… ? 2 ➜Unit
simple 114 Present tenses for the future ➜ Unit 19
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 Unit
Exercises 3
3.1 Are the underlined verbs OK? Correct them where necessary.
1 Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. OK
2 How often are you going to the cinema? do you go
3 Ben tries to find a job, but he hasn’t had any luck yet.
4 Martina is phoning her mother every day.
5 The moon goes round the earth in about 27 days.
6 Can you hear those people? What do they talk about?
7 What do you do in your spare time?
8 Sarah is a vegetarian. She doesn’t eat meat.
9 I must go now. It gets late.
10 ‘Come on! It’s time to leave.’ ‘OK, I come.’
11 Paul is never late. He’s always starting work on time.
12 They don’t get on well. They’re always arguing.

3.2 Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple.
1 a I usually get (I / usually / get) hungry in the afternoon.
b I’m getting (I / get) hungry. Let’s go and eat something.
2 a ‘ (you / listen) to the radio?’ ‘No, you can turn it off.’
b ‘ (you / listen) to the radio a lot?’ ‘No, not very often.’
3 a The River Nile (flow) into the Mediterranean.
b The river (flow) very fast today – much faster than usual.
4 a I’m not very active. (I / not / do) any sport.
b What (you / usually / do) at weekends?
5 a Rachel is in New York right now. (She / stay) at the Park Hotel.
b (She / always / stay) there when she’s in New York.

3.3 Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple.
1 Why are all these people here? What’s happening (What / happen)?
2 Julia is good at languages. (She / speak) four languages very well.
3 Are you ready yet? (Everybody / wait) for you.
4 I’ve never heard this word. How (you / pronounce) it?
5 Kate (not / work) this week. She’s on holiday.
6 I think my English (improve) slowly. It’s better than it was.
7 Nicola (live) in Manchester. She has never lived anywhere else.
8 Can we stop walking soon? (I / start) to get tired.
9 Sam and Tina are in Madrid right now. (They / visit) a friend of theirs.
10 ‘What (your father / do)?’ ‘He’s an architect.’
11 It took me an hour to get to work this morning. Most days
(it / not / take) so long.
12 I (I / learn) to drive. My driving test is next month. My father
(teach) me.

3.4 Finish B’s sentences. Use always -ing.

1 a: I’ve lost my keys again.
b: Not again! You’re always losing your keys .
2 a: The car has broken down again.
b: That car is useless. It .
3 a: Look! You’ve made the same mistake again.
b: Oh no, not again! I .
4 a: Oh, I’ve left my phone at home again.
b: Typical! .

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 Key to Exercises

In some of the exercises you have to use your own ideas to write sentences. Example answers are given in the Key.
If possible, check your answers with somebody who speaks English well.

UNIT 1 2.3 3.4

3 rises 7 translates 2 It’s always breaking down.
1.1
4 make 8 don’t tell 3 I’m always making the same
2 He’s tying / He is tying
5 don’t eat 9 flows mistake. / … that mistake.
3 They’re crossing / They are crossing
6 doesn’t believe 4 You’re always leaving your
4 He’s scratching / He is scratching
phone at home.
5 She’s hiding / She is hiding 2.4
6 They’re waving / They are waving 2 Does your sister play tennis?
3 How often do you go to the cinema?
UNIT 4
1.2
4 What does your brother do? 4.1
2 e 6 h
5 Do you speak Spanish? 2 believes
3 g 7 b
6 Where do your grandparents live? 3 I don’t remember / I do not
4 a 8 c
remember or I can’t remember
5 d 2.5
4 I’m using / I am using
2 I promise
1.3 5 I need
3 I insist
2 Why are you crying? 6 consists
4 I apologise
3 Is she working today? 7 does he want
5 I recommend
4 What are you doing these days? 8 is he looking
6 I agree
5 What is she studying? / What’s she 9 Do you recognise
studying? 10 I’m thinking / I am thinking
6 What are they doing?
UNIT 3 11 do you think
7 Are you enjoying it? 3.1 12 he seems
8 Why are you walking so fast? 3 is trying
4.2
4 phones
1.4 2 I’m thinking.
5 OK
3 I’m not listening / I am not listening 3 Who does this umbrella
6 are they talking
4 She’s having / She is having belong to?
7 OK
5 He’s learning / He is learning 4 This smells good.
8 OK
6 they aren’t speaking / they’re not 5 Is anybody sitting there?
9 It’s getting / It is getting
speaking / they are not speaking 6 These gloves don’t fit me.
10 I’m coming / I am coming
7 it’s getting / it is getting
11 He always starts 4.3
8 isn’t working / ’s not working / is not
12 OK 3 OK (I feel is also correct)
working
4 does it taste
9 I’m looking / I am looking 3.2
5 OK
10 It’s working / It is working 2 a Are you listening
6 do you see
11 They’re building / They are building b Do you listen
7 OK
12 He’s not enjoying / He is not enjoying 3 a flows
13 The weather’s changing / The b is flowing / ’s flowing 4.4
weather is changing 4 a I don’t do 2 ’s / is
14 He’s starting / He is starting b do you usually do 3 ’s being / is being
5 a She’s staying / She is staying 4 ’re / are
UNIT 2 b She always stays 5 are you being
6 Are you
2.1 3.3
2 go 2 She speaks
3 causes 3 Everybody’s waiting / Everybody is
UNIT 5
4 closes waiting 5.1
5 live 4 do you pronounce 2 had
6 take 5 isn’t working / is not working / ’s not 3 She walked to work
7 connects working 4 It took her (about) half an hour
6 is improving 5 She started work
2.2
7 lives 6 She didn’t have (any) lunch. / … eat
2 do the banks close
8 I’m starting / I am starting (any) lunch.
3 don’t use
9 They’re visiting / They are visiting 7 She finished work
4 does Maria come
10 does your father do 8 She was tired when she got home.
5 do you do
11 it doesn’t take 9 She cooked / She made
6 does this word mean
12 I’m learning / I am learning … 10 She didn’t go
7 doesn’t do
is teaching / ’s teaching 11 She went to bed
8 takes … does it take
12 She slept

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 Key to Exercises

5.2 UNIT 7 8.2

2 taught 3 haven’t eaten
7.1
3 sold 4 I haven’t played (it)
2 Her English has improved.
4 fell … hurt 5 I’ve had / I have had
3 My bag has disappeared.
5 threw … caught 6 I haven’t read
4 Lisa has broken her leg.
6 spent … bought … cost 7 I’ve never been / I haven’t been
5 The bus fare has gone up.
8 it’s happened / it has happened or
5.3 6 Dan has grown a beard.
that’s happened / that has happened
2 did you travel / did you go 7 It’s stopped raining. / It has stopped
9 I’ve never tried / I haven’t tried or
3 did it take (you) / was your trip / were raining.
I’ve never eaten / I haven’t eaten
you there 8 My sweater has shrunk. / My
10 ’s been / has been
4 did you stay sweater’s shrunk.
11 I’ve never seen / I haven’t seen
5 Was the weather
7.2
6 Did you go to / Did you see / 8.3
2 been 4 gone
Did you visit Example answers:
3 gone 5 been
2 I haven’t travelled by bus this week.
5.4
7.3 3 I haven’t been to the cinema
3 didn’t disturb
2 Have you seen it recently.
4 left
3 I’ve forgotten / I have forgotten 4 I haven’t read a book for ages.
5 were
4 he hasn’t replied 5 I haven’t lost anything today.
6 didn’t sleep
5 has it finished
7 didn’t cost 8.4
6 The weather has changed
8 flew 2 It’s the first time they’ve seen a
7 You haven’t signed
9 didn’t have giraffe. / … they have seen …
8 have they gone
10 wasn’t 3 She’s / She has never ridden a horse
9 He hasn’t decided yet
before.
10 I’ve just seen her / I have just seen her
UNIT 6 11 He’s already gone / He has
4 This is the second time they’ve been
6.1 to Japan. / … they have been to
already gone
2 wasn’t listening Japan.
12 Has your course started yet
3 were sitting 5 It’s not the first time she’s / she has /
You can also use the past simple (Did
4 was working Emily has stayed at this hotel.
you see, he didn’t reply etc.) in this
5 weren’t looking 6 He’s / He has / Ben has never played
exercise.
6 was snowing tennis before. or He/Ben hasn’t
7.4 played tennis before.
7 were you going
2 he’s just gone out / he has just
8 was looking
gone out or he just went out UNIT 9
6.2 3 I haven’t finished yet. or I didn’t
9.1
2 e 5 c finish yet.
2 ’s been watching TV / has been
3 a 6 d 4 I’ve already done it. / I have already
watching TV or … watching
4 g 7 b done it. or I already did it. / I did it
television
6.3 already.
3 ’ve been playing tennis / have
1 didn’t see … was looking 5 Have you found a place to live yet?
been playing tennis
2 was cycling … stepped … or Did you find a place …?
4 ’s been running / has been running
was going … managed … 6 I haven’t decided yet. or I didn’t
decide yet. 9.2
didn’t hit
7 she’s just come back / she has just 2 Have you been waiting long?
6.4 3 What have you been doing?
come back or she just came back
2 were you doing 4 How long have you been working
3 Did you go UNIT 8 here?
4 were you driving … happened 5 How long have you been doing that?
8.1
5 took … wasn’t looking
2 Have you ever been to California? 9.3
6 didn’t know … did
3 Have you ever run a marathon? 2 ’ve been waiting / have been waiting
7 saw … was trying
4 Have you ever spoken to a famous 3 ’ve been learning Japanese /
8 was walking … heard … was
person? have been learning Japanese
following … started
5 What’s the most beautiful place 4 She’s been working there /
9 wanted … changed
you’ve ever visited? / … you have She has been working there
10 dropped … was doing … didn’t break
ever visited? 5 They’ve been going there /
They have been going there or …
going to Italy

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