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Present continuous - English lesson

The real present : (present continuous or - ing present) is formed with : Subject + BE + V + ing.

The action is in progress. It is the present action which is described at the moment when you are talking.

The present in –ing is formed very simply with the help of BE and its different forms :

I am, you are, he/she/it is, we are, you are, they are

ex : Jenny is playing tennis in the sun and is very thirsty !

Interrogative and negative forms :

** Interrogative form : Questions are made following this pattern :  BE + Subject + Verb+-ing

ex : Is Jenny playing tennis in the sun, and is she very thirsty ?

** Negative forms are obtained simply adding NOT to the original pattern : Subject + BE + not + verb+ -ing.

ex : Jenny is not/isn't playing tennis in the sun and she isn't too thirsty !

Full forms are not used in oral expression in the affirmative and negative forms:

ex : You won’t say : She is playing tennis. but : She’s playing.

It will be the same for negatives. You won’t say : I am not listening to you but : I’m not listening to you.

When you write, according to circumstances, you may choose (or be asked!) to use the 'full forms' or the 'short forms' of the present.

In the following exercise, you're required to use the short forms of the present everytime it is possible !

Good luck !

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- 'Virgile, stop calling Mom! The whole house can hear you! She (to sit) is siting's sitting's sitingI don't know in the garden. She (have)'re having's havinghavingI don't know a cup of tea and she (listen to)listening to's listenning to's listening toI don't know the radio.'
-'What (you / ask)you askingyou're askingare you askingI don't know me? '
-'(she / have) Is she havingHaving sheShe havingI don't know tea with Mrs Brown?'
-'No, she (be/not)is notnot isisn'tI don't know . Mrs Brown (garden)'s gardeninggardening's gardenI don't know just now! Look at her! She (not/water)is watering notisn't wateringare not wateringI don't know her flowers, but she (cut)are cuttingcutting's cuttingI don't know her wonderful roses! What a pity!'
-'Oh no! Fast! Stop it ! (I/not / throw)I'm not throwingI'm throw notI'm throwing notI don't know your ball into her flower-beds ... Fast! (you /obey)You obeyingAre you obeyingYou are obeyingI don't know my orders, or not? Good dogs (not /run)are running notrun notaren't runningI don't know through people's gardens! They're on a leash! '