Unit 7: The present continuous

1. Look and listen

Your teacher can mime an action. Watch, listen and repeat.

read

I am reading.

cook

She is cooking.

play football

They are playing football.

Now: I am reading.
Every day: I read every day.

The pictures identify familiar objects. Your teacher demonstrates the actions, or you can imagine the action from the sentence.

For the teacher

Demonstrate actions such as reading, writing, standing, sitting, opening a book or drinking water. Ask “What am I doing?” and model the answer. Contrast an action happening now with a routine already practised in the present simple. Do not expect the learner to infer the action from a still picture alone.

2. I am, you are, he is

The present continuous uses be + verb-ing.

Person	Full form	Short form
I	I am reading.	I'm reading.
you / we / they	You are reading.	You're reading.
he / she / it	She is reading.	She's reading.

3. Make the -ing form

Usually, add -ing to the verb.

Verb	Now
read	reading
play	playing
cook	cooking
write	writing
run	running

Write the missing word.

1. I am ___ a book.

2. She is ___ a message.

3. He is ___ in the park.

4. Negative sentences

Put not after am, is or are. Short forms are common.

I'm reading. → I'm not reading.
She is cooking. → She isn't cooking. / She's not cooking.
They are playing. → They aren't playing. / They're not playing.

Choose the correct negative.

1. “He is not sleeping.”

He doesn't sleeping.He isn't sleeping.

2. “We are not working.”

We aren't working.We don't working.

5. Questions: What are you doing?

Put am, is or are before the person.

You are reading. → Are you reading?
She is cooking. → Is she cooking?
They are playing. → Are they playing?

Choose the correct question.

1. Ask your friend about now.

Do you reading?Are you reading?

2. Ask about Sam.

Is Sam working?Does Sam working?

6. What is happening now?

Look at the object, then use the action your teacher demonstrates or describes.

use a phone

She is using her phone.

drink water

He is drinking water.

wait for a bus

They are waiting for a bus.

Complete the sentences.

1. She ___ her phone now.

2. They ___ for the bus.

3. He ___ water.

7. Present simple or present continuous?

Use the present simple for routines. Use the present continuous for something happening now.

Every day: I take the bus to work.
Right now: I am waiting for the bus.

Choose the correct form.

1. Every morning, I ___ to work.

walkam walking

2. Look! She ___ a book now.

readsis reading

3. Listen! The children ___ football outside.

playare playing

8. Speak and write

With your teacher or a partner, ask and answer:

What are you doing now?
What is your teacher doing?
What are the other learners doing?
What do you do every day?

Example:
“I'm learning English now. I study English twice a week.”

Write three sentences about what people are doing now, and two about things you do every day.

Remember

Use	Example
Present simple: routine	I read every evening.
Present continuous: happening now	I'm reading now.
Present continuous negative	She isn't reading.
Present continuous question	Are they reading?

Form: am / is / are + verb-ing.

The present continuous can also describe future arrangements. We will study that use later.