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.
B "I am doing something"
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)
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.
C Periods around now
You can use the present continuous with today / this week / this year etc. (periods around now):
Example 1
A: You're working hard today.
B: Yes, I have a lot to do.
Example 2
The company I work for isn't doing so well this year.
D Changes started to happen
We use the present continuous when we talk about a change that has started to happen. We often use these verbs:
- • Is your English getting better? (not Does your English get better)
- • The population of the world is increasing very fast.
- • At first I didn't like my job, but I'm starting to enjoy it now.
1.1 What's happening in the pictures?
Use: cross, hide, scratch, take, tie, wave
1. She a picture.
2. He a shoelace.
3. They the road.
4. He his head.
5. She behind a tree.
6. They to somebody.
1.2 Follow-up Matching
1.3 Write Questions
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?)