- •Present Indefinite Versus Present Continuous
- •The Present Indefinite
- •Temporary or permanent?
- •To have Conjugation
- •The Present Continuous
- •Conjugation
- •Questions:
- •Indirect questions (Object clause):
- •Stative verbs with difference in meaning
- •Test (Advanced)
- •Present Indefinite or Present Continuous?
- •Present Indefinite or Present Continuous?
The Present Continuous
The Present Continuous is formed by means of the auxiliary verb “to be” in the Present Indefinite and the ing-form of the notional verb.
The ing-form is built up by adding the suffix – ing to the stem of the notional verb: speak – speaking.
In writing the following rules should be observed:
1) a mute – e at the end of the verb is dropped before the suffix – ing: close – closing, make – making;
2) a final consonant is doubled if it is preceded by a short stressed vowel or if a verb ends in a stressed – er(ur): cut- cutting, begin – beginning, prefer – preferring, occur – occurring;
3) a final – l is always doubled in British English: travel- travelling, quarrel – quarrelling;
4) a final – y is preserved no matter sound it is preceded by: study- studying, play- playing, dye – dying (красить, окрашивать);
5) a final –ie changes into – y: tie – tying, die– dying (умереть), lie (лгать) – lying.
Conjugation
affirmative |
negative |
interrogative |
Inter.-negative |
I am working |
I am not/I’m not working |
Am I working? |
Am I not working? |
He is working |
He is not, he’s not, he isn’t working |
Is he working? |
Is he not/isn’t he working?
|
She is working |
She is not, she’s not, she isn’t working |
Is she working |
Is she not/Isn’t she working? |
It is working |
It is not, it’s not, it isn’t working |
Is it working? |
Is it not/ Isn’t it working? |
We are working |
We are not, we’re not, we aren’t working |
Are we working? |
Are we not/ Aren’t we working? |
You are working |
You are not, you’re not, you aren’t working |
Are you working? |
Are you not/ Aren’t you working? |
They are working |
They are not, they’re not, they aren’t working |
Are they working? |
Are they not/Aren’t they working? |
Questions:
General: Are you sleeping now? – Yes, I am/No I am not/
Special: What are you doing? Where are you going? Who are you looking for?
Who are you looking at? What are you waiting for? Who are you waiting for?
Alternative: Are you reading or watching TV? – Reading.
Disjunctive: You’re sleeping, aren’t you? You aren’t sleeping, are you?
Indirect questions (Object clause):
I wonder if he’s sleeping. I’d like to know if they are working.
We use the Present Simple:
e.g. I live in a flat. She works for an insurance company.
e.g. I use my mobile phone every day.
e.g. The sun rises in the East. Cats don’t eat sweets - To tell stories, or summarise the plot of a film or book: e.g. Our hero goes off to search for treasure, which he eventually finds after many adventures.
e.g. I always complain if the service is bad in restaurants.
e.g. She goes (or went) up to this man and looks (or looked) straight into his eyes. She's carrying (or was carrying) а bag full of shopping...
e.g. King serves to the left hand court and Adams makes а wonderful return. She's playing magnificent tennis in this match...
e.g. The exhibition opens at 10 p.m. When does your train leave? – In 15 minutes.
e.g. Peace Talks Fail. Now I take an apple, wash it, then peel and cut into pieces.
- in subordinate clauses of time, condition and concession when the action refers to the future.
e.g. When he comes, he will help you. Will you wait while I look through the manuscript? Before I go out, I’ll do the washing up. I’ll wait till he comes. (…пока он не придет). As soon as she comes, tell me about it. Once she comes, she’ll help you.
e.g. If he comes, he’ll help you. I’ll be on time unless something happens. (если ничего не случится).
e.g. I'll have dinner whenever it's ready. No matter what he says, we'll do it. Remember! In object clauses Future Indefinite is used: e.g. I don’t know if he will come. I don’t know when he will come. (pay attention to the direct word order) Cf. When he comes, he will help you. I don’t know when he will come.
Appearanсe: appear, resemble, seem Composition: consist of, contain, have Connection: come from, cost, fit, suit Existence: be, exist Likes and dislikes: dislike, hate, like, love, prefer Needs and wants: need, want, wish Opinion: believe, doubt, imagine, suppose, think Possession: belong to, have, own, owe (быть в долгу), possess Senses: feel, hear, notice, see, smell, sound, taste
I feel sick I am feeling sick. My feet ache. My feet are aching. My leg hurts. My leg’s hurting. |
We use the Present Continuous: -for temporary situations existing for a period at the present time: e.g. I’m staying with a friend at the moment. She’s working very hard nowadays. - For situations which are changing during the present time: e.g. The weather’s getting hotter and hotter. -For actions, or repeated actions or habits, occurring at the moment of speaking: e.g. I am using John’s mobile phone because I’ve left mine at home. You’re eating too fast.
e.g. You’re always borrowing money. -to express an action going on at the present period; the precise time limits of the action are not known either. Besides, the action may or may not be going on at the actual moment of speaking. Indications of time are not necessary here either. e.g. What are you crying for? - denotes actions which occur continually: e.g. The earth is always moving. The sun is ever shining
e.g. You’re always complaining that waiters are rude.
e.g. I’m never speaking to you again.
e.g. She is having an operation/ a good time/a meal/a bath (=actively involved in) And She has (got) a big car (=possession) e.g. They are thinking of buying a cheaper car (=considering) . I’m just thinking (=at this moment) And They think it’s too expensive (=opinion) e.g. I’m feeling exhausted (=physical reaction) And I feel what we did was wrong (=opinion) e.g. Are you seeing a lot of Mary nowadays? (=spending time with) You’re seeing things – there’s nobody at the window. (=imagining) And Do you see what I mean (=Knowledge; understand e.g. He is tasting the milk to see if it’s OK. (=checking the quality) And This juice tastes good (senses) e.g. The Blues Band is appearing at the Odeon on Saturday (=performing) And She appears to be very upset (=appearance)
Simple or Continuous form with no change of meaning:
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