Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 1 · B1

Present continuous (I am doing)

Use am/is/are + -ing for something already in progress and not yet finished, whether it is happening this second or across a stretch of time around now.

Start the lesson

16Steps · about 30 minutes

In this lesson

What the present continuous isA2 screens of questions
Started, not finished: in the middle of itB2 screens of questions
Periods around now: today, this week, this yearC2 screens of questions
Changes already under wayD1 screen of questions
Put it together+3 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

What the present continuous is

Rob is on the bus, on his way to the office. He has been on it for twenty minutes and it has moved roughly forty yards.

We say: He is travelling to work. It is happening now, at the moment of speaking, and it has not finished. On present evidence it may never finish.

The form is am/is/are + -ing:

Subject be -ing
I am (I'm) working
he / she / it is (he's, she's, it's) waiting
we / you / they are (we're, you're, they're) travelling
  • Rob's travelling to work.
  • I'm waiting for the bus.
  • They're sitting in traffic again.

Point A · Exercise 1.1 · part 1 of 2

What is happening in each scene? Complete the sentence with one of these verbs in the present continuous.

Use these

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  1. Example

    A woman is standing on a ladder with a brush, putting blue on a wall.

    She's painting the wall.

    AnswerShe's painting the wall.

  2. A man is holding bread out to a group of ducks.

    He the ducks.

  3. Two children are going up a tree.

    They a tree.

  4. A man is under a car with a spanner.

    He his car.

  5. A girl on a train is lifting her hand to someone on the platform.

    She to her grandad.

Point A · Exercise 1.1 · part 2 of 2

What is happening in each scene? Complete the sentence with one of these verbs in the present continuous.

Use these

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  1. Three people are behind a car that will not start, pressing against it.

    They the car.

Point B of 4

Started, not finished: in the middle of it

I am doing something means I have started it and I have not finished it. I am in the middle of it.

The action does not need to be happening at the exact second of speaking. If somebody tells you on the phone that they are reading a very long book about canals, they are not reading it while they talk to you. They have started it, they have not finished it, and one suspects they never shall.

  • Could you keep it down, please? I'm trying to concentrate.
  • "Where's Dad?" "He's having a bath."
  • Let's head off. The rain has stopped at last.
  • How's the new job going? Are you enjoying it?
  • What's all that banging? What's going on?
  • I'm reading a very long book about canals at the moment.
  • Megan wants to live in Spain, so she's learning Spanish.
  • My neighbours are building an extension. They hope to finish it by Christmas.

Point B · Exercise 1.2 · part 1 of 2

Each sentence on the left is followed by one on the right. Match them.

Use these

  1. I'm getting cold.
  2. It's getting dark.
  3. He's telling lies.
  4. I'm trying to sleep.
  5. They're looking for a new one.
  6. I'm living with my sister.
  7. Business is improving.
  8. It's starting to snow.

  1. Example

    Please turn the music down.

    d

    AnswerPlease turn the music down. I'm trying to sleep.

  2. We should head home soon.

  3. I sold my flat last month.

  4. Could you shut the window?

  5. Their old car finally died.

Point B · Exercise 1.2 · part 2 of 2

Each sentence on the left is followed by one on the right. Match them.

Use these

  1. I'm getting cold.
  2. It's getting dark.
  3. He's telling lies.
  4. I'm trying to sleep.
  5. They're looking for a new one.
  6. I'm living with my sister.
  7. Business is improving.
  8. It's starting to snow.

  1. The shop is doing better now.

  2. Don't believe a word he says.

  3. Put your boots on.

Point C of 4

Periods around now: today, this week, this year

Use the present continuous with today, this week, this month, this year and similar periods that include the present.

  • You're working late today.
  • The shop isn't doing very well this year.
  • We're eating far too much cake this week.

Point C · Exercise 1.3 · part 1 of 2

Write a question in the present continuous, using the words in brackets.

  1. Example

    What's all that shouting? (what / happen?)

    What's happening?

    AnswerWhat's all that shouting? What's happening?

  2. You look upset. (why / you / cry?)

  3. Where's your brother? (he / work / today?)

  4. I haven't seen you in months. (what / you / do / these days?)

  5. Jess is at college. (what / she / study?)

Point C · Exercise 1.3 · part 2 of 2

Write a question in the present continuous, using the words in brackets.

  1. Who are those men in the garden? (what / they / do?)

  2. I hear you joined a choir. (you / enjoy / it?)

  3. There's no rush. (why / you / drive / so fast?)

Point D of 4

Changes already under way

The present continuous also describes a change in progress: it has begun and it is still moving. A handful of verbs appear in this pattern constantly:

growing, rising, falling, increasing, improving, changing, getting, becoming, beginning, starting

  • Is your Spanish getting better?
  • The price of bread is rising again.
  • I found the course hard at first, but I'm beginning to get the hang of it.
  • The days are getting shorter.

Point D · Extra practice

Put the verb in brackets into the present continuous. Each sentence describes a change that is under way.

  1. The price of petrol again. (go up)

  2. Your English every week. (improve)

  3. The evenings lighter now that it's March. (get)

Put it together · Exercise 1.4 · part 1 of 3

Put the verb into the present continuous, positive (I'm doing) or negative (I'm not doing).

  1. Example

    Could you keep it down? I'm trying (I / try) to concentrate.

    AnswerCould you keep it down? I'm trying to concentrate.

  2. Example

    Let's head off. It isn't snowing (it / snow) any more.

    AnswerLet's head off. It isn't snowing any more.

  3. You can switch the telly off. (I / watch) it.

  4. Gemma rang from Portugal. (she / have) a lovely time and has no plans to come home.

  5. Tom joined a night class recently. (he / learn) Italian.

  6. Ann and Phil fell out last week, and now (they / speak) to each other.

Put it together · Exercise 1.4 · part 2 of 3

Put the verb into the present continuous, positive (I'm doing) or negative (I'm not doing).

  1. The roof was leaking already, and now (it / get) worse.

  2. Sam (work) today. He's taken the day off.

  3. (I / look) for Jo. Have you seen her?

  4. The boiler has been fixed. (it / work) properly now.

Put it together · Exercise 1.4 · part 3 of 3

Put the verb into the present continuous, positive (I'm doing) or negative (I'm not doing).

  1. (they / build) a new school in the village. It opens next September.

  2. Liam is at university, but he isn't happy. (he / enjoy) his course.

  3. (the weather / change). Look at the sky over there.

  4. Kev has done the same job for twelve years. (he / begin) to feel restless.

Lesson 1 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Present simple (I do)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. What the present continuous is–Not checkedB. Started, not finished: in the middle of it–Not checkedC. Periods around now: today, this week, this year–Not checkedD. Changes already under way–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked