Present Progressive

By Gaby Rinkerman

If someone…If someone is acting big with you,If someone is bossing you aboutlook very hard at one of their ears.Keep your eyes fixed on it.Don’t let up.Stare at it as if it wasa moldy apple.Keep staring.Don’t blink.After a bityou’ll see their handgo creeping up to touch it.They’re saying to themselves:“What’s wrong with my ear?”At that momentyou know you’ve won.SMILE.

Reconstruct the text:If someone _______________________If someone _______________________look very hard at ____________________Keep your eyes ________________Don’t ________________Stare at it ________________a ______________Keep _______________Don’t _______________After _____________you’ll ___________________go _________________________They’re _____________________“What’s ______________________At _______________________You ______________________SMILE.

Complete with your own ideas:

If someone is ____________,if someone is _________________Do ___________________and _____________________After a bityou’ll see ________________They are saying to themselves:____________________________At that momentyou know you’ve won._____________.

The Present Progressive or Continuous TenseUSES To talk about an action that is happening

right now.– We are listeningare listening to the teacher.

To talk about an action in the extended present.– They are savingare saving to buy a house.

To talk about an action in the future.– I am goingam going to New York next week.

Form

Be + V + ing

Example: He is listening to the teacher.

I am standing.Negatives:

They are NOT learning French.

She is NOT sitting.Questions:

Are you reading the newspaper?

Is he sleeping?

Spelling1. Always keep the final Y. Then add –ing.

carry carrying worry worryingstay staying study studying

2. For one-syllable verbs that end in CVC, we double the final consonant and add –ing. (we do NOT double x, y, and z)

plan planning sit sittingstop stopping run running

3. For two-syllable verbs that end in CVC, we double the final consonant if the last syllable is stressed.

refer referring begin beginningadmit admitting occur occurringBUT:listen listening open opening

4. If the verb ends in consonant + e, drop the e before adding –ing.type typing take taking

Spelling Exercise

Plan Grab

Open Study

Sit Fix

Begin Wipe

Hurry Play

Happen Drink

Stay Smoke

Row Wait

Marry Serve

Spelling Exercise - Answers

Plan plaNNing Grab graBBing

Open opening Study Studying

Sit siTTing Fix Fixing

Begin begiNNing Wipe wiping

Hurry Hurrying Play Playing

Happen Happening Drink Drinking

Stay Staying Smoke Smoking

Row Rowing Wait Waiting

Marry Marrying Serve serving

Internet Grammar Links http://www.collegeem.qc.ca/cemdept/anglais/tobeetcl.htm