This document discusses the present continuous tense in English. It provides examples of how to form the present continuous using "be" verbs plus the ing form of other verbs. It also discusses the different uses of the present continuous, including to describe actions happening now or planned future events. Finally, it compares the present continuous to the present simple tense and notes some verbs like "think" or "want" that can be used with either tense depending on their meaning in the sentence.

1. Corso base di inglese
LESSON 8
In questa unità imparerete l’uso del ‘present continuous’ per parlare di azioni che succedono in questo
momento o di eventi già organizzati ma che accadranno nel futuro. Useremo il present continuous anche per
parlare dei nostri appuntamenti di lavoro e non e organizzare un meeting al telefono.
Grammar and language
contents:
1)PRESENT CONTINUOUS –
Form
2)PRESENT CONTINUOUS –
Use
3)PRESENT CONTINUOUS vs
PRESENT SIMPLE
Vocabulary – TELEPHONE
LANGUAGE
Practical english –
ORGANISING A MEETING
Practice – esercizi
1.Listening:
a)‘Sarah and Michael’s
honeymoon’ – dictation
b)‘A telephone conversation’
– listen and complete
c)‘Tom’s Diner’ –- Suzanne
Vega - listen and complete
the song
2.Grammar
a)Present continuous
b)Present continuous vs
present simple.
Video you tube what song are
you listening to
http://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=tvHRUY0tBcs&feature=
player_embedded#at=66

2. Corso base di inglese - Lezione n. 1
8.1 Present Cotinuous Form.
Form of the Present Progressive/Continuous
to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + -ing
Affirmative sentences:
I am playing tennis.
He/she/it is playing tennis.
We/you/they are playing tennis.
Short form:
I’m playing tennis.
He/she/it’s playing tennis.
We/you/they’re playing tennis.
Negative sentences:
I am not saying goodbye.
He/she/it is not saying goodbye.
We/you/they are not saying goodbye.
Short form:
I’m not saying goodbye.
He/she/it’s not saying goodbye.
We/you/they’re not saying goodbye.

3. Corso base di inglese - Lezione n. 1
8.1 Present Cotinuous Form.
Questions:
(question word) Auxiliary - Subject – Infinitive+ing
Am I playing volleyball? Yes, I am. No, I’m not.
Is he/she/it playing? Yes, he/she/it is. No, he/she/it isn’t.
Are we/you/they playing volleyball? Yes, we/you/they are. No, we/you/they aren’t
Spelling
1) double the consonant after a short, stressed vowel at the end of the word
sit – he is sitting
put - he is putting
In British English we double one -l at the end of the word:
travel - travelling

4. Corso base di inglese - Lezione n. 1
8.1 Present Cotinuous Form.
2) verbs ending with -e
write – he is writing
take – he is taking
BUT:
double –e: add -ing
see – he is seeing
3) verbs ending in -ie
Change 'ie' to 'y'.
lie - he is lying
4) verbs ending in -c
Change 'c' to 'ck'.
picnic - he is picnicking

5. Corso base di inglese - Lezione n. 1
8.2 Present Cotinuous Use.
Use of the Present Progressive/Continuous
1) actions happening at the moment of speaking (now, at the moment)
azioni che succedono adesso/in questo momento
Examples:
Peter is reading a book now.
She’s listening to the radio.
2) temporary actions / azioni che hanno una durata temporanea
Examples:
His father is working in Rome this month.
3) fixed plan in the future /azioni prestabilite nel futuro
She is going to Basel on Saturday.

6. Corso base di inglese - Lezione n. 1
8.3 Present Cotinuous vs. Present Simple.
We would like to remind you the different uses of the Present simple and the Present Continuous.
Ti ricordiamo i diversi usi del Present simple e del Present Continuous.
Use of the Present Simple
Repeated actions/ azioni ripetute
Facts or Generalizations (fatti permanenti o generalizzazioni)
With adverbs of frequency (every day, always, often, sometimes or never) / con gli avverbi di frequenza
With a future meaning when we talk about timetables, programmes etc. (for public transport, cinemas
etc.)/ con un significato futuro quando ci riferiamo a orari per il trasporto pubblico, programmi di cinema e
teatro etc.
Use of the Present Progressive/Continuous
actions happening now, at the moment/ azioni che succedono adesso/in questo momento
temporary actions / azioni che hanno una durata temporanea
arranged plans in the future /azioni pianificate nel futuro

7. Corso base di inglese - Lezione n. 1
8.3 Present Cotinuous vs. Present Simple.
Examples:
I work as an English Teacher.(fact)
I’m teaching English in Naples in July. (temporary action)
I have two brothers and two sisters (fact).
I’m having lunch with my friend now. (action happening now/at the moment)
The train leaves at 6.30 in the morning (future-timetable)
I’m leaving with my friend John tomorrow morning (arranged future)
Special verbs
The following verbs are normally not used in the Present Continuous. I seguenti verbi non sono usati nel
present continuous, per questi verbi si usa generalmente il present simple.
be, believe, belong, hate, hear, have (possession), like, love, mean, prefer, remain, realize, see, seem,
smell, think, understand, want, wish
We sometimes use these verbs in the Present Progressive in the following situations: Alcuni di questi
verbi possono essere in entrambi I tempi ma a seconda del significato del verbo stesso.
He's seeing his father tomorrow. (fixed date)
‘They are having a great time in New York’. (have as an activity verb) but we say…. ‘I have a lot of
money’. (have used to describe possession)
What are you thinking? But we say… What do you think of Michael?

8. Corso base di inglese
Fine della lezione n.8