Get This!
Listen and read.
What are you doing?
I’m looking at some old photos. My dad is making a family photo book and wants to find some funny photos.
Let me see. What is going on in that one?
Oh, that was ten years ago. I was learning to ride a bike, and my dad was helping me. But he ran into my mum and they fell down. It was priceless[explanation: priceless [ˈpraɪsləs] – siin: uskumatult naljakas]!
Well, I guess it’s funny now. But, I bet[explanation: bet*, bet, bet [bet, bet, bet] – kihla vedama] they weren’t laughing then!
- What are you doing?
- I’m looking at some old photos.
- My dad is making a family photo book.
- I was learning to ride a bike, and my dad was helping me.
- When dad was helping me, he ran into my mum.
- I bet they weren’t laughing then!
Which sentence ...
- describes two actions in progress in the past?
- describes an action at a certain moment in the past?
- asks about an action taking place at the moment of speaking?
- describes an action in progress at the moment of speaking?
- describes a short action that interrupted a longer one?
- describes an action happening around now?
Present Continuous and Past Continuous
Present Continuous
We use the Present Continuous
- for actions happening now,
- for temporary situations,
- for annoying habits.
Statements | |
I’m walking to school. | am/is/are + -ing form of the main verb |
Negative sentences | |
Jane isn’t listening to me. | am/is/are + not + -ing form of the main verb |
Questions | |
Is Jackson looking at some old photos? Why is Jenny just sitting here? | (question word) + am/is/are + subject[explanation: subject [ˈsʌbdʒekt] – alus; õppeaine] + -ing form of the main verb |
How to spell -ing forms:
tell, say → telling, saying
take, ride → taking, riding
run, cut → running, cutting
die, lie → dying, lying
Past Continuous
We use the Past Continuous
- for actions happening at a moment in the past,
- for two actions in progress at the same time in the past,
- for a long action which was interrupted by a short one.
Statements | |
Jane was looking for her bike when I met her. | was/were + -ing form of the main verb |
Negative sentences | |
I wasn’t helping enough with the search. | was/were + not + -ing form of the main verb |
Questions | |
Were you looking for the bike too? Why was Jenny feeling upset? | (question word) + was/were + subject + -ing form of the main verb |
Let’s Practise!
- Jackson’s talking to Jane about his family photo book.
- Jane was listening carefully.
- Gemma’s never ridden a bike.
- We’ve been playing the guitar for two hours.
- They’re trying to do better than us.
- Were you playing a video game when I called?
- I’ll call you later – I’m getting ready for school.
- Everybody was laughing at my jokes at the Open Mic event.
- How do you spell your last name?
- I’ve been waiting for this concert for years.
- How’s the football match going so far?
- What were they watching yesterday at 6 p.m.?
Exercise 2
Describe what the people are doing in each picture using the prompts.
have/breakfast/dining room
He .
have/relaxing/bath
She .
run/park/lunch break
do/chores/day off
do/shopping/grocery shop
take/online/yoga class
All the teams in the English Premier League each other two times a year. Arsenal and Liverpool their first match at the moment. I to Liverpool’s coach when their star player walked into the room. He is an important player because he a lot of goals for the team.
I the final practice yesterday morning when it suddenly started raining. In the end, the players a lot at that practice – the coaches to get them ready for the game.
- I when my friend messaged me.
- Mary said she for me outside.
- Oliver the dog when it started to rain.
- Where when I saw you last night?
- While my mum dinner, I to a podcast.
Pairwork 1
A. What are the people in the pictures (not) doing? Tell your partner in English. Switch roles.
B. What were the people (not) doing while Jackson and Jane were looking at the photos? Tell your partner. Switch roles.
Were you ...
Yes, I was. / No, I wasn’t.
How Am I Doing?
I can explain how to form and use the Present Continuous. | |
I can explain how to form and use the Past Continuous. | |
I can use the Present Continuous in speech and writing. | |
I can use the Past Continuous in speech and writing. |
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