The present continuous

  • A1 · Beginner
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

The present continuous for things happening now: I'm studying. She isn't working. Are they swimming? Yes, they are. A family group chat on a Sunday evening, the -ing spelling rules, and now versus every day.

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Free, no card needed. The PDF has every slide, the homework and an answer key.

I'm workingis rainingAre you…?

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2Reading: a family chatReading comprehension
  3. 3What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  4. 4How do we spell it?Grammar exercise
  5. 5The present continuousGrammar rule
  6. 6Right nowGrammar exercise
  7. 7Questions, answers and nowGrammar exercise
  8. 8Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  9. 9What am I doing?Speaking practice
  10. 10Right nowGrammar exercise
  11. 11Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: a message from vacationGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: find the spelling mistakeGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: what are you doing?Discussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Are you at home right now? Which room are you in?
  2. Does your family have a group chat?
  3. What do you usually do on Sunday evenings?

Grammar rule

The present continuous

PositiveNegativeQuestion
II'm working.I'm not working.Am I working?
he / she / itShe's cooking.He isn't cooking.Is she cooking?
we / you / theyThey're playing.We aren't playing.Are they playing?
  • Short answers: Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. · Yes, it is. / No, it isn't. No short form after yes (not Yes, I'm).
  • Questions with what, where, who: What are you doing? — I'm cooking.
  • Words for now: now, right now, at the moment.

Spelling

Most verbs: + ing (read → reading) · e at the end: drop e (make → making) · short verbs (one syllable) with one vowel + one consonant at the end: double the last letter (sit → sitting), but not w, x or y (play → playing)

Now or every day?

Every day, every week → present simple: My grandpa reads the news every morning. · Now → present continuous: Right now, he's reading a book.

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