Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Tense

In this aspect of tutorial for beginners, learners are going to comprehend the “ Present Continuous Tense”. What is “ Present Continuous Tense”?. What are the basis to identify the “ Present Continuous Tense”?. How to “ Present Continuous Tense” write  correctly in a sentence.

In this lesson the students will understand and identify the use of Present Continuous Tense that is happening in the present.

I. Objectives: At the end of the lesson the students would be able to;

  1. Read and answer the questions correctly

2. Identify the present continuous tense

3. Use the present continuous tense correctly.

II. Subject Matter: Present Continuous Tense

Materials: Practice Exercises

           Activity Sheets

III. Procedure/ Activities

A. Pre Activity

Drill: Vocabulary Preview

            eating                          teaching                       watching TV

            drinking                       singing                         listening to music

            cooking                       sleeping                       playing cards

            reading                        swimming                    playing baseball

            studying                      planting                       playing the piano

B. Activity Proper

1. Motivation

Ask this question to the class “What are you doing?” “I’m ______.”

and elicit answers from the students.

2. Presentation (through reading a short story)

                                    In The Park

                        The Hanes family is in the park today.

            The sun is shining, and the birds are singing.

            It’s a beautiful day!

                        Mr. Hanes is reading a newspaper.

Mrs. Hanes is listening to the radio. Rosie and Patty Hanes

are studying. And Peter Hanes is playing the guitar.

            The Hanes family is very happy today.

It’s a beautiful day and they’re in the park.

3. Reading Check;

            1. Where’s the Hanes family?

            2. What is Mr. Hanes doing?

            3. What are Rosie and Patty doing?

            4. What is Peter doing?

            5. What is Mrs. Hanes doing?

4. Discussion

Discuss: When to use The Present Continuous Tense

1. We use the Present continuous Tense to talk about activities happening now.

Examples:

Mr. Hanes is reading a newspaper.

            Mrs. Hanes is listening to the radio.

Rosie and Patty Hanes are studying.

            Peter Hanes is playing the guitar.

            2. We can also use the Present continuous Tense to talk about activities happening

            around now, and not necessarily this very moment.

             Examples:

            Sally is studying really hard for her exams this week.

            I am reading a really interesting book now.

            How are you brushing up on your English for the trip?

            We aren’t working hard these days.

3. The Present continuous tense is also used to talk about activities happening in the near future, especially for planned future events.

Examples:

I am seeing my professor on Wednesday.

Leah is coming for dinner tomorrow.

Are you doing anything tonight?

We aren’t going on holiday next week.

5. Practice Exercises (refer to practice exercises sheet)

6. Generalization

            When do we use the Present Continuous Tense?

            Write students answers on the board and have the class reads it then in groups then by

            selected students.

7. Group Activity (refer to group activity sheets)

IV. Evaluation

Fill in the gaps with the correct answer.

1. A. What are you doing?                              2. A. ________Mr. and Mrs. Cruz doing?

    B._________ reading the newspaper.            B. ________ cooking dinner.

3. A._________ you and Judy doing?           4. A. ________Rita doing?

    B._________ eating dinner.                           B. ________studying English.

5. A. ________ Henry doing?                                    6. A. ________Carol and Ken doing?

    B. ________sleeping.                                     B. ________watching TV.

            M. L.____

            I.D.____

V. Assignment

            Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

            Example: Are you listening (you listen) to me?

            1. ____________ (it start) to rain? 

            2. ____________ ( Sue study) to become a doctor?

            3. ____________ (you take) your daughter with you?

            4. ____________ (the dog play) with the kids?

            5. ____________ (they come) tonight?

            6. ____________ (Leah go) on holiday next week?

VI. Remediation/ Enrichment

For lower level learners you will need to do a lot of practice. Use action pictures – a person doing something, playing a sport or some activity. Get your learners to ask both the question and answer.

“What’s he / she / it doing?” “He / she / it’s __.”

VII. Reinforcement

For the higher functional students you can assign them to write a short story using this model below.

 At The Beach The Ruiz family is at the beach today.

Practice Exercises Sheet

1. Action Game!

Ask students, “What am I doing?” “You’re playing the guitar”.

Pantomime an everyday activity for the class.

2. Pair Work: Practice this conversation with a partner.

A “What are you doing
– after this lesson
– after school
 – tonight
 – tomorrow
  -Wednesday night
  -Saturday night
  – for your summer holidays ?”

B “I don’t know. I was thinking about
 – going swimming
 – having a bath
  -doing the shopping
  -going to the cinema
  -playing pachinko
  – writing to my friend in England
  -eating out at my favorite restaurant

A “I’m
 – having some friends round for a party
  – listening to some music
  – going shopping for ___
  – going to the video rental shop
  – playing tennis
  – would you like to come?”

B “Yeah sure.
” Ok.
” Why not?
“Yes, I’d love to.”

3. Writing:

What are you doing right now?

What are your friends doing?

Write about it in your notebook.

Group Activity Sheets

Group 1

Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets. Use the simple present or the present continuous tense.

1. My brother __________________________ (like) this CD very much.

2. He __________________________ (travel) in China this summer.

3. We __________________________ (go) to lunch now. Would you like to join us?

4. We always __________________________ (visit) Grandma on Sundays.

5. In this photo, we __________________________ (play) volleyball on the beach.

6.  I __________________________ (play) tennis every day.

7.  My father can’t come to the phone now. He __________________________(take) a shower.

8. My father __________________________ (work) as an accountant in a big company.

9. I think this pen __________________________ (cost) HK$8.

10. I can’t play online games now. My brother __________________________ (use) the computer

to do his homework.

11.  A: ______________ you ___________________ (do) your homework now?

B: Yes, I __________________________.

12. This photo was taken when I was three. My father __________________________ (carry) me

on his shoulders.

13.  People______________ always __________________(buy) new mobile phones.

14. Can you see Anna? She________________________ (stand)  at the bus stop.

15. ______________ you still ___________________ (watch) TV?

16. A: ______________ they _________________ (go) to Ocean Park on Sunday?

B: No, they __________________________.

17. She often __________________________ (miss) class because of illness.

18. A: ______________ you _________________ (like) Kelly Chan’s songs?

B: Yes, I ______________, but my brother _________________.

Group 2

Decide which of the choices below would best complete the article if inserted in the blanks. Circle the appropriate letters.

Too Much Fast Food

According to a recent survey, Hong Kong consumers (1)__________ more money on convenience foods since the economic downturn. Because companies are trying to make do with fewer staff, employees (2)___________harder than ever before. More women (3)____________the workforce as well. They (4)____________less time to prepare nutritious home-cooked meals for their families. Instead, families (5) ____________out or (6)____________ convenience foods, such as frozen pizzas and instant noodles.

These foods (7)____________ more fat, salt and sugar than home-cooked meals. Experts say that eating too much of them (8) ____________the risk of serious health problems, including diabetes and heart disease. However, the trend towards convenience foods (9)____________some business sectors. Supermarkets

(10) ___________to the higher demand for quick, easy-to-serve meals by increasing their selection of convenience and pre-packaged foods. These products often (11)____________ for higher prices than fresh food. Restaurants also (12) ____________from the trend: most Hong Kong people now (13) ____________out at least once a day.

Is convenience food just a fad or is home-cooked food (14)____________ a thing of the past?

How is this trend (15)_____________ our health?

1.  A.are spending      B.will spend               C.spent                       D.spends

2.  A.be working        B.are working            C. works                      D. worked

3. A. is joining             Bare joining                C. will join                  D.  joining

4. A.have had             B.  had                        C.having                     Dhave

5 A.be eating              B. eats                         C. eat                           D.eating

6. A.bought                B. buying                    C. buy                         D. be buying

7. A containing           B. contains                  C. contained                D. contain

8. A increased             B. increases                 C. increasing               D. increase

9. A.are benefiting     B. benefited                C. will be                     D. is benefitting

10. A.responding       B. are responding        C. responds                 D. will respond

11. A.sells                  B. sell                          C. selling                     D. sold

12. A.be profiting      B.profit                      C. we’re profiting       D.profits

13.  A.we’re eating    Bhave eaten               C. eat                           D. ate

14.  A. becoming         B.become                   C.became                   D.is becoming

15.  A. affect               B.affecting                 C.affected                  D. affects

Group 3

A. Fix the mistakes in the following sentences:

1. Jessica reading a comic book right now.

____________________________________________

2. They are eat dinner at their favorite restaurant right now.

____________________________________________

3. I watching a movie right now, so please be quiet!

____________________________________________

4. The baby is cry so loudly! I can’t do my homework!

____________________________________________

5. Jackie walking to the park right now with her friends.

____________________________________________

B. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.

6. Right now, the children __________ (play) quietly with their new toys.

a. play              b. is playing                 c.  are plying

7. Excuse me, but you seem lost. __________ you __________ (look) for a particular street/

a. Are you looking                  b. Do you look            c. You looking

8. I __________ (go) to the supermarket to pick up a few things. do you need anything?

a. I going         b. I am going               c. I go

9. Where is Ken? He __________ (study) at the library at the moment.

a. is study        b. is  studying              c. is studing

10. It __________ (rain) hard. You should take an umbrella or you will get soaked.

a. rains             b. is raining                  c. are raining

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