Употребление Present Continuous

Present Continuous употребляется:

1. Для выражения действия, происходящего в момент речи:

Look! It's raining.

What are you doing here? I'm waiting for the secretary.

You can switch off the TV. I'm not watching it.

2. Для выражения длительного действия, имеющего временный характер и происходящего в настоящий период времени, но не обязательно в момент речи:

She is looking for a job at the moment.

You are spending a lot of money these days.

Present Continuous в этом значении может также употребляться для выражения длительного действия, ограниченного какими-либо временными рамками:

I'm staying in a hotel until I find a flat.

Robert is on holiday this week. He is living at his sister's in Brighton.

В некоторых случаях Present Continuous используется для того, чтобы подчеркнуть временный характер повторяющихся действий, которые обычно выражаются в Present Simple. В этом случае в предложении должно обязательно содержаться указание на период совершения действия.

My car has broken down, so I am walking to work these days.

I'm taking dancing lessons this winter.

3. Для выражения действий, которые находятся в стадии развития или изменения (или передают переход из одного состояния в другое):

More and more people are giving up smoking.

Computers are becoming more and more important in our lives.

It’s getting colder and colder.

Prices are rising all the time.

4. Для выражения будущих, заранее запланированных действий. В таких предложениях обычно употребляется обстоятельство времени, указывающее на время совершения действия:

We're visiting some friends in Scotland next weekend.

I'm taking an exam on Monday.

What are you doing on Saturday evening? I'm meeting Jane.

5. Present Continuous с наречиями always (forever, constantly, continually) выражает действия, которые происходят «слишком часто», и передает негативное отношение говорящего к происходящим событиям:

My neighbors are always quarreling.

Вечно мои соседи ссорятся.

She is always grumbling.

Она постоянно ворчит.

I'm always paying for you when we go out.

Вечно я за тебя плачу, когда мы где-нибудь бываем.

Whenever I come you are always working.

Когда бы я ни пришел, ты всегда работаешь

Present Continuous с наречием always иногда не содержит негативной оценки происходящего, а лишь указывает на то, что действие происходит чаше обычного:

She is always helping other people.

I'm always meeting Mary in the park (by accident).

6. Для выражения длительного действия, которое происходит одновременно с другим действием (в Present Simple). В этом значении Present Continuous употребляется в придаточных предложениях времени.

He always looks through the morning paper when he is having breakfast.

I never talk on the mobile phone when I am driving.

Глаголы, выражающие восприятие, чувство или состояние, обычно не употребляются во временах группы Continuous.

1)Глаголы чувственного восприятия: see, hear, taste, smell. Эти глаголы часто употребляются с модальным глаголом can, когда необходимо подчеркнуть, что действие происходит в момент речи :

I can hear steps. Somebody is coming here.

I can see someone through the window, but I can't hear what they're saying.

Глаголы, передающие чувства и желания: like, dislike, love, hate, hope, want, wish, desire, prefer.

Глаголы умственной деятельности: think (=believe), see (=understand), believe, feel (=have an opinion), recognize, imagine, know, understand, forget, suppose, mean, mind, remember, realize, etc

Глаголы, передающие абстрактные отношения: be, have (=possess), own, belong, consist, contain, depend, include, seem, cost, need, etc.

Некоторые глаголы, входящие в эти группы, многозначны и могут употребляться в Continuous, если они имеют другие значения:

Simple I can see raindrops on the window. (see = perceive with my eyes) Do you see what I mean? (see = understand) Do you hear what he is saying? I hear nothing. (hear = notice sound) The towel feels soft. (has a soft structure) I feelthat you are wrong. (feel = opinion) The room smells of perfume This fish tastesdelicious. I think she's Italian. (think = believe) He isstupid (generally). He has a sports car now. (have = possess) It depends on what you mean. Does anyone mind if I open the window? (mind=object)

Continuous They are seeing each other in secret (see=meet) Do you know whether he‘s seeing anyone at the moment? (be seeing smb = be having romantic or intimate rela--tionship with smb) What is that I’m hearing? Jack is getting married. We are hearing from her regularly. (hear = receive information) Jane is feeling her son's forehead. (feel = touch) I am feeling exhausted. (feel = physical reaction) The cat is smelling its food (smell=sniff). I am just tasting a soup. They are thinking of buying a new car (think = consider) He is being stupid. (He is behaving in stupid way at the moment) She can't answer the phone. She's having dinner (have dinner = dine) I am depending onyou (depend=rely) . Is anyone minding the baby while you are out? (mind=look after)

Примечание:

1. Глаголы feel, ache и hurt, передающие физические ощущения человека, и глагол look (have an appearance) могут употребляться в Present Simple и Continuous, не меняя значение:

I don’t feel (‘m not feeling) very well.

You look (are looking) terrific today.

2. Иногда в Continuous могут употребляться глаголы чувственного восприятия, глаголы, передающие чувства и желания, и глаголы умственной деятельности. Это является своего рода стилистическим приемом, который подчеркивает интенсивность протекания действия в какой-то момент времени.

We are hoping you will support us.

I’m likingmy new life here very much.

How are you getting on at your new school? – I’m hating it.

I’m forgetting(beginning to forget) my French.

Exercise 10. Match each of the following sentences to one of the five rules given above.

John is working very hard nowadays.

We are spending next winter in Australia.

He is always borrowing money from me.

She is still waiting to see the boss.

I never watch television when I am reading for my exams.

More and more forests are disappearing because of fires.

He is getting married at 3 this afternoon.

I’m sorry, but he is doing his homework right now.

Why are you always telling me what to do?

What time is he arriving tomorrow?

Everything is getting more and more expensive.

She is staying with friends in Brighton for a few days.

Look! The dog is sleeping on the bed.

Do you always use your dishwasher when you are washing the dishes?

You are constantly panicking, aren’t you? Calm down.

The weather’s getting colder and colder.

Are you enjoying your staying here?

Exercise 11. Translate into English.

Интересно, что он сейчас делает?

Его нет дома – он гуляет с собакой.

Мне кажется, кто-то стучится в дверь.

Когда бы я тебя ни увидел, ты всегда куришь.

Все больше и больше молодых людей уезжают учиться за границу.

Она постоянно что-нибудь теряет.

Он не знает, что мы уезжаем через две недели.

Мой брат сейчас в Лондоне. Он живет в небольшом отеле около Гайд Парка.

Я его редко вижу в последнее время. Он готовиться к экзаменам.

Я не понимаю, на что вы намекаете.

Мои соседи постоянно устраивают шумные вечеринки.

С кем ты идешь в субботу в театр?

Этим летом она берет уроки тенниса.

Ну почему вы все время ссоритесь?

Я подумываю о том, не поехать ли мне этим летом в Англию.

Exercise 12. Underline the correct tense, Present Simple or Present Continuous, in the following sentences.

Every year I visit / I’m visiting Britain to improve my English.

What’s the matter? Why do you look / are you looking at me like that?

Of course, you’re David, aren’t you? I recognize / I am recognizing you now.

Don’t rush me. I work / I am working as fast as I can.

You can’t believe a word he says. He always lies / he is always lying.

It’s snowing / It snows quite often in Britain in winter.

There’s something wrong with his car so he’s going / he goes to work by bus this week.

He always upsets / he is always upsetting people by asking personal questions.

His only bad habit is that he talks / is talking too loudly.

I’m only working / only work there for a month because I’m going abroad in the summer.

The term starts / is starting at the beginning of October.

If you aren’t watching / don’t watch the news, why don’t you switch the TV off?

I’m thinking of taking up this job – what do you think / are you thinking? Is it a good idea?

I’m sleeping / sleep on Michael’s sofa until I find a place of my own.

All right, you try to fix the television! But I hope / I’m hoping you know what are you doing!

Andy builds / is building his own house in the country.

British people drink / are drinking more and more wine, apparently.

Pay no attention to Graham. He is just sarcastic / is just being sarcastic again.

Exercise 13. Put each verb in brackets into either the Present Simple or the Present Continuous.

Carol usually (go) to work on foot, but this morning it is raining so she (drive) her car.

I really (not know) what you (talk) about.

I (use; never) my mobile phone if I (drive).

Who is that man? Why he (look) at us?

(you / watch) TV? No, you can switch it off if you like.

Roland (wear / usually) a raincoat, but today he (wear) anorach on.

Brad (live) in the center of town but this week he (stay) at his parent’s house in the country.

I (not understand) those people. What language (they / speak)?

Be quiet! I (think) Dad (sleep) upstairs.

(you / know) how to use this computer program? - No, but I (learn)

Buying a house nowadays (become) more and more expensive all the time.

I never do anything I (feel) is against my principles.

I (look after) Jack’s dog this weekend (you/want) to take it for a walk?

I (still / have) a pain in my leg but it (get) better.

Who (drive) that Mercedes that is parked outside?

16. What (you / look) at? (I / wear) the wrong clothes again?

17. I (write) in reply to your advertisement in the Daily News.

18. Harry (look) very untidy! He (wear) dirty jeans again.

29. I (not take) the bus to college today. My mother (give) me a lift this time.

20. Jane is away on holiday so Linda (handle) her work.

Exercise 14. Translate into English using Present Simple or Present Continuous.

Цены на бензин постоянно растут.

Кто-то звонит. Открой, пожалуйста, дверь.

Когда тебе ни позвони, ты постоянно болтаешь с кем-нибудь.

Я слушаю очень внимательно, но ничего не слышу. Здесь очень шумно.

Я не понимаю англичан, когда они быстро говорят.

Он обычно слушает радио, пока завтракает.

Уже темнеет. Мне пора идти.

Вечно ты возражаешь.

Во сколько завтра вылетает ваш самолет.

Почему вы в пальто в такое теплый день?

Каждый раз, когда я ее вижу, она что-нибудь жует.

На обед у нас сегодня рыба.

Вы куда-нибудь уезжаете на выходные?

Обычно он пьет чай, но сегодня он пьет кофе.

Девушка, с которой он сейчас встречается, на пять лет его старше.

Через три дня я пересдаю (to resit) математику, и сейчас мне приходится усиленно готовиться.

Exercise 15. Read the story, translate the questions given below into English and answer them.

A Box of Chocolates.

Mrs Helen Gray is going to New York City to see her first granddaughter. Helen is riding the bus from Houston, Texas, to New York, New York. She prefers to fly, but the bus is more economical.

The bus ride is long, but there are interesting things to see. The bus stops in many cities. The passengers get off to buy food in the bus stations. Most of the time Helen buys a sandwich and a cup of coffee. She always buys picture post cards to send to her friends in Houston.

Today the bus driver says, “We are coming into Chicago, Illinois. We’re staying there one hour. If anyone is hungry there is a restaurant in the station.”

Helen is very hungry. She buys a chicken sandwich and an orange and coffee. Then she buys a small box of chocolate candy from a candy machine. These candies are called Hershey’s Kisses. Helen likes them.

Helen sits at a table and eats her lunch. There are too many people in the restaurant. A man comes to Helen’s table. He is a very big man. He has two sandwiches, two oranges and two soft drinks but he has no place to sit.

He asks Helen, “Is it OK if I sit here?”

“Yes, it’s OK,” she says. But she is thinking, “Oh, why don’t you sit at another table? I don’t like your face or your expression. You don’t look like a good person. You look like a criminal.”

The man eats his sandwiches. He doesn’t look at Helen. She doesn’t look at him. She remembers that she wants to buy picture post cards and goes to get them. When she comes back the big man is eating a chocolate out of a little box of Hershey’s Kisses.

Helen is furious. He is eating her candy. She wants to say something to him but she is afraid. He is so big and she is so small. She is very angry, though, so she takes the box of candy away from him, removes the silver paper from one candy and puts it in her mouth. The man looks at Helen. He is surprised. Then he pulls the box away from her, eats the last candy and throws the box away. He stands up.

“Lady,” he says, “I think you are sick. I think you are mentally sick.”

He walks away.

Helen is still very angry when it is time to get on the bus. She thinks, “I’m right. The man is a criminal. I think he is mentally sick and he is dangerous.”

She opens her purse to look at the post cards. There, under the cards, is a little box of Hershey’s Kisses.

1. Зачем Хелен едет в Нью - Йорк?

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2. Почему она не летит самолетом?

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3. Что она посылает своим друзьям в Хьюстон?

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4. Что она покупает в автомате?

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5. Кто подходит к ней, когда она сидит за столом?

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6. Почему мужчина спрашивает Хелен, можно ли ему сесть за ее столик?