LCC111 - CONTINUOUS TENSE

CONTINUOUS
TENSE

LCC111

NAKA/MIM
APBUITMPG

Continuous tense

Continuous tenses (also known as the progressive tenses) are used for
ongoing actions or actions that happen a while before completion.

Present continuous tense
Past continuous tense
Future continuous tense

The continuous tenses use a conjugation of the auxiliary verb be along
with the main verb’s present participle, or –ing form.

EXAMPLE OF VERBS IN CONTINUOUS TENSE

Have

He is having a shower now. (Present continuous)
He was having a shower when the phone rang. (Past continuous)
He will be having a shower, so take the house keys when you go out. (Future continuous)

Watch

I am watching a really good film now. (Present continuous)
I was watching a really good film when there was a power cut. (Past continuous)
I will be watching my favourite TV show when you arrive tomorrow. (Future continuous)

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

TENSE

WHEN TO USE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS?

ACTIONS HAPPENING NOW

We use it to talk about actions that are happening now.

Examples:

“I am eating lunch.”
“She is writing a letter.”
“They are playing soccer in the park.”
“He is cooking dinner.”
“We are watching a movie.”

DESCRIBING TEMPORARY ACTIONS

It's used for actions that are temporary or not habitual.

Examples:

“He is learning to play the guitar.”
“She is trying a new recipe today.”
“I am taking a yoga class this week.”
“We are visiting our grandparents for the weekend.”
“She is playing soccer with her friends today.”

DISCUSSING FUTURE PLANS

We also use it to talk about future arrangements.

Examples:

“I am meeting my friend at 4 pm.”
“They are flying to Paris next week.”
“She is attending a conference on Friday.”
“He is going to the dentist in the afternoon.”
“We are watching a play at the theater this evening.”

Multiple Choice

It..............right now.

• is raining

• am raining

• are raining

• is rain

Multiple Choice

The man ................a taxi slowly.

• are driving

• is driving

• is drive

• am driving

Multiple Choice

They .....................books.

• is reading

• am reading

• are reading

• is read

Multiple Choice

Dogs ................quickly.

• is running

• am running

• are running

• are runing

Multiple Choice

He.................his homework

• is do

• is doing

• am doing

• are doing

Multiple Choice

I ................to school now.

• is going

• are going

• am going

• am go

Multiple Choice

We .....................football.

• are playing

• is playing

• am playing

• playing

Multiple Choice

My mom ...........................a cake

• is bake

• is baking

• am baking

• are baking

Multiple Choice

You ................................TV with my friends.

• is watching

• am watching

• are watching

• watches

Multiple Choice

Jo and John........................to the radio

• is listening

• am listening

• are listening

• is listen

PAST CONTINUOUS

TENSE

WHEN TO USE

PAST CONTINUOUS?

ACTIONS IN PROGRESS IN THE PAST

We use it to talk about actions or events
that were happening at a specific moment in the past.

Examples:

“I was reading a book at 5 pm yesterday.”
“She was cooking dinner when the phone rang.”
“They were playing chess at 7 pm last night.”
“I was studying for the exam during the storm.”

ACTIONS INTERRUPTED
BY ANOTHER ACTION

It's used when one action in the past was ongoing
and got interrupted by another action.

Examples:

“She was watching TV when the phone rang.”
“He was talking on the phone when his friend arrived.”
“They were having a picnic when it started to rain heavily.”
“I was watching TV when the power went out.”

​Let's practice!

Multiple Choice

My mum ...............when I got home.

• was cooking

• were cooking

• cooking

• was cook

Multiple Choice

My friends ..... lunch at 1 a.m.

• weren't having

• wasn't having

• having

• were have

Multiple Choice

At 6 p.m, I ................. my homework.

• was doing

• were doing

• were do

• doing

Multiple Choice

Yesterday afternoon, we ...............tennis.

• weren't playing

• was play

• playing

• wasn't playing

Multiple Choice

When I saw you, you ..........your new cap.

• wasn't wearing

• weren't wearing

• wearing

• was wear

Multiple Choice

raining/ was/ it/ yesterday evening?

• It was raining yesterday evening?

• Was it raining yesterday evening?

• Yesterday it was raining evening?

• Was raining it yesterday evening?

Multiple Choice

The boy .......(eat) an ice cream when the bear ....(steal) it.

• ate/ was stealing

• is eating/ stole

• eats/ steals

• was eating/ stole

Multiple Choice

The cats ......(sleep) when the rain ......(start).

• was sleeping/ started

• slept/ was starting

• sleeping/ starting

• were sleeping/ started

Multiple Choice

While the girl ......(read) a book, the chair ......(break).

• reading/ broken

• was reading/ broken

• read/ was breaking

• read/ broke

Multiple Choice

The teacher ....(arrive) while Suzie and Tim ....(play) a computer game.

• was arriving/ played

• arrived/ were playing

• arrived/ was playing

• arrived/played

Multiple Choice

Wendy .....(eat) her lunch when her phone ...(ring).

• eating/ rang

• was eating/ rang

• ate/ was ringing

• ate/ rang

Multiple Choice

The boy .....(fall off) his board while he ....(skate) in the park.

• was falling off/ skated

• fell off/ was skating

• fell of/ were skating

• fell off/ skated

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

TENSE

WHEN TO USE

FUTURE CONTINUOUS?

PREDICTING THE FUTURE

It can also be used to make predictions
or assumptions about future actions or events.

Examples:

“I think he will be studying all night for the exam.”
”Based on the weather forecast, it will be snowing next week.”
“I'm sure they will be talking about their holiday plans tonight.”

ACTIONS IN PROGRESS
IN THE FUTURE

We use it to talk about actions or events that
will be in progress at a particular time in the future.
It helps us describe actions that will be ongoing.

Examples:

“Tomorrow at 3 PM, I will be playing soccer.”
“Next month, I will be celebrating my birthday with a party.”
“At 4 PM, she will be giving a presentation to her class.”

Multiple Choice

What will Irfan be doing at 12.00 noon?

• Irfan will be swimming at 12.00 noon.
• Irfan will be swim at 12.00 noon

​Let's practice!

Multiple Choice

What will you be doing at 2.00 p.m?

• I will be  having lunch with my date.
• I will have lunch with my date.

Multiple Choice

May Lee ______(play) badminton at 5.00 p.m tomorrow.

• will play
• will be playing

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer:

He will not be _____ the bus today.

• take

• taken

• taking

​Present continuous tense
vs.
Past continuous tense

Multiple Choice

While Tom (read) , Amely (watch) a documentary on TV.

• was reading / was watching
• read / watched
• was reading / were watching
• read / was watching

Multiple Choice

He (wake) up and (look) at his watch.

• waked / looked
• was waking / looked
• woke/ looked

Multiple Choice

While I (drive), I (have) an accident.

• drived/had
• was driving/ had
• drove / was having
• drove/ had

Multiple Choice

Alan (look) out of the window when he (see) a UFO.

• was looking/saw
• looked/ saw
• was looking / seen
• looked/ was seeing

Multiple Choice

The thieves (hide) in the kitchen when the police (come) in.

• hid/came
• hided/ come
• was hiding / came
• were hiding / came

Multiple Choice

While we (clean) the house, we (break) some glasses.

• were cleaning/ breaked
• cleaned/ broken
• were cleaning/ broke
• was cleaning/ was breaking

Multiple Choice

While he ........... a shower, his dogs ...... ate was eating   his steaks.

• took / ate
• were taking/was eating
• was taking /were eating
• took/ eat

Multiple Choice

The students ......  cards when the teacher ...... in.

• were playing / came
• was playing/was coming
• played / were coming
• played/ came

Multiple Choice

We ........ at the breakfast table when the doorbell  ........

• sat/was ringing
• were sitting / rang
• was sitting/were ringing
• sitting / rang
  
  

Multiple Choice

 What (you, do) ...........when you .............(hear)  that noise?

• were you doing/ heard
• you were doing / heard
• you did/ heard
• you did / were hearing

Multiple Choice

As the mousedeer __________, the fox stole his food.

• is bathing

• was bathing

• are bathing

• were bathing

Multiple Choice

While the chief __________, some warriors awoke him.

• is sleeping

• was sleeping

• are sleeping

• were sleeping

Multiple Choice

John shouted, 'It is not fair, you __________ all the money to yourself.'

• is keeping

• are keeping

• was keeping

• were keeping

Multiple Choice

Some crocodiles __________ towards Pak Pandir. He did not notice them.

• is swimming

• are swimming

• was swimming

• were swimming

Multiple Choice

Brad feels sad for his friends __________ him.

• is ignoring

• are ignoring

• was ignoring

• were ignoring

Multiple Choice

Jing Heng's parents are in his room. They __________ him to take part in sports.

• is encouraging

• are encouraging

• was encouraging

• were encouraging

Multiple Choice

The villagers __________ to town when the sky turned grey.

• is walking

• are walking

• was walking

• were walking

Multiple Choice

As the children __________ dinner, their mother called him.

• was having

• is having

• were having

• are having

Multiple Choice

I __________ my mother now.

• am hugging

• was hugging

• are hugging

• is hugging

Multiple Choice

Angela and I __________ along the corridor now.

• are walking

• am walking

• is walking

• were walking