Use the Present Continuous with normal verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.
Example:I am watching TV now. he is not reading a newspaper now.
To make a statement in the present continuous we need the present of verb to be (AM/IS/ARE) + the -ing form of the verb we want to use
I AM READING a book She IS DRIVING a red car They ARE HAVING a shower
To make negative sentences we just add NOT after verb to be.
I amnotreading a book She isnotdriving a red car They arenothaving a shower
To make questions we just place the verb to be before the subject.
Are you reading a book? Why is she driving a red car? Are they having a shower?
With this video you can practise negative and questions in the present continuous
Let's see if you have understood, let's practise with these exercises Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Exercise 5 Watch the video and make full sentences, You can check the answers if you have a look at the comments to this post.
- Today is Friday, 20th January, 2012
- Today is Friday, January 20th, 2012
To say the date you need, among other things, to know the days of the week, the months of the year, the year, and the ordinal numbers, of course. Now you can listen to them.
And now you can record yourself and compare with the original.
Read the text while you listen to it. Then record yourself and compare your recording with the original. This will improve your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills!!
THE TOMATINA
The Tomatina festival takes place on the last Wednesday in August in Buñol, Spain. The ‘tomato battle’ starts at 11 o’clock in the morning, and continues for two hours. During the Tomatina 35,000 people throw 125,000 kilos of tomatoes!
THE CARNAVALE D'IVREA
In January (the exact date changes every year) you can go to Ivrea in Italy and take part in the Carnevale d’Ivrea, where people throw oranges at each other. If you don’t want people to throw an orange at you, you have to wear a red hat!
THE WATER FESTIVAL
Thailand has a Water Festival (Songkran) every April to celebrate the New Year. It starts on 13th April and lasts for two days. People throw water at each other all day and also at night.
First click here to learn the vocabulary. Then practise chores and adverbs of frequency with this book. Click here to open the book in a new bigger window.
Everyday I get up at seven o´clock. I have a shower and I get dressed. I have breakfast at quarter past seven. I usually have a big breakfast: cereal, toast, fruit and coffee. I get to work at quarter to nine. I work at a sports centre. I answer the phone at reception and give people the keys to the changing rooms. I start work at nine o'clock. At quarter past one I have lunch with my colleagues in the cafeteria. I usually finish work at six o'clock. Sometimes I stay late at the centre to do some exercise. I get home at quarter to eight. I have dinner at half past eight. Then I watch TV. I go to bed at half past eleven.
________________________________
And now, read the text and record yourself. Then listen to your recording, you can compare with the original and repeat it as many times as you want. Come on, don't be shy! This is good speaking practice.
This book will help you practise the times and daily routines. With audio too!! If you want to open it in a new bigger window, click here
NOTE: Be careful when you write, watch your spelling and don't use contractions, if you use contractions or the spelling is wrong (for example, not using capital letters at the beginning of a sentence) you will get it wrong.
In Okinawa people live a very long time. They are hardly ever ill. Many people live to be 100 – more people than in other parts of the world. Why? What is their secret?
Read the text while you listen to it. Then record yourself and compare your recording with the original. This will improve your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills!!
A healthy diet
The Okinawans eat vegetables, fruit, fish, soya, and rice. They usually have seven portions of fruit and vegetables a day. People don’t usually drink much alcohol or smoke. They don’t eat much meat or fast food.
Exercise
Physical activity is very important for the people of Okinawa. Martial arts, walking, traditional dancing, and gardening are very popular with people of all ages.
Low stress
In many countries people have healthy diets and do exercise. But the unusual thing about the people in Okinawa is that they are not stressed. They are relaxed and take their time. Buses are hardly ever on time, and people often arrive an hour late for meetings. Every evening hundreds of people, young and old, go to the beach to watch the beautiful sunset. People often meditate to relax.
Always active
Another important thing is that people often work until they are 80 – sometimes until 90! In the Okinawan dialect there is no word for ‘retired’. They are busy and active all their lives. Old people don’t stay at home – they go out and meet friends.
When journalists ask people ‘What is the secret of your long life?’, they answer ‘We are happy, we are always positive, and we are never in a hurry.’
Professor Parker, a stress expert from the University of London, looks at Lorraine's typical day and tries to help…
Lorraine, a single mother, works as a guide at the National Gallery in London and she lives with her son George, aged 9.
6.30
I get up and I make George’s sandwiches. Then I do some housework. Then I wake up George and make his breakfast. I’m always in a hurry and I don’t have time for breakfast at home.
8.00
We cycle to school because the bus is expensive. Then I cycle six miles to work.
9.00
I have a sandwich for breakfast in the canteen, and then I start work. My first tour is usually at 9.30. I like my job but I don’t earn much money and I stand all day.
5.00
I finish work and I go to pick up George at 5.30. We go shopping.
6.30
I cook dinner and help George with his homework. After dinner I do more housework or answer e-mails. I don’t go out in the evening because a babysitter is very expensive.
9.00
George goes to bed and I read him a story. Then I go to bed – I’m really tired!
Professor Parker’s advice:
Have breakfast with your son. Do all the housework in the evening. Don’t cycle, get the bus. It’s important to see other people. Invite a friend for a drink once a week.
______________ *6 miles = 9.8 kilometres .
Knowing how to tell the time is very important. Sometimes we have a meeting, or an appointment, or we want to get on time for that film we want to see or just to get to work .... I hope this presentation helps you learn how to tell the time in English and, of course, the extra exercises will give you extra practice. Enjoy!!!
Exercise 1 (Match the times) Exercise 2 (Match the clocks with the times) Exercise 3 (Very interesting exercise to review not only the time but also the numbers!!!, with audio) Exercise 4 (Choose the correct answer by listening to the sentences) Exercise 5 (Write the time you hear)
FROM: Rosa Velazquez [rosavelazquez@hotmail.com]
TO: Stefan [stefan7541200@gmail.com]
SUBJECT: Hi from Mexico
Hi Stefan,
My name's Rosa. I'm from Mexico, and I live in Monterrey. I am a receptionist at a hotel. I study English in my free time.
I speak Spanish and a little English. I want to learn English for my job and to travel.
I have a big family. I have three brothers and a sister. My father is a builder and my mother doesn't work. My brothers and my sisters are at school. My brothers are 14, 13 and 10 and my sister is six. I'm 19.
I like music, cinema and sport. I watch football on TV with my family every Saturday.
Please, write soon.
Best wishes
Rosa
______________________________________
Now remember you have to WRITE a smilar email to your teacher.
Prince William, Prince Charles and Pricess Diana's son and Queen Elizabeth's grandson, married Kate Middleton. But who are Prince William’s family? He belongs to the British Royal family, let’s meet them!
Prince William’s father is Prince Charles, the heir to the throne. His mother was Princess Diana. His father is now married to Camilla. Camilla is Prince William’s stepmother, Prince William is her stepson. Prince Harry is Prince William’s brother.
His father’s bothers are Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. They are Prince William’s uncles. Prince Andrew is divorced from Sarah, his daughters'mother. Sophie is Prince Edward’s wife. Queen Elizabeth is her mother-in-law and Prince Philip is her father-in-law. They are her parents-in-law.
His father’s sister is Princess Anna, she is Prince William’s aunt. Timothy Laurence is her husband. He is Prince Charles’s brother-in-law. He is Peter and Zara’s stepfather. They are his stepchildren. Peter and Zara's father is Mark Philips. Princess Anna and Mark Philips are divorced. Mark is Princess Anna's ex-husband, Princess Anna is Mark's ex-wife.
Queen Elizabeth is Prince William’s grandmother, Prince Philip is his grandfather. They are Prince William’s grandparents, he is their grandson.
Queen Elizabeth has more grandsons and granddaughters, they are her grandchildren and Prince William’s cousins. They are Peter and Zara Philips, who are Princess Anna’s children. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who are Prince Andrew’s daughters, and Lady Louise and Viscount Severn, who are Prince Edward’s children. Zara, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice and Lady Louise are Prince William's father's nieces. Peter and Viscount Severn are Prince William's father's nephews. Peter is married to Autumn Kelly.
When Kate marries Prince William she will be Prince William's wife, Prince Harry's sister-in-law, and Prince Charles's daughter-in-law.
Listen to the interview. Read the text while you are listening. Then record yourself and compare your recording with the original. This will improve your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills!!
1 What do you do?
I’m an artist. I draw and paint pictures for magazines, books, CD covers – all kinds of things.
2 Where do you work?
I work at home. I have a room just for working in.
3 How many hours do you work?
I normally work about eight hours a day, from 9.30 to 5.30. Sometimes I work again in the evenings or at weekends, when I’m in a hurry to finish a picture.
4 Do you earn a lot of money?
It depends. I earn from about £250 to £3,000 for a picture. Sometimes I have a lot of work but sometimes I don’t. That’s a problem. And I don’t have paid holidays.
5 Do you like your job? Why?
Yes. I love it, because every day is different, and I like using my imagination.
6 What don’t you like about your job?
It’s stressful when I need to work fast and the ideas don’t come. And sometimes it’s lonely when you don’t work with other people.
7 How do you relax after work?
I play the bass in a band called International Airport. We play at weekends in pubs and clubs.
Four foreigners in Britain talk about the people and the country...
Listen to what they say. Read the text while you are listening. Then record yourself and compare your recording with the original. This will improve your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills!!
Nicolae from Romania works in a pub in Manchester
‘British people like children but not in restaurants or pubs. In my pub we have a rule: ‘No children under 12’. People in Britain drink a lot of coffee – cappuccino and espresso are really popular. They drink a lot of beer too – men and women.’
Alexandra from Russia is a student at Bristol university
‘This is not a good country for smokers! Many coffee bars and restaurants are ‘no smoking’. I live with three British students and they don’t smoke. When I want a cigarette I go into the garden.’
Carlos is a tourist from Spain
‘People read the newspaper everywhere – on the train, on the bus, at the bus stop. And the newspapers are really big! Cars stop in Britain when you stand on the zebra crossing – it’s incredible! Cars don’t stop for you in Madrid.’
Marília from Brazil works as an ‘au pair’ in Cambridge
‘I think my British family is typical. The woman doesn’t cook – she just puts a pizza in the microwave. But she watches cooking programmes on TV every day! The man cooks at the weekend – he makes fantastic Indian curries. Their child has a terrible diet. She eats ‘fish fingers’ and chips and she goes to Burger King every week.’
From Old English
Many basic English words come from Old English, e.g. England, house, woman, man, child, bird, water. They sometimes have irregular pronunciation.
From Latin
Other English words come from Latin, e.g. family, wine, number, school, educate.
From French
Some English words come from French, e.g. royal, hotel, menu, beef.
From other languages
Today English is an international language. Thousands of English words come from other languages, e.g. siesta (Spanish), judo (Japanese).
New words
Every year hundreds of words come into English from new technology, e.g. Internet, text message, e-mail, modem.
Time for you to speak!!!! Listen to the audio and at the same time read the sentences. When you feel confident record yourself by pressing the red button. Use your own personal information and copy the entonation. When you have finished you can listen to yourself by clicking on the play button. If you are not satisfied with your recording you can record yourself again as many times as you want. Good luck!!!!
1. What's your name ?
My name is Jenny.
2. Where do you come from?
I come from China.
3. Where do you live?
I live in Parramatta.
4. What's your address?
My address is 54 Pine Street, Annandale.
5. What's your telephone number?
My telephone number is 9723 4444.
6. How old are you?
I'm 28 years old.
7. What's your nationality?
I'm Indonesian.
8. Are you married?
No, I'm not. I'm single.
9. Have you got any children?
Yes, I have.
10. What's your occupation?
I'm a doctor.
Remember the saying 'Practice makes perfect', so listen to talkingpeople.net talk about countries, languages and nationalities. This is really good practice!
