2. Pre-arranged future actions, i.e. actions that have been planned or intended by the speaker*.

My father is leaving for Rome tonight. We are having a party on Saturday. Nick is running a marathon next week.

3.Actions of unusual frequency with adverbials of permanence and repetition such as always, constantly, etc. In these cases the Present Continuous gives an utterance an emotional colouring, mainly of a negative kind: irritation, annoyance, reproach, etc.

You are always finding fault with me. Why are you complaining all the time?

* Compare with the Present Simple for future actions which is used in formal situations, when the action does not convey the speaker's plan.

Notice the difference in meaning:

She always worries about her children. (Present Simple with 'always' is used to denote a regular habitual action.)

She is always worrying about trifles. (Present Continuous with 'always' is used to express the speaker's irritation about smb's habit which he/she considers negative.)

Note that some of the stative verbs can be used in the Present Continuous form when the verb expresses an activity (an event), not a state.

State

Activity

The soup smells delicious.

She is smelling the rose.

What do you think of the

project?

What are you thinking about?

Kate looks wonderful today.

They are looking at the blackboard.

Compare the use of the Present Continuous (Progressive) and the Present Simple (Indefinite) tense-forms.

1. What are you doing, Jane? Are you still looking for your gloves? You are always losing your things!

2. What does he do for a living? - He sings and plays the guitar.

3. I'm learning to drive a car. Next month I am getting my driving licence.

4. Tom drives very well. He is always very careful when driving.

5. We usually grow beans in our garden but this year we are not growing any.

6. Do you understand the problems they are discussing?

I. It is cold today. It is snowing all day. It often snows at this time of the year.

8. You will help us a lot if you continue your investigation.

9. Mike doesn't speak English, does he?

10. Listen to them! What language are they speaking?

II. The Moon goes round the Earth.

12. The family are having lunch now.

13. How many meals a day do you usually have?

14. Don't worry. Father is coming back soon.

15. Skill comes with practice.

PRACTICE

1. Choose between the Present Simple (Indefinite) and Present Continuous (Progressive) tense-forms.

1. They usually sit/are sitting for hours without saying a word.

2. She is keeping/keeps her room tidy as a rule.

3. Don't ask me what spinach is tasting/tastes like. I've never tried it.

4. Ann is applying/applies this ointment every other day.

5. We are seeing/see each other only occasionally.

6. Next week we sign/are signing the contract.

7. Could you turn off the television? Nobody watches/is watching it now.

8. How do you get/are you getting to your office?

9. The water in this lake seldom is freezing/freezes in winter.

10. Water doesn't exist/isn't existing on the Moon.

2. Choose the appropriate adverbial of time.

1. Dave always stays at the office (since/till) six o'clock.

2. She makes strawberry jam (every year/ recently). -

3. It's freezing hard (for a long time/now).

4. People (continually/traditionally) prepare coloured eggs at Easter.

5. They are having some financial difficulties (lately/now).

6. I'm feeling rather run down (recently/at present), doctor.

7. Carol (rarely/usually) reads a lot and is extremely well-informed.

8. The company is looking for people with experience (lately/now).

9. I don't go swimming very much (as a rule/now and again).

10. The new school opens (at once/next week).

11. We are eating in the kitchen (during/while) this cold weather.

12. What do you usually do (in the afternoon/this afternoon)^

13. Mary is going to be a film star (once/one day).

14. More and more young people have careers (nowadays/ recently).

15. My father shaves (in a day/every other day).

3. Open the brackets using the Present Simple or the Present Continuous tense-forms.

1. Have you got a light? - Sorry, I (not/smoke).

2. My wife has never been to France. She (plan) to go there next summer.

3. Your car is so clean. How often you (wash) it?

4. Students often (think) that exams (be) a nuisance.

5. Peter seldom (tell) the truth. You can't believe everything he (say).

6. You (understand) what he (talk) about?

7. Nancy (look) like her father.

8. What you (dop. - I'm an engineer.

9. The soup (taste) good.

10. Your brother (be) a student now? - Yes, he (study) at the University.

11. Ann (play) the piano better than Susan.

And who (play) now? - I (think) it (be) Susan.

12. What you (do) tomorrow evening? -1 (go) to the theatre.

13. I usually (not/have) breakfast before I (go) to work.

14. She often (take) my dictionary but seldom (remember) to bring it back. If tomorrow she (ask) for the dictionary again, I shan't give it to her.

15. What a beautiful dress you (wear).' When did you buy it?

16. He is a night watchman. He (work) at night and (sleep) in the daytime.

17. She (be) a dietician. She (help) people to choose the right food.

18. They (say) if you (see) a black cat, you (not/liave) good luck.

19. Jane (be) in Paris now. She (learn) French there.

20. If Peter (continue) to drive his car carelessly, he'll get into a traffic accident.

21. You (hear) this noise downstairs? What can it be?

22. Have you heard about Tom? He (build) a new house now.

23. You'll have to put on your rubber boots if it (not/stop) raining in a minute.

24. If I (have) some time in the evening, I'll repair your bicycle.

25. Excuse me, but you (stand) on my foot.

26. She (give) two concerts in London next week.

27. What time the children (come) out of school, as a rule?

28. Why you (smell) the meat? It (not/be) fresh?

29. She always (let) me down!

30. You (believe) in God?

31. You always (complain) about the weather!

32. Take the saucepan off the cooker! The water (boil).

33. I'm afraid you can't see my daughter at the moment. She (have) a music lesson. She always (have) it on Friday mornings.

34. She (be) still ill, but she (get) better now.

35. It often (rain) here at this time of the year?

36. Don't interrupt me while I (talk) to somebody else.

37. He's a doctor, but he (not/practise) at the moment.

38. What he (do)! - He (try) to get the car started.

39. In Britain most shops (close) at 5.30 p.m.

40. I'm sorry it's so noisy, but we (move) the furniture.