The present continuous tense

Phần I: LÝ THUYẾT
1.1. “Thì” trong tiếng Anh
	“Thì” là khái niệm dành riêng cho động từ, dùng để chỉ thời gian mà hoạt động xảy ra. Trong tiếng Anh thì được biểu diễn bằng 2 phương thức: 
Phương thức 1: biểu diễn qua trợ động từ.
Phương thức 2: biểu diễn qua hậu tố.
1.2. Hình thức và cách sử dụng thì hiện tại tiếp diễn
1.2.1. Hình thức (Form): 
 S + be (am/is/are) + V-ing 
1.2.2. Về cách biến đổi động từ V-ing 
- Thông thường chúng ta thêm đuôi “-ing” sau các động từ (watch - watching, do - doing, rain – raining, play - playng).
- Các động từ kết thúc bởi đuôi "E", chúng ta bỏ "E" sau đó thêm đuôi "-ING" (invite -- inviting, write -- writing ,...) 
- Các động từ kết thúc bởi đuôi " IE" chúng ta đổi "IE" thành "Y" rồi thêm "-ING" 
(lie - lying, die - dying,...) 
- Các động từ kết thúc bởi đuôi "ee" chúng ta chỉ cần thêm đuôi "-ing " (see -- seeing..) 
- Các động từ kết thúc bằng 1 nguyên âm + 1 phụ âm:
+ Động từ 1 âm tiết luôn gấp đôi phụ âm cuối ( begin - beginning; swim – swimming, stop – stopping, rob – robbing, travel –travelling,)
+ Động từ 2 âm tiết trở lên, chỉ gấp đôi phụ âm khi nó được nhấn vào âm đầu (trừ phụ âm L) (Pre`fer – preferring, `Listen - listening).
- Động từ kết thúc bằng 1 nguyên âm + 1 phụ âm W hay X, không gấp đôi phụ âm (snow – snowing, flow- flowing, grow – growing, snow – snowing, fix - fixing).
1.3. Cách sử dụng (Uses): 
1.3.1. Chúng ta dùng thì Present Continuous (Hiện tại tiếp diễn) khi nói về một việc nào đó đang diễn ra ngay lúc nói:
E.g: 	- Please don’t make so much noise: I’m studying. ( Không dùng “ I study”).
	- “Where is Margaret?” “She’s having a bath”. ( Không dùng “ She has”).
- Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more.
- ( at a party) Hello, Huyen. Are you enjoying the party? ( Không dùng “ do you enjoy”).
- She is learning English now . 
* Thường đi kèm với các trạng từ: now, right now, at the moment, at present, shhh!, listen!, look!, at present, today,
1.3.2. Chúng ta dùng thì Present Continuous để diễn đạt một hành động không nhất thiết xảy ra trong thời điểm nói nhưng người trong cuộc ngầm hiểu hành động đó nằm trong quá trình thực hiện.
E.g:	- Tom and Ann are talking and drinking in cafe. Tom say: “I’m reading an interesting book at the moment. I’ll lend it to you when I’ve finished it”.
Silvia is learning English at the moment.	(Không dùng “learns”)
Have you heard about Tom? He is building his own house. (Không dùng “builds”).
1.3.3. Chúng ta dùng thì Present Continuous để diễn đạt một kế hoạch chắc chắn sẽ xảy ra 
trong trong tương lai (tomorrow, next week, tonight, to day, this season,)
E.g: 	- We are having breakfast at 8 a.m tomorrow. 
- “You are working hard to day”. “Yes, I have a lot to do”
- Tom isn’t playing football this season. He wants to concentrate on his studies.
- A: What are you doing tomorrow evening?
 B: I’m going to the theatre.
	- A: Are you playing football tomorrow?
	 B: Yes, but Tom isn’t playing. He has hurt his leg.
	- A: Ann is coming tomorrow.
	 B: Oh, is she? What time is she arriving
	 A: At 10.15.
	 B: Are you meetingher at the station?
	 A: I can’t. I working tomorrow evening.
Chúng ta cũng có thể dùng going to (do) trong các câu sau:
	- What are you going to do tomorrow evening?
	- Tom is going to play tennis on Monday afternoon.
* Khi trong câu dùng các động từ mang tính chuyển động như: go, come, leave, arrive, move, have .... thì không cần dùng các trạng từ chỉ thời gian. 
E.g :	 - Don't come early . We are having a nice party . 
1.3.4. Chúng ta dùng thì Present Continuous để diễn đạt một sự phàn nàn của người phát ngôn đối với sự vật, hiện tượng (đi cùng always): 
E.g: 	- She is always losing her glasses . 
* Đặc biệt lưu ý những động từ ở bảng sau không được chia ở thể tiếp diễn dù bất cứ ở thời nào khi chúng là những động từ tĩnh diễn đạt trạng thái cảm giác của hoạt động tinh thần hoặc tính chất của sự vật, sự việc. Nhưng khi chúng là động từ hành động thì được phép dùng ở thể tiếp diễn.
know believe hear see smell wish
understand hate love like want sound
have need appear seem taste own
E.g: 	- He has a lot of books
	- He is having dinner now. (Động từ hành động: ăn tối)
	- I think they will come in times.
	- I’m thinking of my test tomorrow. (Động từ hành động: đang nghĩ)
Phần II: BÀI TẬP
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with one of the following verbs in correct form
come	get	happen	look
	make	stay	try
“You are working hard to day”. “Yes, T have a lot to do”.
I ...for Mary. Do you know where she is?
It . .dark. Shall I turn on the light?
Thet haven’t got anywhere to live at the moment. They ...............with friends until they find somewhere.
“Are you ready. Ann?”. “Yes, I..................”
Have you got umbrella? It..............to rian.
You ....a lot of noise. Could you be quieter? I .............to concentrate.
Why are all these people here? What ........................?
Exercise 2: Put the verbs into the correct form. Sometimes you need the negative
I’m tired. I’m ................. to bed now. Good night (go)
We can go out now. It ..............any more. (rain)
“How is your new job?” “ Not so good at the moment. I ..................it very much. (enjoy)
Mary phoned me last night. She’s on holiday in France. She ...................a great time and doesn’t want to come back. (have)
I want to lose weight to this week I........................lunch. (eat)
Linda has just staeted everning classes. She ..................................German.(learn)
I think Paul and Ann have had an argument. They .........................to each other. (speak)
Exercise 3: Making questions
“..................................... this week?” “No, he’s on holiday.” (Colin/work)
Why ................................ at me like that? What’s the master? (you/look)
“Jenny is a student at university” “Is she” “What ...............................?” (she/study)
“...................................... to the radio or can I turn it off ” (anybody/listen)
How is your English? ............................. better? (it/get)
Exercise 4: Consideration – Sentence building
Lan’s sister/ water/ flowers/ garden/ at the moment.
He/ look/ tired. Does he? Yes. He/ write/ book/ environment/ these days.
Tom is so untidy. I can’t stand him. He/ always/ leave/ things/ his room.
She/ usually/ talk/ very slowly and clearly but she/ talk / much faster than usual now.
She/ help/ us/ tomorrow/. She’ll be here by 8 a.m.
Exercise 5: In this exercise you have to decide whether the verb in these sentences are right or wrong. Correct those which are wrong. The verb is underlined.
E.g: 	 I don’t know your telephone number. 	
	Please don’t much so much noise. I study 	
1. Look! Somebody is climbing up that tree over there. 	
2. Can you hear those people? What do they talk about?	
3. Are you bilieving in God?	
4. Look! That man tries to open the door of your car.	
5. The moon goes round the earth. 	
6. I’m thinking it would be a good idea to leave early.	
7. The government is worred because the number of 	
 people without jobs is increasing.	
8. I’m usually going to work by car.	
Exercise 6: Now you have to put the verb into the correct from, present continuous (I am doing) or present simple (I do).
E.g: 	Please don’t make so much noise. I am studying (study)
	How many languages does Tom speak (Tom/speak)
	This machine doesn’t work (not/work). I hasn’t worked for years. 
1. I 	...(not/belong) to a political party.
2. Hurry! The bus 	 .(come). I ................................not/want) to miss it.
3. The river Nile ....................(flow) into the Medierranean.
4. The river ....................(flow) very fast today – much faster than usual.
5. .......................................(it/ ever/ snow) in India?
6. We usually ...................(grow) vegetables in our garden but this year we .................................(not/grow) any.
7. 	A: Can you drive?
B: No, but I ..................(learn). My father ......................(teach) me.
8. You can borrow my umbrella. I ...................(not/need) it at the moment.
9. (at the party) I usually .................(enjoy) parties but I ....................... (not/enjoy) this one very much.
10. George says he’s 80 years old but I......................................(not/believe) him.
11. Ron is London at the moment. He........................(stay) at the Hilton Hotel. He usually ......................(stay) at the Hilton Hotel when he’s in London.
12. She ......................(stay) with her sitter at the moment until she finds somewhere to live.
13. 	A: What ..................................... your father/do)?
	B: He’s teacher, but he ..............................(not/work) at the moment.
Exercise 7: A friend of yours is planning to go on holiday very soon. You ask him about his plans. Use the words in brackets to make your questions.
E.g:	(Where/go?) Where are you doing?
1. (how long/stay?)	 	
2. (when/leave?)	
3. (go/alone?) 	 
4. (go/by car?)	
5. (Where/stay?) 	
Tom: Can you come on Monday evening?
You: Sorry, I’d love to but I’m playing volleyball.
Tom: What about Tuesday evening then?
You: I can’t I’m afraid. I’m(1)...........................
.......................	
Tom: Well, what are you going on Wednesday evening?
You: (2) 	
Tom: I see. Well, are you free on Thursday evening? 
You: I’m afraid not. (3)	
Exercise 8: Tom wants you to visit him but you are very busy. Look at your diary for the next few days and explain to him why you can’t come.
 Monday	 Friday
 Volleyball 7.30 p.m
 Tuesday Saturday
 Work late (till 9 p.m) 
 Wednesday Sunday
 Theatre (with mother)
 Thursday	 Notes
 meet Julia 8 p.m
Exercise 9: Put the verb into the most suitable from, present continuous (I am doing) or present simple (I do).
E.g: 	We are going (go) to the theatre this evening?
	Does the film begin (the fiml/begin) at 3.30 or 4.30?
1. We................(have) a party next Saturday. Would you like to come?
2. I............................ (not/go) away for my holidays next month because I haven’t got enough money .................................... away?
3. The concert this evening ........................................ (start) at 7.30.
4. George, is it true that you ............................ (get) married next week.
5. The art exhibition ............... (open) on 3 May and ........................ (finish) on 15 July.
6. What time ..............................................(the next train/leave) ?
7. Ann, we ............................. (go) to town. .................................. (you/come) with us? 
Exercise 10: Put the verbs in brackets into the present continuous tense. In No. 25, have is used as an or dinary verb and can therefore be used in the continuous tense.
1. She (not work), she (swim) in the river.
2. He (teach) his boy to ride.
3. Why Ann (not wear) her new dress?
4. The airplane (fly) at 2,000 metres.
5. What Tom (do) now? He (clean) his shoes.
6. This fire (go) out. Somebody (bring) more coal?
7. It (rain)?
Yes, it (rain) very hard. You can't go out yet.
8. Why you (mend) that old shirt?
9. You (not tell) the truth. 
How do you know that I (not tell) the truth?
10. Who (move) the furniture about upstairs? 
It's Tom. He (paint) the front bedroom.
11. Mrs Jones (sweep) the steps outside her house.
12. What you (read) now? I (read) Crime and Punishment. 
13. It is a lovely day. The sun (shine) and the birds (sing).
14. Someone (knock) at the door. Shall I answer it? 
I (come) in a minute. I just (wash) my hands.
15. She always (ring) up and (ask) questions.
16. Why you (make) a cake? Someone (come) to tea?
17. Where is Tom? 
He (lie) under the car.
18. Can I borrow your pen or you (use) it at the moment?
19. You (do) anything this evening? 
No, I'm not. 
Well, I (go) to the cinema. Would you like to come with me?
20. We (have) breakfast at 8.00 tomorrow as Tom (catch) an early train.
21. Ann usually does the shopping, but I (do) it today as she isn't well.
22. Why you (type) so fast? You (make) a lot of mistakes.
23. Mother (rest) now. She always rests after lunch.
24. They (dig) an enormous hole just outside my gate. 
What they (do) that for? 
I don't know. Perhaps they (look) for oil.
25. What (make) that terrible noise?
Exercise 11: Put the verbs in brackets into the simple present or the present continuous tense.
1. Cuckoos (not build) nests. They (use) the nests of other birds.
2. You can't see Tom now: he (have) a bath.
	`
3. He usually (drink) coffee but today he (drink) tea.
4. What she (do) in the evenings? 
She usually (play) cards or (watch) TV.
5. I won't go out now as it (rain) and I -(not have) an umbrella.
6. The last train (leave) the station at 11.30.
7. He usually (speak) so quickly that I (not understand) him.
8. Ann (make) a dress for herself at the moment. She (make) all her own clothes.
9. Hardly anyone (wear) a hat nowadays.
10. I'm afraid I've broken one of your coffee cups.
Don't worry. I (not like) that set anyway.
11. I (wear) my sunglasses today because the sun is very strong.
12. Tom can't have the newspaper now because his aunt (read) it.
13. I'm busy at the moment. I (redecorate) the sitting room.
14. The kettle (boil) now. Shall I make the tea?
15. You (enjoy) yourself or would you like to leave now?
I (enjoy) myself very much. I (want) to stay to the end.
16. How you (get) to work as a rule?
I usually (go) by bus but tomorrow I (go) in Tom's car.
17. Why you (put) on your coat?
I (go) for a walk. You (come) with me?
Yes, I'd love to come. You (mind) if I bring my dog?
18. How much you (owe) him?
I (owe) him Ј5.
You (intend) to pay him?
19. You (belong) to your local library?
Yes, I do.
You (read) a lot?
Yes, quite a lot. -
How often you (change) your books? 
I (change) one every day.
20. Mary usually (learn) languages very quickly but she (not seem) able
to learn modern Greek.
21. I always (buy) lottery tickets but I never (win) anything.
22. You (like) this necklace? I (give) it to my daughter for her birthday tomorrow.
23. I won't tell you my secret unless you (promise) not to tell anyone. –
I (promise).
24. You always (write) with your left hand?
25. You (love) him?-
No, I (like) him very much but I (not love) him.
26. You (dream) at night?
Yes, I always (dream) and if I (eat) too much supper I (have) nightmares.
27. The milk (smell) sour. You (keep) milk a long time?
28. These workmen are never satisfied; they always (complain).
29. We (use) this room today because the window in the other room is broken.
30. He always (say) that he will mend the window but he never (do) it.
31. You (know) why an apple (fall) down and not up?
32. You (write) to him tonight?
Yes, I always (write) to him on his birthday. You (want) to send any message?
33. Tom and Mr Pitt (have) a long conversation. I (wonder) what they (talk) about.
34. You (believe) all that the newspapers say?
No, I (not believe) any of it. 
Then why you (read) newspapers?
35. This car (make) a very strange noise. You (think) it is all right?
Oh, that noise (not matter). It always (make) a noise like that.
36. The fire (smoke) horribly. I can't see across the room. 
I (expect) that birds (build) a nest in the chimney. 
Why you (not put) wire across the tops of your chimneys? 
Tom (do) that sometimes but it (not seem) to make any difference.
Exercise 12: Put the verbs the simple present or the present continuous tense.
1. I read/ am reading a book about astrology.
2. We go/are going to a wedding reception on Saturday.
3. Annie comes/is coming from Austria.
4. I speak/am speaking four languages.
5. She is tired. She want/is wanting to go home now.
6. He doesn’t drive/isn’t driving to work very often.
7. I’m sorry. I don’t understand/am not understanding. Please speak more slowly.
8. How often do you read/are you reading a newspaper.
9. I read/am reading lots of books every year.
10. Nurses look after/are looking after paitients in hospital.
Exercise 13: Put the verbs in brackets 
1. Something .................................(smell) very good.
2. We.........................(eat) dinner at 7 o’clock tonight.
3. He ....................(not practise) the piano in the morning.
4. I....................(believe) you.
5. Maria.........................(have) a cold.
6. After three days of rain, I’m glad that the sun ...............................(shine) again to day.
7. Every morning, the sun ...........................(shine) in my bedroom window and................
(wake) me up.
8. Listen! Someone .......................(shout) at the back of the garden.
9. My brother ...............(attend) college in HCM city from September to May every year. In the Summers he ............................(come) home and ...................(work) in the field. But this summer he ...............(not be) at home. He ............(work) in a shop in the city.
10. I can’t afford that cassette player. It .............................(cost) too much.
11. Righ now we ..........................(look) at the teacher. She .................(look) upset. We wonder what’s the matter. She ...................(not smile) as usual.
12. My sister...................(have) a bad habit: she always ..................(mess) up the kitchen.
13. ..............you....................(own) an umbrella? I ...................(not know) why young people like you usually.....................(go) out in the rain without wearing a raincoat or anything else.
14. Look! It....................(snow). I like snow, but there...............(not be) snow in my country.
15. Tom .................(look) out of the window. What he.................(think) about? He.....................(seem) to be day dreaming.
Exercise 14: Put the verbs in brackets into the present continuous tense or present simple.
1. Right now the children (be) .................at the beach. They (have) ..........................a good time. They (have) ............................a beach ball, and they (play) ...................catch with it. They (like)..........................to play catch. Their parents (sunbathe) .....................They (try) ..........................to get a ten. They (listen) ...........................to some music on a transistor radio. They also (hear)..................the sound of sea gulls and sound of the waves.
2. It’s 6 p.m. Mary is at home. She (have) ..............................dinenr with her family around six o’clock.
3. Jong (speak) ...........................Chinese. Chinese is his native language, but right now he (speak) ......................English with his teacher.
4. She ...........................(to go) to school everyday.
5. Bad students neve ...............(to work) hard.
6. It often ......................(to rain) in Summer. It (to rain) now.
7. The teacher always (to point) at the black – board when he (to want) to explain something. 
8. Mother ...............(to cook) some food in the kitchen at present, she always ..........(to cook) in the morning. 
9. I always................. (to meet) him on the corner of this street.
10. What you ...............(to do) ? – I ........(to go) my homework.
11. Where you ..............(to go) now? – I ..............(to go) to the theatre.
12. What you...................(to read) when you are on holiday? –I ..............(to read) novels. He ...............(to do) his morning exercises regularly? – Yes, he .............(to do). He...........
(to do) his morning exercises in the playground now.
13. I ..............(to think) that I ..............(to know) how He is a great nuisance.
14. You .................(to understand) the use of the present continuous tense quite well now?
	- I ................(to do) an to use it now.
Vocabulary: thư giãn, giải trí
1. football (n): môn bóng đá, quả bóng đá.
2. Swim (n): sự bơi lội.
3. Watch (v): xem (tivi, thể thao...)
4. Walk (v,n): đi bộ/cuộc đi bộ.
5. ice – skating (n): trượt băng
6. Volleyball (n): bóng chuyền
7. Weight liftining (n): tập tạ
8. Jog (n): chạy bộ
9. Piano (n): đàn pianô, đàn dương cầm.
10. Chess (n): cờ
11. Rollerblading (n): trượt patin
12. hockey (n): khúc côn cầu
13. excursion (n): chuyến tham quan
14. Stadium (n): sân vận động
15. Supermarket (n): siêu thị
16. Bookstore (n): hiệu sách
17. Library (n): thư viện
18. Swimming pool (n): hồ bơi
19. House wife (n): nội trợ
20. Coffee (n): cà phê
21. Cookout (n): cuộc đi dạo ăn thức ăn ngoài trời.
22. Card – game (n): chơi bài.
23. Music (n): nhạc, âm nhạc.
24. Tennis (n): quần vợt, ten - nít.
25. Game (n): trò chơi
26. Ski : trượt tuyết, ván trượt tuyết.
27. Dance: nhảy múa, khiêu vũ.
28. Hiking: leo núi
29. Aerobics (n): thể dục nhịp điệu
30. Golf: đánh gôn, chơi gôn
31. Baseball: bóng chày
32. Holiday: kỳ nghỉ
33. Cook: nấu ăn
34. Party: buổi tiệc
35. Stroll: tản bộ
36. Zoo: vườn bách thú
37. Toy store: cửa hành đồ chơi
38. Cinema: rạp chiếu phim
39. Circus (n): rạp xiếc
40. Museum: viện bảo tàng
41. Park: công viên
42. Tea: trà
43. Online: trực tuyến
44. Cards: quân bài
45. Playtime: giờ ra chơi
46. Horse race: đua ngựa
47. Wrestling: môn đấu vật
48. Badminton: cầu lông
49. Gymnastics: thể dục
50. Horizontal bar: xà đơn
51. surfing: lướt sóng
52. Judo: Nhu đạo
53. Shooting: bắn súng
54. Water skiing: lướt ván
55. Billiards: bi – a
56. Hurdle: chạy vượt rào
57. Accordion: đàn phong cầm
58. Harmonica: kèn acmônica
59. Flute: sáo
60. Saxophone: kèn sắc xô phôn
61. Drums: trống
62. Xylophone: đàn phiến gỗ (mộc cầm).
63. Bongo: trống bông gô
64. Guitar: đang ghi ta
65. Cycling: đua xe đạp
66. Pool: lối đánh pun (bi-a)
67. Ballet: múa ba lê
68. Figure skating: trượt băng
69. Karate: môn ka ra te
70. Windsurfing: lướt ván buồm
71. Parachute jump: môn nhảy dù
72. Parallel bars: xà kép
73. Athletics: môn điền kinh
74. Relay race: chạy tiếp sức
75. Long jump: nhảy xa
76. Taekwondo: môn taekwondo
77. Boxing: đấm bốc
78. Rugby: bóng bầu dục
79. Violin: đàn vĩ cầm
80. Symbols: chũm chọe (nhạc dân tộc)
81. Music sheets: bản nhạc
82. Gong: cồng, chiêng
83. Shaker: trống lắc
84. French horn: kèn pháp
85. Trumpet: kèn trom pét
86. Tambourine: lục lạc
87. Table tennis: bóng bàn
88. Concert: buổi hòa nhạc
89. Art exhibition: triển lãm nghệ thuật
90. Fence: đánh kiếm, đấu kiếm
91. Life jacket: áo nổi
92. Canoe: xuồng
93. Binoculars: ống nhòm
94. Sunbather: người tắm nắng
95.Runners: chạy đua
DANH MỤC TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO
Murphy,R.(2001). English Grammar In Use, 130 bài ngữ pháp tiếng Anh,.Hà Nội: NXB Thống Kê.
Nguyễn Thành Yến (2008). Streamline English. TP.HCM: Nxb TP. HCM.
English Grammar Review ( http:// www.hp.vietnam.vn, truy cập: 25/11/2009).
Thomson, A. J & Martinet, A.V. A English Grammar Exercises1 (http:// www.amec.com.vn , truy cập: 25/11/2009).
Khang Việt (2009). Từ điển Anh – Việt. Hải Phòng: NXB Hải Phòng.