Difficulty
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Let’s have a look at the continuous aspect:
Form
to be + -ing (present participle)
am playing
was watching
have been making
is getting
be working
Meaning
An aspect is the way something can be looked at or regarded. With verb forms, there are three aspects: simple, continuous, and perfect. This lesson focuses on the continuous aspect.
The continuous aspect looks at the action and its duration, rather than the result of the action. It suggests that the action has a temporary and limited duration.
It is rare for the continuous aspect to use verbs that describe feelings (hate, like, prefer, …), senses (hear, smell, see, …), or thoughts (believe, understand, think, …). We call these verbs “stative” or “state” verbs, because they speak about the state of a person or object.
Use the following exercises to test yourself.
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1. Is that the new computer game you ordered? _____________________ it? |
you + enjoy |
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2. At 9 o’clock tomorrow, I _____________________ on the train. |
sit |
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3. When I came home, he _____________________. |
sleep |
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4. I have to go! She _____________________ for me. |
must + wait |
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5. Rob _____________________ all day last week. |
hike |
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6. While she _____________________, Bill _____________________ on the computer. |
read/ work |
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7. In January, I _____________________ at my brother’s again. |
live |
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8. I _____________________ because I just fell off my bike! |
cry |
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9. How long _____________________ there before they fired him? |
he + work |
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10. What _____________________ since you graduated? |
you + do |
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11. Who _____________________ to when I saw you? |
you + talk |
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12. She _____________________ all morning, give her a break! |
study |
Key
- Are you enjoying
- was sitting
- was sleeping
- must be waiting
- was hiking
- was reading / was working
- will be living / ‘ll be living
- am crying / ‘m crying
- had he been working
- have you been doing
- were you talking
- has been studying / ‘s been studying
Answers:
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