Exercise 1.

A. Use all the forms of Present Continuous with the verbs (swim, write, learn) in affirmative sentences. (Work in pairs). § 8.3.

Model: – I am speaking. – Are you?

1) We are speaking. 2) You are speaking. 3) He is speaking. 4) She is speaking. 5) They are speaking. 6) It is speaking.

B. Use the verbs (sleep, play, read) in general questions. Give short answers.

Model: – Am I working? – Yes, you are. / No, you’re not.

1) Are we working? 2) Are you working? 3) Is he working? 4) Is she working? 5) Are they working? 6) Is it working?

C. Use the verbs (dance, drive, leave) in negative sentences.

Model: – I am not cooking. – Yes, you are!

1) We are not cooking. 2) You are not cooking. 3) He is not cooking. 4) They are not cooking. 5) She is not cooking.

Exercise 2. Compare the usage of Present Simple and Present Continuous, use the correct verb forms. § 8.2, 8.3.

B. 1. I usually … (go) to the University by bus, but now I … (walk).

2. My friend … (wait) for me at the monument to A. Pushkin. He always … (wait) for me there.

3. I always … (attend) lectures and seminars. Some students … (miss) classes sometimes. Today Alex and Peter … (stay) away.

4. – What …you … (read) now? – I … (read) a book by V. Pelevin. In fact, I … (read) a lot.

5. – … Nick … (speak) French well? – No, he … (not speak) it at all. But he … (speak) English very well. Now he … (speak) Russian.

Exercise 3. Explain the usage of the tenses in these sentences.

1. – Are you calling your girlfriend? – No, I am not calling her. In fact, I never call her, because she always calls me herself.

2. Mary Bell is a film star. She usually stars in films. But now she is not working. She is having a rest. She is talking with her friend, they are discussing new trends in fashion.

3. John is an actor. As a rule, he plays the parts of gangsters. But he is not acting now; he is at a night club. He is dancing with his girlfriend. All people at the club are watching him, because he is dancing beautifully. He usually dances well.

Exercise 4.Put the verbs in brackets into Present Simple, Present Continuous or Future Simple Tense. § 8.2, 8.3.

1. Look at the children: they (skate) wonderfully! They (skate) every Saturday here.

2. – What (do) you now? – I (wash) the dishes. In fact, I (wash) the dishes every evening. I hope my husband (buy) me a dish-washer next month.

3. We (write) a test now. All the students (work) hard. We always (do) our homework and (prepare) for classes, that is why I am sure we (pass) the test successfully.