🎭 SOFÍA LUNA

Present Continuous
Sofía Luna Institute | Individual Virtual Class | Student Workbook

🎯 Class Objective
By the end of this class you will be able to describe, both orally and in writing, actions that are happening right
now using the present continuous in English.

📚 1. Grammar: The Present Continuous

Think of the present continuous as a photograph: it captures an action at the exact instant it happens. We're
not talking about what you always do (that's the simple present), but about what's happening right now, right in
front of you.

When do we use it? (4 situations)

1. Something is happening right now → I am writing an email right now.
2. Something is temporary, even if not happening this exact second → She is studying a lot this semester.
3. A situation is gradually changing → More people are working from home these days.
4. A future plan that's already arranged and confirmed → We are traveling to Miami next weekend.

Formation
The basic structure is:
Subject + verb TO BE (am / is / are) + verb + ING

Subject To be Example
I am I am reading a book.
You / We / They are They are playing video games.
He / She / It is She is dancing.

Rules for forming the gerund (-ing)

Rule Example
Most verbs: add -ing write -> writing / play -> playing
Verb ends in silent -e: drop the -e and add -ing dance -> dancing / write -> writing
Short verb ending in consonant-vowel- sit -> sitting / run -> running
consonant: double the last consonant

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 Rule Example
Verb ends in -ie: change to -y and add -ing lie -> lying

Three sentence forms

Type Example
Affirmative She is singing right now.
Negative She is not (isn't) singing right now.
Interrogative Is she singing right now?

Present continuous vs. simple present

These two tenses get mixed up a lot. Compare them:

Situation Simple present Present continuous

Routine or habit I play soccer every Saturday. —
Action happening now — I am playing soccer right now.
Signal words always, usually, every day, on now, right now, at the moment,
Mondays Look!

🔑 Memory trick: if you can say "Look!" or "Right now!" before the sentence and it makes sense, you need the
present continuous!

Common mistakes (watch out!)

• ❌ She dancing. → ✅ She is dancing. (never forget the verb to be)
• ❌ I am study. → ✅ I am studying. (don't forget the -ing)
• ❌ I no am working. → ✅ I am not working. ("not" goes right after am/is/are)

Quick challenge: form it yourself 🧩

Write the -ing form of these verbs using the rules you just learned.
5. run → ________________
6. write → ________________
7. study → ________________
8. lie → ________________
9. dance → ________________

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Signal words
• now
• right now
• at the moment
• Look! / Listen!

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📖 2. Reading Activity
Read the following text aloud or silently.
It is Saturday morning at the Ramirez house, and everyone is busy. Mrs. Ramirez is sitting in the kitchen. She is
drinking coffee and reading a book. In the living room, her daughter Ana is dancing to her favorite song, and she
is singing loudly. Ana's brother, Leo, is not dancing. He is sitting on the sofa, and he is playing video games with
his friend online. Mr. Ramirez is standing near the window. He is wearing his glasses, and he is writing a letter to
his sister. The family dog is not eating candy - dogs cannot eat candy! - but Ana is eating a piece of candy while
she dances. Outside, a neighbor is listening to music, and she is drawing a picture of the garden. Nobody is doing
homework this morning, but everybody is smiling, because Saturday mornings are the best part of the week.

True or False
Write T (true) or F (false) next to each sentence.
10. Mrs. Ramirez is drinking coffee in the kitchen. ____
11. Ana is doing her homework in the living room. ____
12. Leo is playing video games with a friend. ____
13. Mr. Ramirez is sitting on the sofa. ____
14. The neighbor is drawing a picture of the garden. ____

Short answer questions

Answer in complete sentences using the present continuous.
15. What is Ana doing while she eats candy?
16. Where is Mr. Ramirez standing?
17. Why does the text say Saturday mornings are the best part of the week?

🎧 3. Listening Activity
Your teacher will read a dialogue between Sofia and Marco. Listen carefully and fill in the blanks with the
correct present continuous verb form. Your teacher will read the dialogue twice.

18. Marco ______ (sit) in his bedroom.

19. Marco ______ (do) his English homework.
20. Sofia ______ (listen) to music.
21. Sofia ______ (draw) in her notebook.
22. Sofia's brother ______ (text) on his phone.
23. Marco's sister ______ (eat) candy and ______ (laugh) at a video.

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After listening
24. Who is doing homework, Sofia or Marco?
25. What is Sofia's brother doing?
26. Why does Sofia have to go?

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✍️4. Writing Activity
Part A: Complete the sentences
Write the correct present continuous form (affirmative, negative, or interrogative as needed).
27. My mom ______ (cook) dinner in the kitchen right now.
28. Look! The children ______ (play) in the park.
29. I ______ (not / watch) TV at the moment.
30. ______ you ______ (study) for the exam right now?
31. We ______ (wait) for the bus. It is late!
32. She ______ (write) an email to her teacher.

Part B: Write a paragraph

Imagine it's Saturday afternoon. Write a paragraph of at least 60 words describing what your family is doing
right now. Use at least 5 present continuous verbs.
Guiding questions:
• Who is at home right now?
• What is each person doing?
• Are you doing something fun or something boring?
• Is anyone doing something surprising?

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🎭 5. Final Activity: Charades Bingo
To close the class, you'll play the digital Charades Bingo. Your teacher will share their screen.
Round 1: the teacher acts out an action in charades and the student guesses by saying the complete sentence,
for example: "You are dancing!" If correct, mark the box on your digital card. Round 2: roles switch - the student
acts and the teacher marks their card. Whoever completes a row, a column, or the whole card first wins.
🌟 Remember to always answer with the complete sentence: "You are ___ing!"

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