Focus On GrammarBook 2, 5th edition

Lesson 2: Present Continuous,Action / Non-action Verbs,

Future

Present Continuous / ProgessiveForm

• BE verbING• BE changes with person

• Contractions: I’m, You’re, She’s, We’re, They’re

Singular Plural

First I am verbing. We are verbing.

Second You are verbing. You are verbing.

Third He is verbingShe is verbing.It is verbing.

They are verbing.

Present Continuous / ProgessiveUse

• Right Now!• Relatively right now; at this time, but not

always.

2.2 For Longer Actions

• Relatively speaking, more or less right now

• Also for future, but only to discuss plans, not predictions.– Schedules are the best example; simple present

can even be used.

2.3Questions

• Subject Questions are easy; just take out the subject and put in the WH-word.

• With Present Progressive/Continuous, you have a helping verb, the BE verb. – (see esl2000.com)

2.4 Present Tenses:Simple and Cont./Prog.

• Simple Present– All the time; Always – Right now for Stative Verbs– I work for the government.

• Present Progressive– Right now, and relatively right now– I am working at McDonald’s.

2.5: Action and Non-action (Stative) verbs(#1)

• LOOK is active, but SEE is not active– Berto is looking out the window.– Akeeso sees the animals.

• LOOK can be stative– Shem looks happy.

• THINK – Think about, think of, are actions.– Think = believe is stative.

• KNOW ALL ABOUT PAGE 61; ask questions

2.5: Action and Non-action (Stative) verbs(#2)

• Right now, I love you.– (and I’m hating McDonald’s)

• Love, Hate, Like, Feel, Excite, Excite• The best example is BE– Other words that are similar to BE• Look, Smell, Seem• If you can replace it with BE and have no change in

meaning, for sure, it is a stative verb, and is not progressive.

2.6Future Tense with WILL

• MODAL– never changes (no “S” for 3rd Sing.)

• Always followed by the BASE FORM of verb– never changes (no “S” for 3rd Sing.)

• Frequency words are AFTER the First Helping Verb (WILL)– For both BE verbs and ALL OTHER verbs

• Contractions: I’ll (aisle), you’ll (yule), he’ll (heal), she’ll, it’ll (like “little”), we’ll (wheel), they’ll

2.6Negatives/Questions with WILL

• MODAL– Put NOT after the First Helping Verb– Eddie will not fail this course.

• Contraction: Will not Won’t– Eddie won’t fail this course.

• Questions– Subjects are easy– Yes/No = move WILL in front of subject.– Other WH = make Y/N, move WH to front.

2.7Future with “BE GOING TO”

• Form– Changes with person/number

– NOT goes after the first helping verb (BE)– Going to go = going– In = after

Singular Plural

1st I am going to eat We are going to eat

2nd You are going to eat. You are going to eat.

3rd It is going to eat. They are going to eat.

2.7 – Questions with BE GOING TO

• BE is the helping verb• Subject questions are easy• Yes/no quesstions move the HV front• WH questions – first make Y/N, – then move wh word to the front

2.8 Will or BE GOING TO• Usually, either one is ok• WILL– No previous plan– Promise– offer to help

• BE GOING TO– Plan is already made

• Sometimes use pres.prog or simple pres for plans & scheduled events

2.9 – NO Future in Time/IF clauses

• IF I eat candy tomorrow, I will get sick.• When, after, before, until, etc.

• Commas? Something has to separate the clauses.