Category: Class

FORM

present be-verb + present participle

am + doing

USAGE

• Present continuous is used with normal verbs to express that the action

is happening now, at present moment.

Examples:

Mary is just leaving work. She’ll be home in 30 minutes.

Please keep quiet. The students are taking their examination.

• It is also used to talk about definite future plans or arrangements.

Examples:

Katy is going to marry Walter next fall.

What are you doing this weekend?

• It can also be used to talk about temporary situations that are not necessarily happening now.

Examples:

Lindsay is working in a restaurant until she finds a better opportunity.

They are training for a marathon.

• Present continuous is used to talk about an action that is happening around a specific time.

Examples:

At three o’clock, she is having a nap.

When I get to home, my husband is waiting for me.

• Another use for present continuous is for temporary or new habits. Time expressions such as “these days” or “at the moment” are commonly used in this case.

Examples:

She’s binge shopping these days. She must be really stressed out at work.

John is running every single morning. He didn’t used to do this.

• It is also used for habits that are not regularly done but happen very frequently.

Examples:

You’re always forgetting our birthdays!

She’s normally stuttering when she is nervous.

• It can also be used to talk about something which is new and is a contrast with the past state.

Example:

Most children are playing video games instead of playing outside their homes.

These days, most people are communicating by chat instead of talking face-to-face.

• It is also used to talk about something that is changing.

Example:

The plants are growing so fast.

Spain’s economy is improving.

• Another use of present continuous is to talk about something which happens repeatedly.

Examples:

It’s always raining in Southeast Asian countries.

His parents are constantly arguing about money.

She’s very pretty. She’s always smiling.

EXEMPTION

Present Continuous cannot be used with stative verbs.

Examples:

I agree with you. (I am agreeing with you.)

This house belongs to his family now. (This house is belonging to his family now.)

Level: Intermediate-Advanced

Form:

It is very common to see adjective-preposition combinations. However, there is no concrete rule on when to use which combination. The key to mastering such combinations and knowing when to use them is reading and listening more in English. By doing so, one will become more familiar with how these combinations are used.

Common Adjective-Preposition Combinations:

Afraid of | Afraid for

Afraid of – that person or thing causes fear

John has always been afraid of heights.

Afraid for – feeling fear or worry about something or someone

Afraid for her life, she decided to leave her abusive husband.

Angry at | Angry about | Angry with

Angry at / about – anger is directed at the situation

It’s expected for the employees to be angry at the way the company handled the crisis.

The employees are still very angry about the low pay rise.

Angry with somebody – anger is directed at a person

Your mother is no longer angry with you, David.

Answerable for | Answerable to

Answerable for – responsible for

The league’s officials are answerable for mismanaging the funds.

Answerable to – has to explain its actions to

The department head is answerable only to the Chief Executive Officer.

Anxious about | Anxious at | Anxious for | Anxious to

Anxious about – talks about subject of worry

The business owners are increasingly anxious about the new tax reform policies.

Anxious at – talks about the cause of worry

Jason was anxious at Mildred’s delay.

Anxious for – talks about positive concern or desire for something

We’re anxious for our wedding to go as we’ve planned it.

Anxious to – expresses eagerness and is followed by a verb

The new city mayor was anxious to impress his constituents.

Bad/Good at | Bad/Good for

Good/Bad at – successful / unsuccessful

Everyone in this class is good at math.

He’s very bad at telling lies.

Good for – beneficial

We should all drink more water. It’s definitely good for us.

Good about | Good to | Good with

Feel good about – pleased

She felt good about getting the promotion.

Good to someone – kind

His foster parents have always been very good to him ever since they took him in.

Good with – skilled

Aries is very good with children.

Concerned about | Concerned with

Concerned about – worried

They were a bit concerned about their upcoming event.

Concerned with – about

This paragraph of the article is concerned with common air pollutants.

Glad about | Glad for | Glad of

Glad about something – reason for being happy

Karen is going to take the job in Berlin and her boss was not glad about her decision.

Glad for someone – happy for that person

I’m very glad for you.

Glad of – to be thankful to have something

I’d be glad of extra time to finish this report.

Pleased about | Pleased at | Pleased with

Pleased about/at – directed at reason for being happy and satisfied

She was really pleased about finishing her room’s renovations.

Pleased with – happy/satisfied

It took forever to complete the construction of this building, but we are very pleased with the results.

Right about | Right for

Right about – correct

The team was right about not proceeding with the project. It turned out, Mr. Jones is a crook.

Right for – suitable

Richard and Julia are going to agree on whatever they think is right for their children.

Sorry about | Sorry for

Sorry about – regretful

The professor was sorry about being late for the class.

Sorry for – feel sympathy for

I feel really sorry for people who are not comfortable in their own skin.

A tag question is a positive or negative sentence that is immediately followed by a short question. It is used when asking for confirmation. It means something similar to: “Is that right?” or “Do you agree?” Keep in mind that the tag takes on the form of auxiliary or main verb be from the main sentence and is changed to either negative or positive.

For simple past and present, do, does, and did are used in the tag.

POSITIVE STATEMENT TAG QUESTIONS

Positive Statement               Negative Tag

He is English,                          isn’t he?

He is English, isn’t he?

NEGATIVE STATEMENT TAG QUESTIONS

Negative Statement              Positive Tag

You don’t work here,               do you?

You don’t work here, do you?

 ANSWERING TAG QUESTIONS

 A tag question is answerable by yes or no. To answer, simply repeat the tag and reverse it.

Example:

Tag Question: The sun revolves around the earth, doesn’t it?

Answer: Yes, it does.

The meanings of yes and no when responding to a negative sentence:

Question: You’re not attending the meeting this afternoon, are you?

Answers:

Yes. – Yes, I am attending

No. – No, I am not attending.

INTONATION

With a tag question, the meaning is implied by the way it is said.

Using rising intonation denotes that it is an actual question. Meanwhile, using falling intonation means it is not a real question but a mere invitation for the listener to agree to what the speaker is saying.

SOME EXCEPTIONS

• The tag for Let’s is shall we.

Example: Let’s begin the ceremony, shall we?

• The tag for imperatives is will you.

Example: Give that to me, will you?

• The negative tag for I’m is aren’t I.

Example: I’m one of your best friends, aren’t I?