1. You look really great!

(you, work)

2. A: What (you, do)

B: I (try)

3. I (have)

out at the fitness center recently?

when the accident occurred?

to change a light bulb that had burnt out.

the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a

new one.
4. If it (snow)

this weekend, we (go)

skiing near Lake Tahoe.

5. A: What do you call people who work in libraries?

B: They (call)

librarians.

6. I came to England six months ago. I started my economics course three months ago.
When I return to Australia, I (study)

(be)

7. Sam (arrive)

8. Samantha (live)

(live)

9. If Vera (keep)

for nine months and I

in England for exactly one year.

in San Diego a week ago.

in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she

there when the Berlin wall came down.

drinking, she (lose, eventually)

her job.

10. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the jungles of the Yucatan;
however, their culture (disappear, virtually)

(arrive)

by the time Europeans first

in the New World.

11. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep)

12. It (rain)

all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go to the

beach.
13. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss)

(be)

the bus this morning. You

late to work too many times. You are fired!

14. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we (wake)

morning, the sun (shine)

up tomorrow

15. I have not traveled much yet; however, I (visit)

the Grand Canyon and

San Francisco by the time I leave the United States.

16. I (see)

many pictures of the pyramids before I went to Egypt. Pictures of

the monuments are very misleading. The pyramids are actually quite small.
17. In the last hundred years, traveling (become)

comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take)

much easier and very

two or three months to cross North

America by covered wagon. The trip (be)

Things (change)

very rough and often dangerous.

a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can

fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.

18. Joseph's English (improve, really)

, isn't it? He (watch)

American television programs and (study)

his grammar every day since he first

arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.

19. When I (arrive)

(prepare)

home last night, I discovered that Jane

a beautiful candlelight dinner.

20. If you (need)

to contact me sometime next week, I (stay)

at

the Sheraton in San Francisco.

Difference between present continuous and be

going to
NOVEMBER 16, 2011 -

Both going to and present continuous are used to talk about future actions and
events that have some present reality. So, for example, if we say that something is
happening or going to happen, it is usually already decided or planned.
We are going to get new windows.
We are getting new windows.
As you can see, both sentences express nearly the same idea.
3

Both present continuous and be going to can be used to express the same idea.
In some cases there is a difference of meaning.
The present continuous tense is common with verbs of movement.
I am just popping out to the caf.
Are you coming to the party?
The present continuous tense is mainly used to talk about personal arrangements
and fixed plans. Be going to can also be used to express the same idea; however, it
puts an extra emphasis on the idea of intention.

I am going to get a new job. (= I intend to get a job.)

I am getting a new job. (= It is already decided / arranged. Here the focus is

on the arrangement.)

What are you doing this evening? (A question about arrangements)

Are you going to do anything about that letter you received from the civic
authorities? (A question about the intentions of the listener)

I am seeing Peter tomorrow. (Here the emphasis is on the arrangement that

already exists.)

I am going to ask him to stop borrowing my car. (Here the emphasis is on the
intentions of the speaker.)

Events outside peoples control

We do not normally use the present continuous to talk about events that are
outside peoples control.

It is going to snow before long. (NOT It is snowing before long.)

Look at the sky. It is going to rain.

4

Prices are going to fall.

The sentences It is raining and Prices are falling have altogether different
meanings. They are used to talk about actions or situations that are in progress at the
moment. Be going to is only used to talk about future events

1.

The train

at 11:45. (to leave)

2.

We

3.

It

4.

On Sunday at 8 o'clock I

5.

They

6.

Wait! I

7.

The English lesson

8.

9.

Look at the clouds - it

10.

Listen! There's someone at the door. I

dinner at a nice restaurant on Saturday. (to have)

in the mountains tomorrow evening. (to snow)
my friend. (to meet)

to London on Friday evening. (to fly)

you to the station. (to drive)
at 8:45. (to start)

my sister in April. (to see)

in a few minutes. (to rain)
the door for you. (to

open)
Answers

1.

The train leaves at 11:45.

2.

We are going to have dinner at a nice restaurant on Saturday.

3.

It will snow in the mountains tomorrow evening.

4.

On Sunday at 8 o'clock I am meeting my friend.

5.

They are flying to London on Friday evening.

5

6.

Wait! I will drive you to the station.

7.

The English lesson starts at 8:45.

8.

I am going to see my sister in April.

9.

Look at the clouds - it is going to rain in a few minutes.

10.

Listen! There's someone at the door. I will open the door for you.

On Monday, just as I (TRY) _________________________ to wind down after a long

working day, the telephone(RING) _________________________: Is that you, Helen?
someone asked on the phone. Yes, this (BE) _________________ me, I replied. Sandra
speaking, my friend. I need to talk to you right now, she said in a desperate voice. She was
a quiet girl who always tried not to call you when you (just/ ARRIVE)
_________________________ from work. She never wanted to disturb her friends, so I
knew
something
serious(GO)
_________________________ on.
I (not/
HEAR) _________________________ from
you
in
a
week.
What(you/
DO)
_________________________ lately? I asked Sandra. To tell you the truth, she said
I (HAVE) _________________________ a lot of problems with my boyfriend recently, she
continued. (you/WANT) __________________ to talk about it? I asked. I (not/ FINISH)
__________________ saying the phrase that she started crying. You (not/ BELIEVE)
_______________________ what happened to me last week, she said. It was Saturday
morning and my boyfriend (TELL) _________________________ me he (PICK)
_________________________ me up at 8 pm to go out for dinner at a fancy restaurant
downtown.
Eight
oclock
arrived.
I
was
at
home,
ready
to (PICK)
_________________________ up. It was nine oclock and my boyfriend (not/ APPEAR)
_________________________ or (CALL)
_________________________. I (BEGIN)
_________________________ to
get
worried
when
my
telephone (RING)
______________________: Your boyfriend is cheating on you! You can catch him redhanded at this very moment. Go to Rodham road and Sixth and youll see... I could not
believe what I (just/ HEAR) _________________________ buy anyway, I went to the place
the female voice (INDICATE) _________________________ and there he was: he (KISS)
_________________________ a
girl
as
he (never/
KISS)
_________________________ me before. When he saw me he said that he (BE)
_________________________ sorry
and
promised
he (never/
DO)
_________________________ it again. I dont know what to do. I love him but he (really/
HURT) _________________________ my feelings. Tell me, Helen, what (you/DO)
6

_________________________ if you were me? Sandra asked me. Look, if I (BE)

_________________________ you,
I (FORGIVE)_________________________ him
temporarily until I (GET) _________________________ a new, better candidate, I replied. I
dont know, she said. I think everything will depend on his next move. If he (CALL)
_________________________ me
and
apologizes
for
what
he (DO)
_________________________, I guess I(GIVE) _________________________ him a
second chance. I love him and I want to be happy with him. What do you think, Helen? she
asked me. I think you (not/ NEED) _________________________ my opinion;
you (already/ MAKE) _________________________ a decision. I just hope it (BE)
_________________________ the right one, I said.
ANSWERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

was trying
rang
is
had just arrived
was going
have not heard
have you been doing
have had/ have been having
do you want
had not finished
will not believe
told
would pick
to be picked
had not appeared
called
had begun
rang

19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.

had just heard

had indicated
was kissing
had never kissed
was
would never do
has really hurt/ really hurt
would you do
were
would forgive
got
calls
has done/ did
would give
do not need
have already made
is/ will

36.

1.

The British explorer James Cook was born in the village of Marton, Yorkshire, on
27 October, 1728. But his family soon (move)
to another village, called Great
Ayton, where Cook (spend)

2.

As a teenager James Cook (develop)

and (travel)

3.

most of his childhood.

to Whitby where he (find)

While he (serve)

the command of a ship.

After the war (end)

, Cook (take)

Grenville and (go)

5.

employment on a coal ship.

in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War

(1756-1763), Cook (have)

4.

a fascination for the sea

command of the vessel

to Newfoundland to survey the coasts there.

While he (map)

the coasts of Newfoundland, he (observe)

solar eclipse off the North American coast.

6.
Cook (send)
the details to the Royal Society, England's leading
scientific organisation, and (win)
7.

their attention.

After Cook (publish)

Society (ask)

his observations of the solar eclipse, the Royal

him to lead a scientific expedition to Tahiti and (put)

him in command of of the HMS Endeavour.

8.
From Tahiti Cook then (go on)
9.

He also (reach)
Tasman (visit)

10.

New Zealand, which only the Dutchman Abel

before Cook.

After Cook (map)

he (sail)

to explore the South Pacific.

New Zealand's complete coastline,

to Australia's east coast.

11.

Cook (name)

the area New South Wales as it (remind)

of the south coast of Wales in Great Britain.

12.
In 1772, one year after Cook (return)
Pacific, the Royal Society (hire)

14.

several islands and

as far as the continent of Antarctica.

He (make)

maps of the South Pacific and (prove)

Australis (exist / not)

15.

from his first voyage to the

him for another expedition to find the

mythical Terra Australis.

13.
On his journey, Cook (discover)
almost (go)

coast of North America where he (try)

and Pacific.
16.
He (not / can / pass)

17.

the Bering Strait, however; the

him to return to Hawaii, which he (discover)

Hawaiians (steal)

earlier.

in Hawaii, some

one of his boats.

When cook and his men (try)

violent fight (break out)

him to the west

to find a passage between the Atlantic

While he and his crew (rest)

18.

that Terra

His third and last voyage for the Royal Society (take)

ice (force)

him

to get the boat back from the natives, a

in which the natives (stab)

James Cook to

death.
37.
38.ANSWERS

1.

The British explorer James Cook was born in the village of Marton, Yorkshire, on
27 October, 1728. But his family soon moved to another village, called Great Ayton,
where Cook spent most of his childhood.

2.

As a teenager James Cook developed a fascination for the sea and travelled to
Whitby where he found employment on a coal ship.

3.

While he was serving in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War (17561763), Cook had the command of a ship.

4.

After the war had ended, Cook took command of the vessel Grenville and went
to Newfoundland to survey the coasts there.

5.

While he was mapping the coasts of Newfoundland, he observed

off the North American coast.

6.

Cook sent the details to the Royal Society, England's leading scientific
organisation, and won their attention.

7.

After Cook had published his observations of the solar eclipse, the Royal
Society asked him to lead a scientific expedition to Tahiti and put him in command of of
the HMS Endeavour.

8.

From Tahiti Cook then went on

9.

a solar eclipse

to explore the South Pacific.

He also reached New Zealand, which only the Dutchman Abel Tasman had visited
before Cook.

10.

After Cook had mapped New Zealand's complete coastline, he sailed

Australia's east coast.

11.

Cook named the area New South Wales as it reminded

Wales in Great Britain.

12.

In 1772, one year after Cook had returned from his first voyage to the Pacific, the
Royal Society hired him for another expedition to find the mythical Terra Australis.

13.

On his journey, Cook discovered several islands and almost went

continent of Antarctica.

14.

to

him of the south coast of

as far as the

He made maps of the South Pacific and proved that Terra Australis did not exist
.

15.

His third and last voyage for the Royal Society took him to the west coast of North
America where he tried to find a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific.

16.

He could not pass the Bering Strait, however; the ice forced him to return to
Hawaii, which he had discovered earlier.

17.

While he and his crew were resting in Hawaii, some Hawaiians stole

one of his

boats.
18.

When cook and his men tried to get the boat back from the natives, a violent
fight broke out in which the natives stabbed James Cook to death.
39.
40.
41.