I studied this handout on: /

What are they doing?

Talking about and describing actions happening now.

1. Vocabulary
A. Match the items of clothing and accessories to a-l in the pictures.

1. ______ a suit 7. ______ a watch a

e
2. ______ jeans 8. ______ a t-shirt l
b f
3. ______ sunglasses 9. ______ a backpack

4. ______ a hat / a cap 10. ______ headphones h j

g
c
5. ______ a scarf 11. ______ a tie d k
i
6. ______ a skirt 12. ______ sneakers

B. Read the sentences and write the name of each person above the photos.

Nicky is wearing headphones. Becky is taking photos.

Samantha is wearing a large hat. Suzy is wearing a helmet.

Rebecca and Tom are walking their dog. John is sitting on a park bench.

1. 3. 5.

2. 4. 6.

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 2. Simple Present vs Present Continuous
A. Study the information about the simple present and present continuous.

1. Use the simple present to talk about habits, routines, or something that is generally true (a fact). We often use
words like always, sometimes, and never with the simple present tense.

a. She lives in Canada. c. I usually play tennis on the weekend.

This is a fact. This is a habit or routine.

b. I speak English well. d. She does not live in Australia.

This is true. ‘not’ is placed before all regular verbs.

2. Use the present continuous to talk about actions happening now. Form the present continuous ‘be’ + ‘verb~ing’.

a. I am studying English. b. It is not raining.

‘now’ is often not used. ‘not’ is placed after ‘be’ verb.

B. Complete the table with the best verb in the present continuous form.

Subject Verb Object

1. I pizza. 4. We English.

2. You TV. 5. You to Jazz.

3. He / She tennis. 6. They coffee.

C. Make these sentences true for you. Can you add more information?
e.g. I (study) Japanese. I’m not studying Japanese. I’m studying English.

1. I (wear) glasses now. 4. I (hold) my pen in my left hand.

2. We (study) French at the moment. 5. I (sit) on a sofa.

3. I (work) by myself on this activity. 6. I (think) about what to eat for dinner.

3. Practice Asking Questions

A. Read question and answer patterns a-c then write the questions for 1-4.
Question word(s) Be Subject Verb Object

a. What are you studying?

b. I am studying English.

c. Are you studying English? Yes, I am / No, I’m not.

1. 3.
I’m eating an apple. They’re walking in the park.

2. 4.
I’m sitting on a chair. She’s talking to her friend.

B. Tell your parter three things about the people in each picture in Part 1B.
C. Ask your parter three things about the people in each picture in Part 1B.
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 What are they doing?
Level: Elementary: A2
Pre-Intermediate: A2+
Updated: Apr 19, 2022
Language: Function: Asking and answering questions. Describing people, places, and things.
Forms: Continuous forms. Present tense.
Teaching time: 60 minutes.
Overview: Students will gain confidence using the present continuous form through a variety of question and answer
activities based on clothing. The present continuous (also called present progressive) is a verb form which is used
to show that an ongoing action is happening either at the moment of speech or now in a larger sense.

1. VOCABULARY C. In pairs, students take turns making sentences 1-6 true for
them. If students use ‘not’, encourage them to say what is true.
A. Students match the words to a-l in the pictures. Explain that
Consider the example: I (study) Japanese. I’m not studying
these words can all be used with the verb ‘wear’.
Japanese. I’m studying English. Answers may vary. Monitor
1. i. a suit progress and answer any questions that arise.
2. g. jeans
3. PRACTICE ASKING QUESTIONS
3. a. sunglasses
A. As a class, read the question and answer patterns a-c. Discuss
4. e. a hat / a cap and elicit examples to write on the board if necessary. You may
5. k. a scarf want to review question words who, what, when, where, and
6. c. a skirt why. Individually, students write questions to produce answers
1-4. Students can compare with a partner and discuss any
7. l. a watch differences or check questions as a class. Answers may vary.
8. b. a t-shirt 1. What are you eating/doing?
9. h. a backpack 2. Where are you sitting? What are you sitting on?
10. f. headphones 3. Where are they walking? What are they doing?
11. j. a tie 4. Who is she talking to?
12. d. sneakers (AmE) trainers (BrE)
B. In pairs, students take turns telling their partner about the
B. In pairs, students take turns reading sentence a-f. The student people in each picture in Part 1B. They should be able to explain
listening should them decide which picture the sentence what they are doing as well as what they are wearing. Model
describes and write the name(s) in the space provided. answers are provide, but answers may vary depending on how
creative your students are.
1. John
1. John is sitting on a park bench. He is playing a ukulele. He is
2. Becky
wearing a hat, white sneakers, and a blue shirt.
3. Samantha
2. Becky is taking photos. She is standing on a bridge. She is
4. Rebecca and Tom wearing a black leather jacket and red pants.
5. Suzy 3. Samantha is wearing a large hat. She is painting a picture.
6. Nicky She is sitting on the ground.
4. Rebecca and Tom are walking their dog. She is wearing a
2. SIMPLE PRESENT VS PRESENT CONTINUOUS dress. He is wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
A. In pairs, students study and discuss the information about the 5. Suzy is wearing a helmet. She is riding her bicycle. She is
simple present and the present continuous forms. Answer any wearing a backpack.
questions that arise. Write examples on the board and discuss if
6. Nicky is wearing headphones. She is using her smart phone
necessary. Check students’ understanding before continuing.
and listening to music. She is lying on the ground.
B. Individually, students fill the gaps with the correct form of an
C. In pairs, students take turns asking questions about the people
appropriate verb for the object. Answers may vary. Model
in the pictures in Part 1B. Questions and answers might vary
answers are provided below. Students can compare their
but here are some model questions:
answers with a partner and discuss any differences or elicit
answers to share with the class. 1. What is John wearing?
1. I am eating/making/ordering pizza. 2. Where is he sitting?
2. You are watching TV. 3. What is he doing?
3. He / She is playing/watching tennis. 4. What is he holding?
4. We are studying English.
5. You are listening to Jazz.
6. They are drinking/making/buying coffee.

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