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We use the continuous form to describe a background action that was in progress when another (shorter) action happened John was crying when I arrived. start learning
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My partner was reading a book about babies' names when I got home.
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We use the continuous form to talk about something that's incomplete, temporary, or still in progress (often emphasising the length of time) He's living with his parents until he can find a house. start learning
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The author of the book has been trying to think of a good name for it for months.
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We use the continuous form to talk about situations that are in the process of changing The economy is getting worse. start learning
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These days it's getting easier and easier to change your name.
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We use the continuous form to emphasize repeated actions (that may be annoying) She's always playing her music loudly. start learning
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She's always talking as if she's a household name, but she's only been on TV once!
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We use the continuous form for plans that may not be definite I was thinking of going home this weekend. start learning
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I'm considering naming my dog after my hero: Che Guevara.
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We use the continuous form to sound tentative and less direct when we make proposals, inquires, suggestions, etc. I was wondering if I could borrow some money. start learning
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I was hoping to borrow your car, if that's OK.
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The photocopier (?) at the moment, but the engineer will fix it later. isn't working/doesn't work start learning
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The photocopier isn't working at the moment, but the engineer will fix it later.
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You can't go because you (?) your work. haven't been finishing/haven't finished start learning
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You can't go because you haven't finished your work.
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I (?) a great time when my dad came and dragged me home! start learning
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I was having a great time when my dad came and dragged me home!
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The postal worker (?) the package right now. start learning
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The postal worker is weighing the package right now.
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That's a tricky question and I (?) the answer. am not knowing/don't know start learning
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That's a tricky question and I don't know the answer.
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I (?) through my old papers and I found a letter from you. start learning
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I was looking through my old papers and I found a letter from you.
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Can you turn down the volume? I (?) on the phone. start learning
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Can you turn down the volume? I am talking on the phone.
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I (?) the doorbell so I carried on watching TV. wasn't hearing/didn't hear start learning
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I didn't hear the doorbell so I carried on watching TV.
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start learning
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She has been studying all morning.
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I live in Krakow, but I (?) a course in Warsaw this summer. start learning
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I live in Krakow, but I am doing a course in Warsaw this summer.
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B: Because I just fell off my bike and it hurts! start learning
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Because I just fell off my bike and it hurts!
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A: (?) (work) there before they fired him? B: About twenty years. He was devastated. start learning
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How long was he working there before they fired him? About twenty years. He was devastated.
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A: (?) (do) since you graduated? B: I've mainly been looking for jobs, but no luck so far. start learning
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What have you been doing since you graduated? I've mainly been looking for jobs, but no luck so far.
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B: Twenty-seven years. I moved here when I was twenty. start learning
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How long have you been living in Madrid? Twenty-seven years. I moved here when I was twenty.
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A: (?) (talk) to when I saw you earlier? Oh, she's an old schoolmate. start learning
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Who were you talking to when I saw you earlier? Oh, she's an old schoolmate.
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A: (?) (want) to be when you were a child? B: A firefighter. I loved the uniform! start learning
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What did you want to be when you were a child? A firefighter. I loved the uniform! (simple form)
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B: About an hour. The hospital is always busy on a Saturday. start learning
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Have you been waiting long? About an hour. The hospital is always busy on a Saturday.
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A: (?) (not finish) your degree? B: Because I ran out of money and couldn't pay the tuition fees. start learning
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Why didn't you finish your degree? Because I ran out of money and couldn't pay the tuition fees. (simple form)
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John's not in the office. He might have lunch. start learning
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John's not in the office. He might be having lunch. The action is still in progress.
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I'm fed up. We've waited for an hour! start learning
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I'm fed up. We've been waiting for an hour! it's an unfinished action and emphasises the length of time
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She owns a small house by the river. start learning
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She owns a small house by the river.
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Can you be quiet? I try to work. start learning
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Can you be quiet? I'm trying to work. it's an action in progress at this time
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The letter arrived today. She had expected the news since Monday. start learning
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The letter arrived today. She'd been expecting the news since Monday. it emphasises the length of time
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That chicken dish tasted great. start learning
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That chicken dish tasted great.
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Who do these keys belong to? start learning
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Who do these keys belong to?
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By next September, we will have lived here for twenty-five years. start learning
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By next September, we'll have been living here for twenty-five years. it emphasises the length of time
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I work on a project at the moment. start learning
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I'm working on a project at the moment. the action is still in progress
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My partner made dinner when I got home so I helped. start learning
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My partner was making dinner when I got home so I helped. it talks about something that was in progress when I got home
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My friend (?) to visit next week. start learning
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My friend is coming to visit next week.
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Harada is Japanese. He (?) from Osaka. start learning
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Harada is Japanese. He comes from Osaka.
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I (?) a cold for two weeks -I can't seem to get rid of it. start learning
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I've had a cold for two weeks -I can't seem to get rid of it.
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I (?) tennis lessons for two years. start learning
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I've been having tennis lessons for two years.
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My office (?) painted yesterday so I stayed home. start learning
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My office was being painted yesterday so I stayed home.
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The garden (?) really beautiful when I was a child. start learning
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The garden was really beautiful when I was a child.
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The children (?) homesick at all so they love travelling. start learning
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The children don't get homesick at all so they love travelling.
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The economy (?) any better - jobs are still at risk. start learning
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The economy isn't getting any better - jobs are still at risk.
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They knew me already because I (?) for that company before. start learning
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They knew me already because I 'd worked for that company before.
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I was exhausted because I (?) for sixteen hours. start learning
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I was exhausted because I 'd been working for sixteen hours.
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