Uses of the Present continuous (see Developing Grammar in Context, page 13)

 An action 
happening at the time of speaking  	A temporary 
situation	A changing 
situation	Behaviour that 
happens more 
often than 
expected	
A future 
arrangement     	I’m having dinner with Johnny Depp 
tonight	You’re getting fat!	You’re always 
taking my books!	
He’s having lunch. Can he call you 
back?   	House prices are 
going up again.	I’m doing an 
English course on 
Tuesday evenings	People are living 
longer than ever 
before.	
More people are getting divorced these days.	We’re working on a project to update 
the accounting 
software for all our branches. 	She’s forever 
gossiping about 
other people.	We’re stocktaking 
this week.	
I’m working tomorrow morning but I’m free in the 
afternoon.  	They’re packing your order right now.	At the moment I’m working on the 
page design. It’ll be 
ready on Friday.	You’re always 
teasing me!	

Answers

An action happening at the time of speaking
He’s having lunch. Can he call you back?
They’re packing your order right now.

A temporary situation
We’re working on a project to update the accounting software for all our branches. 
I’m doing an English course at SPACE.	
We’re stocktaking this week.
At the moment I’m working on the page design. It’ll be ready on Friday.

A changing situation	
You’re getting fat!
House prices are going up again.
People are living longer than ever before.	
More people are getting divorced these days.

Behaviour that happens more often than expected	
You’re always taking my books!
She’s forever gossiping about other people.
You’re always teasing me!

A future arrangement     	
I’m having dinner with Johnny Depp tonight.
I’m working tomorrow morning but I’m free in the afternoon.