1. Let’s start by watching two videos. The first one is the music
video for Van Halen’s Right Now.
2.
3. Watching the video again, write down some of the statements
shown onscreen. You can choose to copy only the ones that
have caught your attention. Then, you are to discuss with your
partner :
1- why you have picked up those particular statements
2- why they have caught your attention
3- what you think is going on in your house right now
4- what you think is going on in your town/city right now
5- what you think is going on in New York right now
6- what you think people all round the world are doing right
now (no matter what time zone they are in)
4.
5. The second one was taken from the American sitcom The Big
Bang Theory. It features Simon Wolowitz (played by Simon
Helberg) trying to make up with his girlfriend Bernardette
Rostenkowski (played by Melissa Rauch). He sings a version of
the Four Tops’ hit song Bernardette.
6.
7. Watching the video again, write down some of the lines of the
lyrics shown onscreen. You can choose to copy only the ones
that have caught your attention. Then, you are to discuss with
your partner :
1- why Howard is singing Bernadette a song
2- what he is singing about in the song
3- where he is singing the song
4-what clothes he is wearing
5-what clothes the girls are wearing
6- how the girls feel about the song. Try to focus on their
reaction. Was the reception to his performance generally
positive, mixed or negative?
8.
9. Present Continuous
The present continuous tense, also known as the present
progressive tense in some grammar books, is one of the most
often used tenses in English. It is also one of the tenses that
English learners use incorrectly. It is important to remember that
the present continuous tense is generally used to express
something happening at the moment of speaking. It is not used
to express everyday habits and routines. Everyday habits and
routines are expressed using the present simple tense. It is also
important to remember that the present continuous is only used
with action verbs and not stative verbs.
10. For example:
Action Verbs (actions we take/things we do, or things that happen)
She's studying math with Tom at the moment. AND She studies math with
Tom every Friday.
They've been working since seven o'clock this morning. AND They worked for
two hours yesterday afternoon.
We'll be having a meeting when you arrive. AND We are going to meet next
Friday.
Stative Verbs (the way things 'are' - their appearance, state of
being, smell, etc)
The flowers smell lovely. NOT Those flowers are smelling lovely.
She heard him speak in Seattle yesterday afternoon. NOT She was hearing him
speak in Seattle yesterday afternoon.
They'll love the concert tomorrow evening. NOT They'll be loving the concert
tomorrow evening.
11. Common Stative Verbs
There are many more action verbs than stative verbs. Here is a list of some the
most common stative verbs
be get
hate impress
like know
love reach
need recognize
belong taste
believe think
cost understand
12. Generally, stative verbs fall into four groups:
Verbs Showing Thought or Verbs Showing Possession
Opinions have
know own
believe belong
understand possess
recognize
Verbs Showing Senses Verbs Showing Emotion
hear love
smell hate
see want
feel need
taste
13. Here are some possible uses for the present continuous tense
Things that are happening now, at the Actions happening in a period around the
moment. present moment in time.
What are you doing? I'm reading "The Surgeon's Mate" by
She's reading in the garden. Patrick O'Brian.
They're not standing in the rain. Whose account are you working on?
She's studying hard for her final exam.
Future plans and arrangements. Common present continuous time
We're having leftovers this evening. expressions include:
What are you doing tomorrow at the moment, now, today, this week, this
afternoon? month, tomorrow, next week (for future
She isn't coming on Friday. arrangements ), currently
14. Structure Questions
Negative
Positive helping verb "be" + not + question word + helping
helping verb "be" + verb + - verb + -ing. verb 'be' + subject + verb
ing. I'm not (I am not) -> + -ing
I'm (I am) -> working today. coming this evening. What -> are you -> doing
You're (You are) -> working You aren't (You are not) -> this afternoon?
today. coming this evening. What -> is he -> doing this
He's (He is) -> working He isn't (He is not) -> afternoon?
today. coming this evening. What -> is she -> doing
She's (She is) -> working She isn't (She is not) -> this afternoon?
today. coming this evening. What -> is it -> doing this
It's (It is) -> working today. It isn't (It is not) -> coming afternoon?
We're (We are) -> working this evening. What -> are we -> doing
today. We aren't (We are not) -> this afternoon?
You're (You are) -> working coming this evening. What -> are you -> doing
today. You aren't (You are not) -> this afternoon?
They're (They are) -> coming this evening. What -> are they -> doing
working today. They aren't (They are not) this afternoon?
-> coming this evening.
15. Now, discuss the following topics with your partner:
1-what your partner is doing now
2-what he/she is doing right after class
3-what he/she is doing tomorrow
4-what his/her plans for next weekend are
5-what his/her significant other is doing now
6-what book he/she is reading this time
16. Last activity by now, describe what is going on in the X-Men comic book scene
which follows