57
At the zoo
Textbook: p. 62
GoalPresent Continuous (is/are + -ing): saying what is happening now; the zoo.
New words
zoo · hayvonot bog‘ianimal keeper · qorovulnow · hozirusually · odatda
Explanation
We use the Present Continuous for what is happening now: is/are + verb-ing. “The giraffe is eating leaves now.” “The penguins are swimming.” For habits we use the Present Simple: “Usually the owl sleeps in the day.” For now: “Now the owl is flying.” Negative: isn’t / aren’t + -ing: “The bear isn’t sleeping.” Spelling: swim → swimming, run → running, dance → dancing. Remember: is for singular, are for plural.
Worked examples
It’s ten o’clock at the zoo. The keeper is giving fish to the seals. The monkeys are jumping on the ropes and the parrots are talking loudly.
The zebras aren’t running now. They are standing near the water. The hippo is sleeping in the mud.
Class activity
“What’s happening now?”: a pupil mimes an animal action (swimming, jumping), the class says: “The dolphin is swimming!”
Practice
1
Make it continuous: The ducks swim.
The ducks are swimming.
2
Negative: The bear is sleeping.
The bear isn’t sleeping.
3
Write the -ing form: swim, run, dance
swimming, running, dancing
4
Why “Usually the owl sleeps” but “Now the owl is flying”?
A habit uses the Present Simple; the present moment uses the Present Continuous.