2.1 It's just the way I'm feeling...

3. Paco reads the quotations on the wall

Listening activity

Paco is relaxing in the hotel's bar and he isn't feeling nervous any longer. He is enjoying his soft drinks and the music. Here is another song played in the bar. Listen to it carefully!

The song is entitled Just the way I'm feeling, by Feeder. Listen to it again paying attention to the tenses the singer uses to express how he is feeling at the moment of speaking or singing.

As we know one of the main uses of the present continuous is to refer to actions that are going on at the moment of speaking. However, remember that it is not the only use of the present continuous. It is also used to express

* arrangements (normally for a near future)

Paco is phoning his family tomorrow.

* actions taking place for a limited period of time

Paco is studying History at University.

* actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking)

Paco is travelling around the world.

* development, changing situations, trends

Paco is feeling more and more relaxed.

* actions that are irritating to the speaker (usually with always)

Andrés and his sister are always arguing

Further knowledge

Click here to improve the use of the Present Continuous tense and to do some exercises on the subject. Do you think you can handle these exercises about the present progressive? Come on, there's no harm in trying!

Pregunta de Elección Múltiple

Read the following passage:

By vidalia 11. C. Commons

Over the last twenty years, the average size of households has fallen dramatically. The number of one person households has grown, due largely to the ageing of the population, as has the number of one parent families. Couples having smaller families have also contributed to the fall in household size.

In 1976, 60% of families were couples with children. By 1996, this had fallen to 51%. Part of this change can be attributed to the increase in one parent families with dependent children, but most of the change is due to the increase in the proportion of couple only families. People are now having children later in life, and are living longer. Therefore, they are spending more time living in couple-only families, both before they have families and after their children have left home.

However, children are leaving home later. In 1981, 34% of children aged 20-24 lived with their parents. By 1991, this had increased to 40%. This increase has, to some extent, countered the fall in the couples with non-dependent children only.

From ABS Yearbook Australia 1997, Number 79 p. 81.

What do the following continuous tenses from the passage express?

1. People are now having children later in life.

	a. a development or changing situation
	b. an action taking place for a limited period of time

By b k. C. Commons.

2. People are living longer.

	a. a development or changing situation
	b. an action taking place around now

3. They are spending more time living in couple-only family.

	a. a trend
	b. an action taking place at the moment of speaking

4. Children are leaving home later.

	a. an action taking place around now
	b. a trend or changing situation

Important

To be able to talk about feelings, we need to master some vocabulary related to this subject. Click on the smiley below and you will be able to get a poster where you will find a lot of adjectives you can use to say how you are feeling at each moment.

By wstera2. C. Commons

Go on to next section to study a brief comparison of the tenses studied.

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