B1 · Lesson 2: Family, Friends & Present Continuous

Vocabulary: Your Circle & Character

B1 Focus: These words are essential for describing relationships, family dynamics, and personalities — in speaking exams, writing tasks, and real conversation.

Family & Relationships

Sibling/ˈsɪb.lɪŋ/Брат или сестра

Only child/ˌəʊn.li ˈtʃaɪld/Единствено дете

Engaged/ɪnˈɡeɪdʒd/Сгоден / Сгодена

Extended family/ɪkˈsten.dɪd ˈfæm.ɪ.li/Разширено семейство

In-laws/ˈɪn.lɔːz/Роднини по сватовство

Twins/twɪnz/Близнаци

Upbringing/ˈʌp.brɪŋ.ɪŋ/Възпитание / Отглеждане

Mate / Best mate/meɪt/Приятел / Най-добър приятел (UK)

Neighbourhood/ˈneɪ.bə.hʊd/Квартал / Съседство

Personality Adjectives

Reliable/rɪˈlaɪ.ə.bəl/Надежден

Stubborn/ˈstʌb.ən/Инат / Упорит

Selfish/ˈsel.fɪʃ/Егоистичен

Easy-going/ˌiː.ziˈɡəʊ.ɪŋ/Спокоен / Безгрижен

Loyal/ˈlɔɪ.əl/Лоялен / Верен

Generous/ˈdʒen.ər.əs/Щедър

Outgoing/ˌaʊtˈɡəʊ.ɪŋ/Общителен / Екстровертен

Mature/məˈtʃʊər/Зрял / Зряла

Sensitive/ˈsen.sɪ.tɪv/Чувствителен

Phrasal Verbs

Take after/teɪk ˈɑːf.tər/Приличам на (роднина)

Bring up/brɪŋ ʌp/Отглеждам / Възпитавам

Grow up/ɡrəʊ ʌp/Израствам

Get on (well) with/ɡet ɒn wɪð/Разбирам се добре с

Fall out (with)/fɔːl aʊt/Скарвам се с

Look up to/lʊk ʌp tuː/Уважавам / Гледам с уважение

Relationship Idioms

See eye to eye/siː aɪ tuː aɪ/На едно мнение съм

Like two peas in a pod/laɪk tuː piːz ɪn ə pɒd/Като две капки вода

Be close to/biː kləʊs tuː/Близък съм с

🔁 Vocabulary in Context — Quick Check

Select the correct word or phrase for each sentence. This is vocabulary recycling — the key to remembering new words.

📝 Select the best answer for each sentence.

1. She always keeps her promises and never lets you down. She is very ___.

2. My brother and I never argue — we ___ on everything.

3. I definitely ___ my father — same nose, same laugh, same sense of humour.

4. They are twins and they dress identically. They are like ___.

5. He refuses to change his mind even when he is wrong. He is so ___!

6. She was ___ in a small village. Her childhood was very different from city life.

Grammar Lab: Present Continuous

At high B1 / low B2, the Present Continuous covers far more than "right now." This lab covers every form and all uses — from the core structure through stative verbs, the contrast with Present Simple, and the continuous passive.

1. Affirmative, Negative, Questions & Short Answers

Form the Present Continuous with am / is / are + the main verb + -ing. The auxiliary "to be" is essential — "She playing" instead of "She is playing" is the most common structural error at B1. Also: never use do/does to make questions or negatives in the Present Continuous.

Form	I	He / She / It	We / You / They
Affirmative	I am ('m) studying.	She is ('s) working.	They are ('re) leaving.
Negative	I am not studying.	She isn't working.	They aren't leaving.
Yes/No Question	Am I right?	Is she working?	Are they leaving?
Short Answer (+)	Yes, I am.	Yes, she is.	Yes, they are.
Short Answer (−)	No, I'm not.	No, she isn't.	No, they aren't.
Wh- Question	What am I doing?	Where is she going?	Why are they leaving?

⚠️ The #1 error: "Do you going?" / "Does she playing?" — impossible. Always use to be: "Are you going?" / "Is she playing?" Never do/does. Also watch short answers: "Yes, she is." — not "Yes, she does."

📝 Choose: Select the correct present continuous form.

1. My siblings and I ___ a film right now.

2. I ___ to my parents at the moment. (not / speak)

3. He ___ his grandmother this weekend.

4. "Is she coming to the party?" → Yes, ___

5. ___ your cousin staying with you right now?

🎯 Challenge: Type the correct form. Watch short answers and negatives.

1. We ___ (plan) a family reunion for next month.

2. She ___ (not/study) today because it's her birthday.

3. "Are they flying to Paris?" → No, ___

4. What ___ (she/do) this weekend?

5. Fix: "Do they coming to the wedding?"

2. Spelling Rules for -ing

Adding -ing to a verb is not always simple — three spelling rules determine the result depending on the verb's final letters. These are tested in B1/B2 exams, and spelling them correctly demonstrates that you have understood the verb's vowel pattern.

Rule	Verb ending	Change	Examples
Standard	most verbs	add -ing	play→playing, read→reading, go→going
Drop the silent -e	silent final -e	remove -e, add -ing	make→making, live→living, come→coming, write→writing
Double consonant (CVC)	consonant-vowel-consonant	double final consonant	run→running, sit→sitting, swim→swimming, get→getting
-ie → -y	ends in -ie	-ie becomes -y-ing	lie→lying, die→dying, tie→tying
UK English -l	ends in -l (UK spelling)	double the -l	travel→travelling, cancel→cancelling

💡 CVC tip: The doubling rule applies when the pattern is Consonant-Vowel-Consonant — but NOT when the verb ends in -w, -x, or -y: snow→snowing, mix→mixing, enjoy→enjoying. Also not when the final syllable is unstressed: happen → happening (no doubling).

📝 Choose: Select the correct -ing spelling.

1. make → ___

2. run → ___

3. lie → ___

4. travel (UK English) → ___

5. sit → ___

🎯 Challenge: Type the correct -ing form. Spelling counts!

1. swim → ___

2. die → ___

3. put → ___

4. happen → ___

5. write → ___

6. get → ___

3. All Uses of the Present Continuous

The Present Continuous covers far more than "what is happening right now." At B1 / low B2, you need to know all six uses and their signal words — including the always + -ing complaint structure, temporary behaviour with is/are being, and the use for trends and developing situations.

⏱️ Happening Right Now

Signal: now, right now, at the moment, currently, Look!, Listen!
✅ "I am cooking dinner right now."
✅ "Look! The baby is walking!"

📅 Temporary Situations

Signal: this week/month, these days, for now, temporarily, until…
✅ "He is living with his parents this month." (usually he lives alone)
✅ "I am using my sister's car until mine is fixed."

🗓️ Future Arrangements

Fixed plans already confirmed with others.
✅ "We are meeting our relatives tomorrow."
✅ "She is flying to Madrid next Friday."

😡 Annoying Repeated Habits

Use always + -ing to express irritation about a repeated action.
✅ "He is always borrowing my things!"
✅ "She is always complaining."
"He always arrives late." (neutral) vs "He is always arriving late!" (irritation)

🎭 Temporary Behaviour

Use is/are being + adjective to describe behaviour that is unusual right now.
✅ "He is being very selfish today." (usually he's generous)
✅ "Why are you being so stubborn?"
❌ "He is being tall." — permanent trait, impossible

📈 Trends & Developing Situations B2

Describing gradual change or a developing pattern.
✅ "Technology is changing the way families communicate."
✅ "More people are working from home these days."
Signal: gradually, more and more, increasingly, these days

🎯 Exam trap: "He is always arriving late!" (Present Continuous + always = annoyance) vs "He always arrives late." (Present Simple + always = neutral fact). The difference is purely emotional — and frequently tested.

📝 Choose: Which use of the Present Continuous does each sentence illustrate?

1. "She is staying with her in-laws this week."

2. "I am meeting my best friend for coffee at 5 PM tomorrow."

3. "Look! The twins are playing in the garden."

4. "Technology is changing the way families communicate."

5. "He is always borrowing my charger without asking!"

6. "She is being very easy-going today — she's usually quite strict."

🎯 Challenge: Type the correct form. Focus on signal words and context.

1. I usually drink tea, but today I ___ (drink) coffee.

2. My brother ___ (live) in Madrid permanently.

3. We ___ (fly) to Paris next Friday — tickets are booked!

4. More and more people ___ (work) from home these days.

5. She ___ (always/interrupt) me when I speak. It's so rude!

4. Stative Verbs — No Continuous Form

Some verbs describe states rather than actions — you cannot observe or perform them as an ongoing activity. These stative verbs almost never appear in the continuous form at B1. Using them with -ing is a classic exam trap.

🧠 Mental States

know, understand, believe, think* (= opinion), realise, recognise, remember, forget, mean, imagine
❌ "I am knowing the answer." → ✅ "I know the answer."

❤️ Emotions & Preferences

love, like, dislike, hate, prefer, want, need, wish, mind
❌ "She is wanting a new phone." → ✅ "She wants a new phone."

👁️ Senses

see, hear, smell, taste, feel*, sound
❌ "This food is tasting good." → ✅ "This food tastes good."

🏠 Possession & State

have* (= own), own, belong, contain, consist, include, seem, appear
❌ "The bag is belonging to her." → ✅ "The bag belongs to her."

⚠️ Dual-use verbs: Some verbs can be stative OR active depending on meaning. Think (= opinion) → stative: "I think it's a great idea." | Think (= process of considering) → active: "I am thinking about it." Similarly: have (= possession) → stative: "She has a car." | have (= activity) → continuous: "She is having lunch."

📝 Choose: Simple or continuous? Think about whether the verb describes a state or an action.

1. "I ___ the answer — it's been in my head all day."

2. "She ___ her grandmother's old ring." (possession)

3. "What are you thinking about?" → "I ___ about moving abroad." (considering — an ongoing mental process)

4. "This soup ___ delicious!" (a sensation — stative)

5. "He ___ lunch with his mate right now." (the activity of eating)

🎯 Challenge: Type the correct form — some are stative (use Simple), one is an activity (use Continuous).

1. I ___ (not/understand) the question.

2. This coffee ___ (smell) amazing!

3. She ___ (think) it's a brilliant idea. (opinion)

4. This flat ___ (belong) to my cousin.

5. Fix: "She is wanting to visit her grandmother."

6. Fix: "I am knowing the answer."

5. Present Continuous vs Present Simple — The Full Contrast

At B1 and above, choosing between the Present Simple and the Present Continuous is one of the most frequently tested grammar areas. The central question: is it a permanent fact / habit (Simple) or a temporary / in-progress situation (Continuous)?

Present Simple — use when

🔁 Habits: always, usually, often, every day
🏠 Permanent facts: "She lives in Sofia."
🌍 General truths: "Water boils at 100°C."
📅 Timetables: "The train leaves at 07:45."
⏳ After if / when / as soon as / until: "I'll call when I arrive."

Present Continuous — use when

⏱️ Happening now: right now, at the moment, Look!
📅 Temporary: "She is staying here this week."
🗓️ Future plans: "We are meeting them tomorrow."
😡 Annoying habits: "He is always losing his keys!"
📈 Trends: "Prices are rising rapidly."

🎯 Classic exam error: ❌ "Usually, she is living alone." → ✅ "Usually, she lives alone." The Present Continuous never describes permanent or habitual situations. That is always the Present Simple.

📝 Choose: Simple or Continuous? Think about what the context signals.

1. Context: A permanent fact about where he lives.

2. Context: Happening right now.

3. Context: Temporary — he doesn't usually work here.

4. "Water ___ at 100°C — a scientific fact."

5. "She usually ___ the 8 AM train, but today she ___ a car." (two tenses)

🎯 Challenge: Type the correct tense. Decide: habit/fact or temporary/ongoing?

1. She usually lives alone, but this month she ___ (stay) with her sister.

2. My brother ___ (live) in Barcelona — he has always lived there.

3. I can't talk now — I ___ (make) dinner.

4. Her children ___ (always/leave) their toys on the stairs. It drives her mad!

5. Look! The baby ___ (walk). Its very first steps!

6. Passive Voice: Present Simple & Present Continuous

English has two present passive forms. The Present Simple Passive (is/are + past participle) describes general facts, habits, and regular routines where the focus is on what happens rather than who does it. The Present Continuous Passive (is/are + being + past participle) describes an action currently in progress. Both are very common at B1/B2 and frequently appear in Use of English tasks.

Active	Present Simple Passive is/are + past participle	Present Continuous Passive is/are + being + past participle
"They clean the office every day."	"The office is cleaned every day."	—
"They are cleaning the office right now."	—	"The office is being cleaned right now."
"People speak English here."	"English is spoken here."	—
"They are renovating my flat."	—	"My flat is being renovated."
"The company interviews candidates every spring."	"Candidates are interviewed every spring."	—
"The company is interviewing candidates now."	—	"Candidates are being interviewed."

⚖️ Simple vs Continuous Passive — the key question: Is it a general/regular fact, or is it happening right now?
• "English is taught in most schools." (general fact — Simple Passive)
• "English is being taught in Room 3 right now." (in progress — Continuous Passive)

💡 Common error: "is being renovate" — always use the past participle, not the base verb. And "is being renovated" not "is being renovating" — the main verb is never -ing in a passive structure.

📝 Choose: Select the correct passive form — Simple or Continuous.

1. "The new community centre ___ at the moment." (in progress right now)

2. "French ___ in this part of the city." (a general fact, not happening right now)

3. "The walls ___ right now — the painters arrived this morning." (in progress)

4. "The children ___ looked after by a childminder every Tuesday." (regular routine)

5. "Is the dinner ___?" → "Not yet — it ___ right now." (make — in progress)

🎯 Challenge: Type the correct passive form. Decide: general fact (Simple) or in progress (Continuous)?

1. Active: "They are decorating the flat right now." → Passive: The flat ___ right now.

2. "English ___ (teach) in schools all over the world." (general fact)

3. My car ___ (repair) at the garage at the moment.

4. "These letters ___ (send) by post every month." (regular habit)

5. Active: "The company is interviewing candidates." → Passive: Candidates ___ by the company.

6. Fix: "The bridge is being construct."

Reading: Connections

Read the texts carefully. Notice how the Present Continuous is used for temporary situations, future plans, and annoying habits. Questions mix literal comprehension and inference.

Text 1 / 2

Cloze Text: Open Gaps

Read the text about a family visit. Type exactly ONE word into each numbered gap. There are 10 gaps in total. Focus on verb forms, prepositions, and vocabulary from this lesson.

It is Sunday afternoon and the whole family (1) gathering at my parents' house. My brother normally (2) in Barcelona, but he is (3) with us for the whole week. He takes (4) our father completely — same stubborn personality, same dark humour.

Right now, my mother (5) cooking in the kitchen while my father is (6) in his armchair. My sister and her husband are getting (7) very well with my brother, which is a relief — they used to fall (8) all the time when they were younger.

Tomorrow, we are (9) our grandparents for lunch. My grandmother is always (10) that we don't visit enough, but today she is being very easy-going about it!

Key Word Transformation (KWT)

Read the original sentence. Using the key word given, complete the second sentence so it has a similar meaning. The stem is already written — type only what is missing. Do not change the key word.

Tense Writing

Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense. Identify the context carefully — is it a habit, a temporary situation, a future plan, or something happening right now?

Gerund vs Infinitive

Gerund (-ing) only: enjoy, avoid, finish, suggest, miss, practise, admit, consider, keep, mind, risk, imagine, delay
Infinitive (to + verb) only: want, decide, hope, plan, expect, manage, agree, refuse, offer, promise, tend, fail, afford
Both possible (same meaning): like, love, hate, prefer, start, begin, continue
Meaning changes: stop, remember, forget, try, regret

Exercises

Fast-paced practice covering the Present Continuous, vocabulary, phrasal verbs, stative verbs, passive, and the Simple vs Continuous contrast.

Error Correction

Each sentence contains one error. Find it and type the corrected sentence. Type correct if there is no error.

A. Missing 'To Be' & Spelling Traps

The most common structural error: forgetting "am/is/are" before -ing, or misspelling the -ing form. Every sentence contains exactly one of these errors — or is already correct.

🔧 Find the error. Type the corrected sentence — or type correct.

1. "She playing tennis with her mate right now."

2. "They are makeing dinner for the in-laws."

3. "I am not hanging out with them today."

4. "We getting married next summer!"

5. "What you doing tonight?"

6. "He is runing towards the house."

7. "She is lieing on the sofa."

B. Tense Choice, Habits & Temporary Behaviour

Are you using the right tense? Remember signal words, the "always + -ing" complaint structure, and "is being" for temporary behaviour. Using Present Continuous for permanent situations is a very common B1 error.

🔧 Fix the tense or grammar error — or type correct.

1. "Usually, he is living in London."

2. "She is staying with her grandparents this week."

3. "Look! The baby walks towards us!"

4. "He is always borrow my things. It is very annoying."

5. "She is very stubborn today — she is normally easy-going."

6. "I take after my mother — we are both sensitive and outgoing."

C. Stative Verbs & Continuous Passive Traps

Two high-frequency B1/B2 error types: using a stative verb in the -ing form (impossible in English), and forming the continuous passive incorrectly. Each sentence contains exactly one error — or is already correct.