Time is Running Out
Beginner
A song to practice present progressive
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A. Grammar background
1. Form of present progressive and simple present
The present progressive form is the present form of the verb be with the –ing form of the content verb (be + V-ing).
- I am brushing my teeth right now.
- My mother is cooking dinner.
- They aren’t running in the race today.
The present progressive verb form has a different meaning than simple present. Remember that the simple present verb form is very simple. It is the bare form of the verb:
- I love pizza.
- We brush our teeth every night.
- You always help me.
2. Meaning & use of present progressive and simple present
Present progressive is used for event and activities that are in progress. They may be happening at the same time that a person is speaking (or singing).
- John is grading papers. ←Right now, while I am talking
- My friend is taking an English class this year. ←During this year
- Food is getting more expensive. ←Happening right now, but slowly
On the other hand, simple present is used for event and activities that are usually true. Simple present appears with words such as often, always, never, sometimes, or (in)frequently.
- I never drink coffee.
- I always use a seat belt in the car
For this song, it is also important to know that simple present is often used with stative verbs. Stative verbs are verbs that are not usually used with progressive (-ing).
- I need a tissue! ←NOT: I am needing a tissue
- Mary knows the right answer. ←NOT: Mary is knowing the right answer
- My parents believe in ghosts. ←NOT: My parents are believing in ghosts
Some common stative verbs are be, love, like, know, wish, hate, need, believe, remember, understand, appear, seem, and mean.
This song is about problems with the environment.
- First, listen to the song once. What are some things that people are doing to hurt the environment? Try to write down at least three things.
- Now listen again and fill in the blanks below with present progressive forms. Some of them are already done for you. You may need to listen one more time to fill in all the blanks.
Time is Running Out
We all are buying big cars and driving
We all ______________________________ planes and flying
The lions, tigers, and birds ______________________________
We all are cutting the trees down faster
We all ______________________________ the earth will last us
We all believe that we’re nature’s masters
And we’ve gotta make a change and you know it cannot wait
And we’ve gotta find a way or it might just be too late
Time is running out – take a look around – time is running out
Time is running out – there is not a doubt – time is running out
We‘re ______________________________ chemicals in the water
The fields and forests ______________________________ smaller
We need to think of our sons and daughters
We all want water that’s fresh and clean
We all want parks that are big and green
We all want air that is good to breath
And we‘re ______________________________ time ’cause the earth is getting sicker
And we‘re running out of time ’cause the problem‘s getting bigger
Time is running out – take a look around – time is running out
Time is running out – there is not a doubt – time is running out
Can you see what‘s going on?
Time is running out… time is running out
C. After you Listen
1. Practicing verb forms
a. Look at the words of the song. Do you see some sentences with verbs in simple present? Write them down here. The first is done for you.
- We all believe that we’re nature’s masters.___________________________________________________________________
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
b. What kinds of verbs are in simple present here?
2. Practicing meaning and use of present progressive and simple present
a. Environment
Think about the environment and answer the following questions. Pay attention to the present progressive and simple present.
- Why do you think the song says “time is running out?”
- Do you agree that people should stop hurting the environment? Why or why not?
- What do you usually do to help the environment?
- What are some ways that the earth is changing because of environmental problems?
- What are some things that people are doing now to help the environment?
b. We’re running out!
Practice using the verb “run out.” Explain what you should do in the following situations.
- You are driving in a car, and you are running out of gas.
- You are halfway through a test, and you are running out of time.
- You are waiting for a friend, and you are running out of patience.
- You need to pay the rent, but you are running out of money.
- You have so many things that you are running out of room in your house.
c. With a friend
Play “What am I doing?” with a friend. In this game, one person pretends to do an activity. The other person guesses what the activity is. Use present progressive!
Example:
What am I doing?
-Are you walking a dog?
-Are you sweeping?
-Are you cooking?
Yes! I’m cooking!
d. Writing about the environment
Choose a topic and write a paragraph about it.
- What are you doing to help the environment? What other things should you do to help the environment?
- What are people in your country doing to help the environment? What other things do you hope your country will do to help the environment?
- What problems are occurring in the environment? Why? Do you worry about these problems?
Lyrics to "Time is Running Out"
(Don’t look until you’ve completed the activities!)
Present progressive is underlined
We all are buying big cars and driving
We all are getting in planes and flying
The lions, tigers, and birds are dying
We all are cutting the trees down faster
We all are hoping the earth will last us
We all believe that we’re nature’s masters
And we’ve gotta make a change and you know it cannot wait
And we’ve gotta find a way or it might just be too late
Time is running out – take a look around – time is running out
Time is running out – there is not a doubt – time is running out
We‘re spilling chemicals in the water
The fields and forests are getting smaller
We need to think of our sons and daughters
We all want water that’s fresh and clean
We all want parks that are big and green
We all want air that is good to breath
And we‘re running out time ’cause the earth is getting sicker
And we‘re running out of time ’cause the problem‘s getting bigger
Time is running out – take a look around – time is running out
Time is running out – there is not a doubt – time is running out
Can you see what‘s going on?
Time is running out… time is running out
Answers to "Time is Running Out" exercises
1. Practicing verb forms
a. Look at the words of the song. Do you see some sentences with verbs in simple present? Write them down here. The first is done for you.
- We all believe that we’re nature’s masters.
- You know it cannot wait.
- There is no doubt.
- We need to think of our sons and daughters.
- We all want water that‘s fresh and clean.
- We all want parks that are big and green.
- We all want air that is good to breathe.
b. What kinds of verbs are in simple present here?
Stative verbs
