Form One English Notes Describing Ongoing Activities
In Form One English under the Tanzania syllabus, students learn how to describe ongoing activities using the present continuous tense. This tense is formed with the verb “to be” (am, is, are) followed by the present participle (verb + -ing). For example, “She is reading a book” or “They are playing football.” Students practice constructing sentences to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking, such as “The teacher is writing on the board” or “We are learning English.” This topic helps learners improve their speaking and writing skills by enabling them to express current events accurately.
Additionally, students apply this knowledge in real-life situations, such as describing what people are doing in pictures or role-playing classroom scenarios. Exercises may include filling in blanks, rewriting sentences, or composing short paragraphs about ongoing activities. For instance, a student might write, “My mother is cooking dinner, and my brother is washing dishes.” Understanding the present continuous tense also lays a foundation for future lessons on other tenses, ensuring students can communicate effectively in different contexts. Through repetition and practical exercises, Form One students build confidence in using English to describe actions in progress.