How To Teach The Present Continuous -- GTA V Present Continuous Activity

An activity to practice the present continuous using (exclusively non-violent) scenes from the popular video game Grand Theft Auto V.

Instructions:

Have students write the numbers 1 to 15 vertically on a sheet of paper.

Play the video to the class.

The video begins with a short clip (1) of the character running on an athletics track. Next, a still image of the action appears while a question (What is he doing?) and three answer choices (A. He is drinking. B. He is jumping. C He is running) are read for students to choose from. In this case, C is the correct answer. Pause the video to allow students time to write down the answer (A, B or C).

Continue the activity until all 15 clips have been played. Then check the answers by replaying the video or using the guide below:

Correct answer in brackets:

1. What is he doing?
A. He is drinking.
B. He is jumping.
(C.) He is running.

2. What is he doing?
(A.) He is riding a bike.
B. He is riding a horse.
C. He is riding a motorbike.

3. What are they doing?
A. They are dancing
B. They are flying
(C.) They are walking

4. What are they doing?
A. They are playing badminton
(B.) They are playing tennis
C. They are playing football

5. What is he doing?
(A.) He is playing golf
B. He is playing hockey
C. He is playing baseball

6. What is he doing?
(A.) He is driving a bus
B. He is driving a car
C. He is driving a truck

7. What are they doing?
(A.) They are playing darts
B. They are playing cards
C. They are playing chess

8. What is he doing?
A. He is climbing a mountain
(B.) He is climbing a ladder
C. He is climbing a tree

9. What’s the weather like?
A. It’s snowing
(B.) It’s raining
C. It’s hailing

10. What is he doing?
A. He is singing
(B.) He is swimming
C. He is shopping

11. What is he doing?
(A.) He is flying a helicopter
B. He is flying a plane
C. He is flying a kite

12. What’s the weather like?
A. It’s sunny
B. It’s cloudy
(C.) It’s snowy

13. What is he doing?
(A.) He is riding a roller coaster
B. He is riding a Ferris wheel
C. He is riding a motorbike.

14. What is he doing?
A. He is laughing
(B.) He is falling
C. He is fishing

15. What is he doing?
(A.) He is crossing the street
B. He is standing still
C. He is reading a book

Recommendable: review the activity to make sure students understand all the vocabulary and expressions used.