How to describe the weather and what’s happening now in English (A2 elementary): present continuous, can and a live update

A live update in three steps: place, weather, actions now

A trip message, photo caption or voice note works best in this order: Where are you? What’s the weather like? What’s happening?

• “I’m in Harbour Square.” – place
• “It’s cold but sunny.” – weather; “but” joins a contrast
• “A band is playing, and people are drinking coffee outside.” – two actions now, joined by “and”
• Place: “in” for an area, like a city, a square or a park; “at” for a point, like the station or home.

Weather words: “It’s sunny” and “It’s raining”

Weather sentences need the subject “it”: “It’s cold”, never just “Is cold”. Most weather words are adjectives, but “rain” and “snow” are verbs, so for now they take -ing.

• “It’s sunny / cloudy / windy / foggy.”
• “It’s hot / warm / cool / cold.” – “warm” is pleasantly hot, “cool” is a little cold
• “It’s raining.” “It’s snowing.” – falling now
• “The wind is getting stronger.” – a change happening now

What’s happening? The present continuous

For an action in progress now, including sounds around you, use am, is or are + verb-ing. In speech and messages, use the short forms.

• Positive: “I’m working.” “She’s cooking.” “They’re having a party.”
• Sounds now: “A dog is barking.” “Someone is playing loud music.” “Builders are making noise.”
• Negative: “It isn’t raining.” “They aren’t having a party. They’re moving furniture.”
• Questions: “Are you listening?” – “No, I’m not.”

Now or usually? Present continuous or present simple

The present continuous is for this moment; the present simple is for habits, facts and the usual weather in a season. One sentence can hold both: “It usually rains here in autumn, but it isn’t raining now.”

• “It rains a lot in spring.” (usually) – “It’s raining now.” (now)
• “I wear a coat in winter.” (usually) – “I’m wearing a light jacket today.” (now)
• “Does it snow here?” (usually) – “Is it snowing?” (now)
• Signal words: usually, often, every day (present simple); now, at the moment, “Look!” (present continuous)

A short call: where are you, and what’s happening?

A friend hears music on the phone. The reply gives the place, an action now and a weather change. Listen, then answer the same questions about your day.

Can and can’t: ability, permission and what you can hear

“Can” never changes, and the next verb stays in its base form: “She can sing”, not “She can sings” or “can to sing”.

• Ability: “I can take good photos, but I can’t draw.”
• Permission: “Can I use your camera?” – “Of course.” “You can’t park here.”
• Senses now: “I can hear music.” “I can see the sea.” Not “I’m hearing music”.
• Short answers: “Yes, I can.” “No, I can’t.”
• Stress: “can” is weak in “I can SING” (/kən/); “can’t” is stressed in “I CAN’T sing”, and its t is hard to hear.

Common mistakes

Each of these is easy to fix:

• “I going …” or “I am go …” Use both parts: “I’m going to the beach.”
• “It is rain.” Say “It’s raining.” (now) or “It rains a lot here.” (usually).
• “It’s raining here every winter.” A habit takes the present simple: “It rains here every winter.”
• “I can swimming.” After “can”, use the base form: “I can swim” is an ability; “I’m swimming” is happening now.
• Spelling: take → taking, sit → sitting, swim → swimming.

A 10-minute daily practice routine

Use the place where you are today, even your kitchen.

• 2 minutes: play the call, pause after each line and repeat it.
• 3 minutes: say the weather now, then the usual weather this season: “It’s cloudy now. It often rains here in October.”
• 3 minutes: write your own update: “I’m at home. It’s windy and cold. My neighbour is playing the piano, and I’m drinking tea.”
• 2 minutes: read it aloud; check every -ing verb has am, is or are.

What comes next

Next, use the same tenses to invite someone; the present continuous also works for fixed plans: “A band is playing in the square on Saturday. Can you come?” Then move to the past and describe a memorable evening in order.