Present Continuous
FORM
[am/is/are + present participle]
Examples:
• You
are watching TV.
• Are
you watching TV?
• You
are not watching TV.
Complete List of Present Continuous
Forms
USE 1 Now
Use the Present Continuous with
Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very
moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.
Examples:
• You
are learning English now.
• You
are not swimming now.
• Are
you sleeping?
• I am
sitting.
• I am
not standing.
• Is
he sitting or standing?
• They
are reading their books.
• They
are not watching television.
• What
are you doing?
• Why
aren't you doing your homework?
USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now
In English, "now" can
mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on.
Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of
doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it
at this exact second.
Examples: (All of these sentences
can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)
• I am
studying to become a doctor.
• I am
not studying to become a dentist.
• I am
reading the book Tom Sawyer.
• I am
not reading any books right now.
• Are
you working on any special projects at work?
•
Aren't you teaching at the university now?
USE 3 Near Future
Sometimes, speakers use the Present
Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near
future.
Examples:
• I am
meeting some friends after work.
• I am
not going to the party tonight.
• Is
he visiting his parents next weekend?
•
Isn't he coming with us tonight?
USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with
"Always"
The Present Continuous with words
such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that
something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like
Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words
"always" or "constantly" between "be" and
"verb+ing."
Examples:
• She
is always coming to class late.
• He
is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
• I
don't like them because they are always complaining.
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed
Verbs
It is important to remember that
Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain
non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses.
Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple
Present.
Examples:
• She
is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct
• She
loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the
placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just,
etc.
Examples:
• You
are still watching TV.
• Are
you still watching TV?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
•
Right now, Tom is writing the letter. Active
•
Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. Passive
Present Continuous Forms
Positive
|
Negative
|
Question
|
I am speaking.
You are speaking.
We are speaking.
They are speaking.
He is speaking.
She is speaking.
It is speaking.
|
I am not speaking.
You are not speaking.
We are not speaking.
They are not speaking.
He is not speaking.
She is not speaking.
It is not speaking.
|
Am Ispeaking?
Are youspeaking?
Are wespeaking?
Are theyspeaking?
Is hespeaking?
Is shespeaking?
Is itspeaking?
|
