Present Continuous - Introduction
The present continuous emphasis on the course or duration of an action.
The present continuous is used for actions going on in the moment of speaking and for actions taking place only for a short period of time. It is also used to express development and actions that are arranged for the near future.
Present progressive is also known as present continuous.
Present Continuous - Form
Use a form of to be and the infinite verb plus -ing.
Use:
§ am with the personal pronoun I
§ is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or the singular form of nouns)
§ are with the personal pronouns you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns)
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affirmative
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negative
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question
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I
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I am playing.
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I am not playing.
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Am I playing?
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he, she, it
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He is playing.
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He is not playing.
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Is he playing?
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you, we, they
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You are playing.
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You are not playing.
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Are you playing?
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Tips on how to form negative sentences and questions
In negative sentences, we put not between the form of be and the verb.
In questions, we simply swop the places of subject and the form of be.
Present Continuous - Exceptions in Spelling
A single, silent e at the end of the word is dropped before ing.
example: come - coming
I am coming home. You are coming home. He is coming home.
But: ee at the end of the word is not changed
example: agree - agreeing
The final consonant after a short, stressed vowel is doubled before ing.
example: sit - sitting
I am sitting on the sofa. You are sitting on the sofa. He is sitting on the sofa.
The letter l as final consonant after a vowel is always doubled before ing.
example: travel - travelling
I am travelling around. You are travelling around. He is travelling around.
Mind: This applies only for British English; in American English there is usually only one l.
An ie at the end of a word becomes y before ing.
example: lie - lying
I am lying in bed. You are lying in bed. He is lying in bed.
Present Continuous - Short Forms
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affirmative
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negative
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I am playing. - I'm playing.
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I am not playing. - I'm not playing.
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He is playing. - He's playing.
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He is not playing. - He's not playing. / He isn't playing.
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We are playing. - We're playing.
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We are not playing. - We're not playing. /We aren't playing.
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Present Continuous - Use
Actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now)
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He is playing football.
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The action is going on now.
Signal words like now, at the moment are often used to emphasise that the action is taking place at the moment of speaking. Signal words are not really necessary, however, as this is already expressed by the tense itself.
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Arrangements for the near future
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I'm going to the theatre tonight.
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In the example you can see that the tickets are already bought. So we are talking about an arrangement for the near future.
To make clear that the action is not going on now, we usually use signal words like tonight, tomorrow, next Friday, at noon.
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Actions taking place only for a limited period of time
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Jim is helping in his brother's firm this week.
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Here we are talking about a time limit. Jim does not usually work in the firm, he is still at school and wants to earn some extra money during his holidays.
To make clear that there is a time limit, we usually use signal words, e.g. this week/month/year.
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Actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking)
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I'm studying for my exams.
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This action takes place around now and only for a limited period of time, but not at the moment of speaking.
We don't have to use signal words here, but we often find signal words in such sentences, e.g. now, at the moment.
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Development, changing situations
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The population of China is rising very fast.
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The sentence describes a development from one situation to another.
Signal words are not that common here, only sometimes the change of situation is emphasised by using for example more and more.
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Present Continuous - Signal Words
Actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now)
§ at the moment
§ now / just now / right now
§ Listen!
§ Look!
Arrangements for the near future
§ in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening
§ at noon / tonight
§ tomorrow
§ next ...
Actions taking place only for a limited period of time
§ this week / this month / this year
Actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking)
§ at the moment
§ now / just now / right now
Development, changing situations
§ more and more
Present Continuous - Summary
Form
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affirmative
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negative
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question
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I
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I am playing.
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I am not playing.
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Am I playing?
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he, she, it
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He is playing.
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He is not playing.
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Is he playing?
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you, we, they
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You are playing.
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You are not playing.
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Are you playing?
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Exceptions in Spelling
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Exeption
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Example
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silent e is dropped before ing (but: ee is not changed)
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come - coming (but: agree - agreeing)
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final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled
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sit - sitting
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final consonant l after vowel is always doubled (in British English)
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travel - travelling
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ie becomes y before ing
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lie - lying
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Short Forms
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positiv
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negativ
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I am playing. - I'm playing.
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I am not playing. - I'm not playing.
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He is playing. - He's playing.
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He is not playing. - He's not playing. / He isn't playing.
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We are playing. - We're playing.
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We are not playing. - We're not playing. /We aren't playing.
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Use
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Use
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Example
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actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now)
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He is playing football.
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arrangements for the near future
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I'm going to the theatre tonight.
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actions taking place only for a limited period of time
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Jim is helping in his brother's firm this week.
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actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking)
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I'm studying for my exams.
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development, changing situations
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The population of China is rising very fast.
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Typical Signal Words
§ at the moment
§ now / just now / right now
§ Listen!
§ Look!
§ These days
§ This week
§ Today
§ At present
§ Nowadays
Exercises:
- Look! It is raining (rain)
- They ………………. (listen) to the weather report on the radio now.
- Now, the boys ………….. (sit) at their desks and they ………… (listen) to their teacher.
- Martin’s friends ………… (not play) inthe school yard now.
- Ncik’s mother …………… (knit) in the room.
- …………… the postman ……… (bring) the letters?
- The ready meal I …………. (cook) right now is chicken and vegetables.
- …………….. (look) for somewhere to live?
- Her brother …………. (not help) her in her lessons.
- Why ………… the baby ………. (cry) in bed?
KEY:
2. are listening 3. are sitting, are listening 4. aren’t playing 5. is still knitting 6. Is the postman bringing 7. ‘m cooking 8. Are you looking 9. isn’t helping 10. is the baby crying
