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    Present Continuous

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    Ainhoa

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    Present Continuous

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    Present Continuous

    Uploaded by

    Ainhoa

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 7

    PRESENT CONTINUOUS

    Understanding the Present Continuous Tense


    The present continuous tense, as the name suggests, is the form of tense that is
    used to denote an action that is ongoing or occurring in that current moment. It is
    also referred to as the present progressive tense as they represent the action that is
    progressing in the present. Let us now take a look at the definitions provided by
    various dictionaries about the present continuous tense.

    Definition of the Present Continuous Tense


    The Cambridge Dictionary defines the ‘present continuous tense’ as “the verb form
    used for actions or events that are happening or developing now.” According to the
    Collins Dictionary, the present continuous tense is defined as “a verb form consisting
    of an auxiliary be in the present tense followed by a present participle and used
    especially to indicate that a present action or event is in progress, being repeated, or
    of a temporary nature or to express the future.” The present continuous tense is “the
    tense used to talk about actions or behaviour that are in progress now or planned for
    the future”, according to the Macmillan Dictionary.

    Structure of the Present Continuous Tense


    There is definitely just one formula to mastering the present continuous tense and
    this is how it goes.

    Subject + am/is/are + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence

    However, there is something more you should pay attention to. You should also learn
    how the sentences with the present continuous tense form of the verb are structured
    when they are positive, negative, interrogative and negative interrogative.

    Have a look at the table given below to have a deeper understanding of the structure
    of the present continuous tense.

    Structure of the Present Continuous Tense

    Positive Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative

    Subject + am/is/are + Subject + am/is/are + Am/is/are + subject + present Isn’t/aren’t + subject + present participle
    present participle not + present participle participle (verb+ing) + the (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence
    (verb+ing) + the rest of (verb+ing) + the rest of rest of the sentence
    the sentence the sentence
    (Or)

    Am/is/are + subject + not + present


    participle (verb+ing) + the rest of th
    sentence

    Examples: Examples: Examples: Examples:

     I am reading a  I am not  Am I reading a  Am I not reading a newspaper?


    newspaper. reading a newspaper?  Are you not doing it
     You are newspaper.  Are you doing it wrong? / Aren’t you doing it wro
    doing it wrong.  You are not wrong?  Is he not
     He is doing it wrong.  Is he playing tennis? playing tennis? / Isn’t he playin
    playing tennis.  He is not nis?
    playing tennis.
    Rules and Points to Remember When Using the
    Present Continuous Tense
    When using the present continuous tense, make sure you follow the sentence
    structure exactly.

     Always start with the subject when it is a positive or negative sentence and with
    the helping verb when it is in the interrogative format.
     A sentence with the present continuous tense consists of a helping verb (‘to be’ form of
    verbs) and a main verb. The helping verbs can be ‘am’ for the pronoun ‘I’, ‘is’ for singular
    subject and ‘are’ for a plural subject.
     Just note that like the other pronouns, the pronoun ‘am’ cannot be used in the negative
    form in an interrogative sentence. Instead of ‘amn’t’, ‘aren’t’ is used.

    For example:

     Amn’t I reading a newspaper? Wrong


     Aren’t I reading a newspaper? Correct
     The present continuous tense can never be used with stative verbs.

    Uses of the Present Continuous Tense


    Like the simple present tense, the present continuous tense is also generally used to
    talk about an action that is taking place in the present. it denotes an action that is
    continuing to happen or progressing at the current moment.

    Take a look at the following points that elaborate on the more specific uses of the
    present continuous tense.

     It is used to represent an action that is happening or progressing in the moment that the
    speaker is speaking.

    For example:

     My son is working on his science project.


     Santana is singing Don’t Rain on my Parade.
     It is used to depict a future event or arrangement.

    For example:

     What are you planning to do tomorrow?


     I heard that Rachel is moving to Paris next month.
     It is used to denote an action that is going on or continuing at the time of speaking.

    For example:

     Is she still working at the National Institute of Medical Sciences?


     I am currently taking guitar lessons so that I could play for your wedding.

    Examples of Present Continuous Tense


    Going through more and more examples can only make you an expert in the
    particular subject or topic. So , here you go. Check out the examples of sentences
    using the present continuous tense given below.

    Test Your Understanding of the Present Continuous


    Tense
    Having gone through all the given examples, you should have understood really well.
    Check your understanding of the present continuous tense by filling in the blanks in
    the following sentence with the right form of tense using the verbs given in the
    brackets.

    1. ______ the clock ________ (work)?

    2. The teachers ___________ (plan) to dance to all the latest songs on Childrens
    Day.

    3. ______ she ___________ (play – negative) the piano anymore?

    4. The dog __________ (run) all around the garden.

    5. We ____________ (go – negative) to the party tomorrow.

    6. The Bellas ___________ (perform) the songs of the 80s.

    7. Will, Smith and Sherlock ___________ (dance) well.

    8. _______ I __________ (look) good today?

    9. Trinita and Vinitha ____________ (ride) on their new cat.

    10. _____ he still ________ (stand) there?

    Ready to see if you got it all right. Check out the answers given below.

    1. Is the clock working?

    2. The teachers are planning to dance to all the latest songs on Childrens Day.
    3. Is she not playing the piano anymore?

    4. The dog is running all around the garden.

    5. We are not going to the party tomorrow.

    6. The Bellas are performing the songs of the 80s.

    7. Will, Smith and Sherlock are dancing well.

    8. Am I looking good today?

    9. Trinita and Vinitha are riding on their new cat.

    10. Is he still standing there?

    PRESENT CONTINUOUS
    We use the present continuous to talk about:
    - Things happening now:
    Where’s John? In his room. He’s doing homework.
    You’re speaking too fast for me.
    - Temporary activities:
    We´re learning about tres this week.
    My brother is staying with me this week.
    - Situations of change.
    - The number of pupils in the school is falling.
    To do the present continuous, we use the verb to be + the verb adding –ing
    Spelling rules:
    Most verbs: add –ing
    Work- working buy – buying

    -ie verbs
    For verbs that end in -ie, change the ie to y before adding -ing:

    die becomes dying


    Verbs ending in –e: remove the –e and add –ing
    Take – taking write - writing
    Verbs ending in one vowel followed by one consonant CVC: double the consonant and add –
    ing.
    Get – getting run – running *
    die – dying lie - lying (but open – opening)

    continuous verbs
    To make continuous verbs add -ing to the base verb:

    do becomes doing
    ask becomes asking

    silent 'e'
    When the verb ends with a silent e, drop the e and add -ing:

    make becomes making


    take becomes taking

    one-syllable verbs
    For short, one-syllable verbs, that end with consonant + vowel + consonant (CVC), we must
    double the last consonant and then add -ing:

    swim becomes swimming


    run becomes running

    w, x and y
    For words that end w, x and y, do not double the last consonant; just add -ing:

    enjoy becomes enjoying


    study becomes studying

    two-syllable words
    When words have two or more syllables ending in CVC, you must double the last consonant if the
    last syllable is stressed. When the last syllable is not stressed, just add -ing.
    The last syllable is stressed:
    commit becomes committing

    The last syllable is not stressed:


    whisper becomes whispering

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