GRAMMAR NOTE 6.

1
PRESENT CONTINUOUS INTERROGATIVE FORM

PRESENT CONTINUOUS INTERROGATIVE FORM is used to ask about actions are

happening now, at the time of speaking or actions happening around the time of speaking.

We form the present continuous or progressive with a form of the verb BE (am, is are)

For the interrogative we write a form of the verb BE (am, is are) at the begining of the sentence,
after that the main verb in the present participle (-ing).

Interrogative form: BE + subject + verb + ing ?

Questions Affirmative short Negative short answer

answers
Are you working? Yes, I am No, I am not

Is he working? Yes, he is No, he isn't

Is she working? Yes, she is No, she isn't

Are we working? Yes, we are No, we aren’t

Are you working? Yes, you are No, you aren’t

Are they working? Yes, they are No, they aren’t

The Wh- questions are used to obtain information.

There are several wh-question words: What/Where/When/Who/How/Why

Form: Wh-question word + Verb Be (am,is,are) + Subject + Verb-ING ?

WH-WORDS VERB TO BE SUBJECT VERB-ING GERUND

What am I doing?
Where are you working?
When is he studying?
Who is she playing with?
How is it sleeping?
Why are we going there?
What are you watching?
Where are they dancing?
ASKS FOR
 What - Activity

Where- Place

When- time, day, month

Who- people

How- the way

Why- Reason

*To most verbs, add –ing after their base form:Spelling of the present participle:

wash washing

walk walking

do doing

*Verbs ending in silent –e, drop the –e and add –ing:

write writing

take taking

*Verbs ending in consonant + vowel + consonant double the last consonant and add –ing:

run running

stop stopping.

Be careful DO NOT double last consonant in

–x fix fixing

-y buy buying

GRAMMAR NOTE 6.2

Simple present vs present progressive affirmative form

We use simple present for:

 Permanent states. John lives in New York.

 Daily routines. He works from 11 to 7 every day.
 Repeated actions. They usually play tennis on weekends.
 Facts The sun shines everyday

We use the present progressive for.

 Actions that are happening now, at the time of speaking. Tony is watching TV right now.
 Actions that are happening around the time of speaking. Laura is looking for a new job these
days.

GRAMMAR NOTE 6.3

Simple present vs present progressive negative form

We use simple present negative form for:

 Permanent states. John doesn't live in New York.

 Daily routines. He doesn't work from 11 to 7 every day.
 Repeated actions. They don't usually play tennis on weekends.
 Facts The sun doesn't shine at night.

We use the present progressive in negative for.

 Actions that are not happening now, at the time of speaking. Tony isn't watching TV right
now.
 Actions that are not happening around the time of speaking. Laura isn't looking for a new job
these days.

GRAMMAR NOTE 6.4

Simple present vs present progressive INTERROGATIVE form

We use simple present interrogative form for:

 Permanent states. Does John live in New York?

 Daily routines. Does he work from 11 to 7 everyday?
 Repeated actions. How often do they play tennis on weekends?
 Facts Does the sun shine everyday?

We use the present progressive in interrogative:

 To ask about actions that are happening now, at the time of speaking. Is Tony watching TV
right now?
 To ask about actions that are happening around the time of speaking. Is Laura looking for a
new
job th
ese days?