Present Continuous

I am eating.

’m

You, we, are

they
’re

He, she, it is

's

The interrogative forms of the present continuous

Am I eating?

Are you, we, they

Is he, she, it

The negative forms of the present continuous

I am not eating.

’m not

You, we, are not

they
aren't

He, she, it is not

isn't

The -ing spelling rules

When adding the ing to verbs in continuous verbs, there are specific rules that we
have to follow:
1. For the verbs that end in a silent e, we drop the e and add -ing.
Example:
 close + ing → closing
 write + ing → writing
3. For one syllable-verbs ending in a vowel and a consonant, we double the final
consonant and add -ing.
Example:
 stop + ing → stopping
 set + ing → setting
4. For verbs ending in a vowel and a consonant with stress on the final syllable, we
double the consonant and add -ing.
Examples:
 begin + ing → beginning
 admit + ing → admitting
 refer + ing → referring
 upset + ing → upsetting
5. For verbs ending in -ie, we drop the -ie and add -ing.
Examples:
 die + ing → dying
 lie + ing → lying
6. For Verbs ending in consonant + vowel + L, we have two rules depending on
whether you are using American or British English.
 In American English, we do not double the final L.
Example: travel + ing → traveling
 In British English, we double the final L.
Example: travel + ing → travelling.

The uses of the present continuous tense

1. Actions happening at the time of speaking

The present continuous is used to talk about actions happening at the time of
speaking.
Examples:
 Where is Mary? She is having a bath. (Not she has a bath)
 Jane is in her bedroom. She is doing her homework.
 What are you doing at the moment in front of your screen? Well, I am
reading this lesson. I am learning English.
2. Temporary situations
The present continuous is used to describe temporary situations that are
taking place around the time of speaking.
 She works for a web design agency. She's working on a new website.
"The new website " is a temporary situation and "working for the web design
agency" is more permanent. It's true in general.
 Jane's living with her mother until she buys a house.
"Living with her mother " is a temporary situation.
Note:
Compare these two examples to see the difference between the present simple and
the present continuous:
1. She works for a web design agency. → The verb - works - is in the simple
present because it refers to a permanent situation.
2. She's working on a new website. → The verb - 's working - is in the present
continuous because it refers to a temporary situation.
3. Actions in progress or involving change
The present continuous can be also used when an action is in progress or
involves some sort of change. The action may not be necessarily happening at
the time of speaking
Example:
 I am reading a book; it’s a nice book. (I am not necessarily reading it at the
present moment. But I started reading it and I haven’t finished it yet.)
  His mother is getting better and, hopefully, she will make a full recovery.
(There is a positive change in her health.)
 Studies show that the environment is getting worse day in, day out. (The
environment is getting worse)
4. Future plans
The present continuous can also be used to describe future plans, things that
are already discussed, or planned ahead.
Examples:
 They are traveling to France in June. They have already bought the tickets.
 Nadia is starting a new job on Monday.
Time expressions used with the present continuous
These are examples of the time expressions (also called signal words) that are used
with the present continuous:
now, right now, at the moment, currently, today, this week, this month, this year,
these days, etc.
Stative verbs (special verbs)
Some verbs are typically not used in the present continuous.
Examples:
be, believe, belong, hate, hear, like, love, mean, prefer, remain, realize, see, seem,
smell, think, understand, want, wish
These verbs are called stative verbs in contrast to action verbs (also referred to as
'dynamic verbs') such as 'work, play, eat, etc.'
It's not correct to say:
 He is wanting to buy a new car.
 I am preferring tea.
 She is believing in God
You must say:
 He wants to buy a new car.
 I prefer tea.
 She believes in God.