PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

● SPELLING: adding the –ing ending to a verb:

• the –ing ending is added to most verbs without changing the spelling of their base forms:
▪ wait – waiting / catch – catching / fix – fixing / push – pushing
▪ carry – carrying / hurry – hurrying / cry – crying
▪ enjoy – enjoying / stay – staying / play – playing

• if the verb ends in –e, e is dropped and –ing is added:

▪ come – coming / have – having / make – making / use – using
BUT:
▪ be – being
▪ age – aging / ageing
▪ eye – eyeing / eying
▪ dye – dyeing
▪ singe – singeing

However, the rule does not apply to verbs ending in double –e:
▪ see – ……………………………. / agree – …………..………………….

• if a one-syllable verb is spelt with a single vowel followed by a single consonant, the final
consonant is doubled:
▪ run – ………..……………….. / hit – ………………….……….. / stop – ………..………………..
let – ………………...……….. / sit – ……………..…….….……….. / shop – ………………………….. /
spin – ……………….……….

ALSO:
▪ quit – quitting

• with two-syllable verbs, when the last syllable contains a single vowel followed by a single
consonant, the final consonant is doubled when the last syllable is stressed:
▪ begin – ………..……………….. / admit – ………………….……….. / transfer – ………..………………..
upset – ………………..…….. / omit – ……………..……..……….. / forget – ………………………….. /
occur – ……………….……….

COMPARE:
▪ differ – ……………..………. / profit – …………………………… / enter – …………….……………..
BUT:
▪ kidnap – kidnapping (BrE) / kidnaping (amE)

ALSO:
BrE AmE
▪ travel travelling traveling
▪ quarrel quarrelling quarreling
▪ signal signalling signaling
▪ label labelling labeling
▪ equal equalling equaling
▪ cancel cancelling canceling
▪ propel propelling propelling
▪ enrol (BrE) / enroll (AmE) enrolling enrolling
▪ install installing installing
3
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

• –ic at the end of the verb changes into –ick when –ing is added:
▪ panic – ………………………… / picnic – ……………………… / traffic – ……………………………….

• –ie at the end of the verb changes into –y when –ing is added:
▪ lie – ...................................... / tie – ........................................ / die – .....................................

● USE of the Present Continuous Tense:

Match each use of the Present Continuous Tense to the examples below:

1. to describe actions and events that are in progress at the moment of speaking (often with
adverbials like now, at the (present) moment, at present, still, just, currently): ………….……

2. to describe temporary situations, existing for a limited period at the present time; such
situations may not be happening at the moment of speaking: ………………
COMPARE:
▪ I’m working at a sports shop for six weeks. / I work at a sports shop. It’s a permanent job.
▪ At the moment they are living in a very small flat. / They live in a very nice flat.

3. to describe current trends; changing or developing situations: ……………….

4. to refer to frequently repeated actions, with the adverbs always, constantly, continually, forever
(often to express annoying habits): ………………..

5. to describe pictures: …………………

6. to refer to planned actions in the future; to things that have already been planned and organized
(a time reference is normally used with the present continuous for fixed arrangements):
…………………..

7. in dramatic narratives to describe background events; to refer to events in the past:

…………………

A.
▪ ‘What’s your daughter doing these days?’ ‘She’s studying English.’
▪ Tom is getting ready for his exams.

B.
▪ The woman who is leaning against the tree is my mother. I am the one who is standing behind the tree.

C.
▪ People are becoming less tolerant of smoking these days.
▪ Times are changing and so are people.

D.
▪ I’m driving along this country road and I’m completely lost. Then I see this old fellow. He’s leaning
against a gate. I stop the car and ask him the way.
4
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

E.
▪ He’s working at the moment so he can’t answer the phone.
▪ He’s (still) talking to his girlfriend on the phone.

F.
▪ I’m getting a new computer tomorrow. (= I’ve already ordered it)
▪ I’m starting my degree course this September.

G.
▪ My car is forever breaking down.
▪ You are always forgetting about your duties.

Ex. I. Use the present progressive in the sentences below. Show the use of the present
progressive in each sentence:

1. Don’t rush me. …I am working (1)…… as fast as I can. (I / work)

(to describe actions and events that are in progress at the moment of speaking)
2. What ………………………………………………………? It looks awful. (you / drink)
3. ……………………………………..……………. to catch his train. (He / hurry)
4. ………………………………………………., aren’t you? Calm down! (You / constantly / panic)
5. ……………………………..………………..………. more and more politically aware these days.
(Young people / become)
6. What ……………………………………. nowadays? (John / do) – ………………………………
for the British cycle team. (He / ride)
7. ………………….……………………. people by asking personal questions. (He / always / upset)
8. What time ……………………………………………………. tomorrow? (he / arrive)
9. …………………………………………… treatment on my bad back for a few weeks. (I / have)
10. You can’t believe a word he says. ……………………………………………. (He / always / lie)
11. ………………………………………………. the 1,500 metres in the next Olympics. (She / run)
Source: Alexander L. G., Longman English Grammar Practice