VERB TO BE

POSITIVE NEGATIVE QUESTION

I AM (I’m) ¹ NOT AM I?

HE (He’s)¹
SHE IS (She’s)¹ NOT IS HE? IS SHE? IS IT?
IT* (It’s)¹
*“it” is a singular noun, that means one of something that’s not a
person.

YOU (You’re)¹
WE ARE (We’re)¹ NOT ARE YOU? ARE WE? ARE THEY?
THEY (They’re)¹

¹ Shortened forms
PRESENT SIMPLE (I, YOU, HE, SHE, IT, WE, THEY + VERB + COMPLEMENT)

-We use to talk about things that are true in general

-Permanent

I study English.

I live in São Paulo.

He works at the mall.

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE / PRESENT CONTINUOUS (I, YOU, HE, SHE, IT,

WE, THEY + VERB TO BE+VERB+ING)

-Something that’s happening now or something temporary

-around now

I can’t help you now, I’m studying English.

We are having breakfast.

Tarantino is writing a new film.

HOW TO USE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I, YOU, HE, SHE, IT, WE, THEY + VERB TO BE+VERB+ING

I AM LEARN ING ENGLISH.

POSITIVE NEGATIVE QUESTION

I AM NOT AM I …?

HE
SHE IS NOT IS HE? IS SHE? IS IT?
IT

YOU
WE ARE NOT ARE YOU,WE, THEY …?
THEY
I’m going home right now / I’m feeding my dogs.
I’m studying for a test.

He’s, She’s packing for tomorrow trip.

It’s working perfectly. It’s raining hard/cats and dogs.

You’re doing great! / You’re looking amazing!

We’re, They’re watching TV / playing videogame.
WHEN NOT TO USE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
PERMANENT CIRCUMSTANCES/IDEAS -

I’m living in Rio. X

I’m studying at UEMA. X

She is working at Google. X

STATIVE / STATE VERBS (we don’t usually use state verbs in continuous tenses) –

P.S - action verbs describe physical actions (go, kick, watch, rain, jump, run, punch, cook, clean …).

1- Feelings and attitudes (love, hate, like and prefer).

What’s this music? I like it!

My mom loves shrimp.

We are liking this show. X

2- Thinking / expressing opinions: think, know, believe, understand, remember.

P.S 2 - “I’m loving it” or “I’m hating this class” may be seen in a very informal context.

I believe Andrew’s living in Dubai now.

Do you remember if he’s married?

I am understanding the class. X

3- Senses: see, smell, taste, hear, sound.

What are you eating? It smells delicious.

What does the perfume smell like?

It smells like rotten eggs.

Dinner smells good.

I'm about to say something which sounds a bit strange.

His explanation sounds reasonable to me.

He doesn’t sound French—and he doesn’t look it.

4- Have, own, belong, want, need, mean, cost, seem, appear, wish...

Are you needing help? X

They are having a car. X

P.S 3 – Some verbs are classified as state verbs in a given context; the very same verbs are action verbs
in a different situation.

I have a cat.

I’m having a bath.

We’re having so much fun.

Kids are having a great day.

Pedro looks like his sister.

Pedro’s looking at his sister.

Can you see that man?

I’m seeing the doctor.