Present continuous (PrC)

 Formation

The present continuous is made from the present tense of the verb be and the –ing form of a verb

 Question

We make questions by putting am, is or are in front of the subject

 Negative

We make negatives by putting not (or n't) after am, is or are

 Time expressions : now, at the moment, right now, at present, this week/month, these days , today,
tonight, tomorrow, next week, etc.

Rules for using PrC

Case
For temporary situations
For actions happening at or around the time of
speaking
With always to express annoyance or criticism
For fixed arrangements in the near future
Something which is happening before and after a
specific time
Something which we think is temporary
Something which is new and contrasts with a
previous state
Something which is changing, growing or developing
Something which happens again and again
*we normally use always with this use
We can use the present continuous to talk about the
past when we are telling a story or summarising a
book, film or play
Example
He`s looking for a new job these days.
Chris `s painting the garage at the moment
He`s always telling lies!
I`m flying to London tomorrow
At eight o'clock we are usually having breakfast.
I 'm working in London for the next two weeks.
What sort of clothes are teenagers wearing
nowadays?
The children are growing up quickly.
It's always raining in London.
The other day I'm just walking down the street when
suddenly this man comes up to me and asks me to
lend him some money. Well, he's carrying a big stick
and he looks a bit dangerous, so I'm wondering what
to do …

Stative Verbs

We do not normally use the continuous with stative verbs. We normally use the simple instead.

Verbs of thinking and feeling Believe, dislike, know, like, love, hate, prefer, realise, recognize,
remember, suppose, think (= believe), understand, want, wish
Verbs of the senses Appear, feel, look, seem, smell, sound, taste
Others Agree, be, belong, disagree, need, owe, own, possess

Exercises:
Exercise 1: add –ing to the following verbs

1. Play 5. Lie 9. Cycle

2. Swim 6. Put 10. Die
3. Drive 7. Read 11. Ride
4. Run 8. Travel 12. Drink
 13. Write 19. Throw 25. Wake up
14. Fly 20. Eat 26. Dress
15. Take 21. Cry 27. Sit
16. Cut 22. Carry 28. Meet
17. Sleep 23. Sing 29. Catch
18. Tie 24. Do 30. Buy

Exercise 2: add –ing to the following verbs and put them into the correct column

Play Run Read Die Write Cut Throw Carry Wake up Meet
Swim Lie Travel Ride Fly Sleep Eat Sing Dress Catch
Drive Put Cycle Drink Take Tie Cry Do Sit Buy

+ing -ie y+ing -e ing Double consonant +ing

Exercise 3: complete each question with the correct word `be`

1.

2. I _ listening to music now. 13. They _ wearing white today.

3. You _ always annoying me! 14. What _ you doing?
4. He _ swimming in the pool. 15. She _ drinking a glass of water now.
5. _ you having a party on Saturday? 16. _ You doing your homework?
6. We_ arriving to London tomorrow. 17. Deborah _ having a birthday party on
7. Laura _ sitting under a sunshade. Saturday.
8. Your baby _ always crying! 18. Betty and Ann _ doing their homework.
9. _ your parents in the supermarket right 19. Is your sister _ taking on her mobile right
now? now?
10. They _ always arguing. 20. Where _ you going on holidays?
11. He _studying history. 21. Max _ playing football with Jeff today.
12. _ Peter playing the violin?

Exercise 3