What is she doing?

She / read / book

She is reading the book.

Shes reading a book.

What is he doing?
He / listen / music

He is listening to music.

Hes listening to music.

What are they doing?

They / study
They are
studying.
Theyre
studying.

What are they doing?

They / work
They are
working.
Theyre
working.

What are they doing?

They / learn / English

They are learning English.

Theyre learning English.

What are we doing?

We / smile

Were smiling!

What am I doing?
I / type

Im typing.

What are you doing?

You / behave /
badly

Youre behaving
badly!

Form
Positive (+)
Subject
+ auxiliary
(be) +
verb + ing
I
am = Im
walking.
You
are = Youre reading.
He/She/It is = Hes/Shes/Its eating.
We are= Were laughing.
They are
= Theyreshouting.

Form
Negative (-)
Subject
+ auxiliary (be)+ not +
verb + ing
Im
looking.
Youre
playing.
Hes/Shes/Its
talking.
Were
jumping.
Theyre
climbing.

no
t

Form
Interrogative (?)
Auxiliary (be) + subject
ing + ?
Am
I
Are
you
Is
he/she/it
Are
we
Are
they

verb +

dreaming?
sleeping ?
falling?
flying?
drinking?

Rules
Some verbs drop
the last -e:

Some verbs double

the last letter:

Eg
write writing
take taking
bake baking
dance
dancing

Eg
sit sitting

but see
seeing

but open
opening

swim swimming
travel travelling
get getting

Rules
Verbs ending in ie,
drop the ie + y +
ing

eg
lie lying
die dying

The verb be is only used

in the continuous to
describe temporary
behaviour.

eg
Hes being naughty.
Shes being good.
Hes being an idiot.

Short questions &

answers:
cry
pla
cook

Is the man
cooking?
No, he isnt.

Hes playing the

violin.

Is the baby
crying?
Yes he is.
Hes
crying.

do
Are the boys
doing their
homework?
Yes they are!

When?
1.

A short activity, happening right now:

Were just
looking!

When?
2.
A temporary (not usual)
situation:
I usually drive
to work
but this week
Im walking.

When?
3. A change or action were in the
middle of:
Im
getting a
cold!

When?
4.

A future arrangement:
Sorry, got to go .
Im meeting someone
in half an hour.

Making future arrangements:

Are you free on Saturday?

Sorry / work
Sorry / see /family
Sorry / go / cinema /
girlfriend

Sorry, Im working.
Sorry, Im seeing my family.
Sorry, Im going to the
cinema
with my girlfriend.

Exceptions:
Some verbs arent usually used in the
present continuous:
Feelings
(hate, like, love, prefer, want,
(BUT How
are you feeling? Im feeling
wish)
happy.)
(believe, feel, know,
Mental states
remember,
mean,(hear,
understand)
Senses
see, sound, smell,
taste) include, contain
Also: belong,

Think . . . Have
The verbs have and think have a
different meaning in the simple and
continuous.
I think thats good. (opinion)
Wait a minute, Im thinking.
(activity happening
now)
I have a car. (possession)
Im having lunch. (activity
happening now)