2.

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
(CONTINUOUS)
E X P R E S S E S A N A C T I V I T Y T H AT I S I N P R O G R E S S AT
T H E M O M E N T O F S P E A K I N G . I T I S A T E M P O R A RY
ACTIVITY T H AT BEGAN IN THE P A S T, IS
C O N T I N U I N G A T P R E S E N T, A N D W I L L P R O B A B L Y
E N D AT S O M E P O I N T I N T H E F U T U R E .
O F T E N T H E A C T I V I T Y I S O F A G E N E R A L N AT U R E :
S O M E T H I N G G E N E R A L LY I N P R O G R E S S T H I S W E E K ,
THIS MONTH, THIS YEAR
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

• Actions happening at the moment of speaking

– Peter is reading a book now.
• Fixed plans in the near future
– We are going to Basel on Saturday.
• Temporary actions
– I am working in Rome this month.
• Actions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions)
– My friend is preparing for his exams.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

• Trends
– More and more people are using their computers to listen to music.
• Repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly,
forever)
– Andrew is always coming late.
ACTIVITY

• Describe activities that are in progress in the world right now