The Present Continuous Tense

What is he doing?

He is playing soccer
What is she doing?

She is listening
to music
What are they doing?

They are watching TV

What are you doing?

I am reading
a book
What is the dog doing?

It is sleeping
What are we doing?

We are learning English

 Present Continuous:
Grammar Rules

 Use: We use the present continuous tense to

express actions that are occurring at the
moment of speaking.

 Examples:
1. The teacher is explaining the contents.
2. The students are paying attention.
3. The teacher is talking on the microphone.
4. The students are listening to the teacher.
 Present Continuous:
STRUCTURES
FORM STRUCTURE
Affirmative Subject + verb to be + verb–ing + complement
(am)
(is)
(are)
Negative Subject + verb to be + not + verb–ing + complement
(am)
(is)
(are)
Interrogative Verb to be + subject + verb–ing + complement + ?
(Am)
(yes-no?) (Is)
(Are)
Wh-Questions Wh-word + verb to be + subject + verb-ing + complement + ?
(What) (am)
(When) (is)
(Where) (are)
Structures Examples
SUBJECT VERB TO BE
I AM
HE – SHE – IT IS
YOU – WE – THEY ARE

Form Example
Affirmative Camila is cooking a chicken soup
Negative Camila is not cooking a chicken soup
Interrogative Is Camila cooking a chicken soup?
(Yes-no?)
Wh-Questions What is Camila cooking?
Short Answers

POSITIVE NEGATIVE EXAMPLES:

ANSWER ANSWER
1. Is Matias reading a book?
Yes, I am No, I am not (-) No, he is not
Yes, He is No, He is not
2. Is Lucia talking on the phone?
Yes, She is No, She is not (+) Yes, she is
Yes, It is No, It is not 3. Are the girls watching a movie?
Yes, you are No, you are not (-) No, they are not

Yes, they are No, they are not 4. Are you cooking?
Yes, we are No, we are not (+) Yes, I am
Rules of -ing
 General rule: You have to add –ing at the end of the verb.
Ex. Listen ----- Listening

 -e rule: If the verb ends in –e you have to delete the –e

and add –ing.
Ex.Create ----- Creating ---NOT: createing

 C-V-C –one syllable rule: If the verb ends in consonant –

vowel – consonant and it is a one-syllable verb you have
to double the last consonant and add –ing.
Ex. Run ----- Running
Re-write Activity
 Instructions: Re-write the following verbs adding the
correct –ing rule.

VERB VERB + ING

1. Have Having
2. Play Playing
3. Stop Stopping
4. Prepare Preparing
5. Love Loving
6. Think Thinking
7. Get Getting
8. Identify Identifying
9. Write Writing
10. Speak Speaking