The Present Continuous Tense

Zion Languages
 Uses of the Present Continuous

Used to talk about things that are happening now.

The action started in the past, but is continuing
until the present.

I’m watching a movie at the moment.

He’s working until 7:00 PM.

Shh! The children are sleeping right now.

He can’t come to the phone now, he’s eating

dinner.

I’m walking the dog at the moment.

 Uses of the Present Continuous

Another usage is to talk about present temporary

actions.

I’m studying in Germany for the next 2 years.

Were renting a house at the beach these days.

I’m working as a barista at the moment.

They’re playing basketball during the school year.

Dinner’s getting cold!

 Uses of the Present Continuous

The present continuous can also be used to

describe longer actions that are in progress. The
action was started in the past, and won’t be
finished until some time in the future, (we don’t
have to be doing the action at the moment).

What are you reading these days?

I’m reading an interesting spy novel.

I’m studying French this semester.

My son’s not eating enough vegetables.

Are you still working at McDonalds?

 Uses of the Present Continuous

The present continuous is also used to describe

definite plans in the near future. Even though
we’re talking about the future, we are using the
present tense.

We’re meeting at the movie theatre at 7PM.

I’m having a sleepover tonight.

Is she moving next week?

We aren’t practicing today because of the rain.

They’re closing early today because it’s

Christmas Eve.
 Uses of the Present Continuous

An interesting usage of the present continuous is

that you can use it to describe irritating habits,
something that someone is always, continually or
constantly doing.

I’m always forgetting my lunch.

She’s constantly yelling about something.

Ugh! Why are you always playing video games?

My brother is continually annoying me.

You are always following me.

 Uses of the Present Continuous

The last usage of the present continuous is to

describe something changing or developing.

After the fall equinox, it’s getting darker earlier

each evening.

My grandpas health is slowly deteriorating.

My hair is finally growing out.

Your English is getting better and better.

The city is growing rapidly.

 The Present Continuous

To form the present continuous tense, we use this

formula: pronoun +“To be” + Verb (infinitive) +
-ing. The verb “to be” is conjugated to each
person, so it changes to am/is/are, then we have
the verb with ing added on.

I am playing.

You are working.

He is sleeping.

She is cooking.

We are running.

They are drawing.

 The Present Continuous

To form the present continuous tense in the

negative, we add ‘not’ after the verb “to be” so we
have the pronoun +to be + verb-ing

I am not playing.

You are not working.

He is not sleeping.

She is not cooking.

We are not running.

They are not drawing.

The Present Continuous
 The Present Continuous

To form the present continuous tense in the

simple question form, we do the same as with the
present simple question form, We put the verb “to
be”, then the person, then the verb (in this form
we keep the -ing)

Am I playing?

Are you working?

Is he sleeping?

Is she cooking?

Are we running?

Are they drawing?

 The Present Continuous

To form the present continuous tense in the

negative, we add ‘not’ after the verb “to be” so we
have the pronoun +to be + verb-ing

What am I reading?

Where are you working?

Why is he sleeping?

When is she cooking?

Who are we telling?

How are they moving?

 The Present Continuous
In verbs that end with a silent -e, the -e is removed
before adding the -ing: believe — believing, bake —
baking, love — loving, take — taking, choke —
choking, make — making, have — having
In verbs, where the -e does make a sound, we
leave the -e and add -ing: see — seeing, be — being,
flee — fleeing, agree — agreeing
If the verb has only one syllable, and it follows the
pattern of consonant-vowel-consonant
(CVC), we double the last consonant before
adding the -ing: sit — sitting, fit — fitting, get —
getting, plan — planning, run — running, put —
putting, stop — stopping, swim — swimming
If the verb ends in CVC but the last consonant is
W, X or Y, we do not double the consonant: throw
— throwing, blow — blowing, show — showing,
play — playing, flex — flexing
 The Present Continuous

If the verb ends in CVC has two or more syllables If the verb ends in -ie, the -i changes to a -y and
and the last syllable is stressed, we double the we add -ing: die — dying, lie — lying, tie — tying
last consonant: begin — beginning, control —
controlling, forget — forgetting, upset — upsetting,
regret — regretting, refer — referring, commit —
committing

But if the last syllable is not stressed, the last

consonant is NOT doubled: benefit — benefiting,
happen — happening, open — opening, listen —
listening, deliver — delivering
 Vocabulary

Now, right now, at this moment, at this very

moment, these days, for, during the next
week, year, semester
who is = who's, what is = what's, where is = where's, when is
= when's, why is = why's, how is = how's, what are = what’re,
how are =how’re
 Practice time!

Positive and negative form

yes/no and -wh question form

Review

Simple or continuous form

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYLQ3-
9pvMc&list=PL2IkMHFHWdEpXFHfenZUP
XD8K8-OzveXI&index=67
See you next time!