Present continuous

LINCOLN INSTITUTE
GRAMMAR LESSONS
TEACHER: WILMA BRIZUELA
The present continuous
Let’s look at:
1. When we use the present continuous.
2. How we make sentences in the present continuous.
3. Spelling changes with the verb -ing form.

When do we use it?

Function: the present continuous
Hello! What are you doing?
Where is Jayne?
No, I’m not. I’m not
studying. I’m
watching TV.
The boy says ‘I’m doing my
homework’. Is he talking
about a habit or an action
happening now?
Present
Look at the conversation. Are
the boy and girl describing
actions in the present or
past?
She’s cooking dinner in the
kitchen. I’m doing my homework.
Are you doing your homework?
An action happening now.
I am doing my homework
now
Fill in the table with the actions
happening now for each person.
Person Action happening now
Girl I’m watching TV.
I’m doing my homework.
Boy
Jayne She’s cooking dinner.
Function: the present continuous
1. We use the present continuous to describe actions happening
now, in this moment.
Hello! What are you doing?
Where is Jayne? She’s cooking dinner in
the kitchen. I’m doing
my homework. And you?
No, I’m not. I’m not studying.
I’m watching TV.

2. We do not use the present continuous with verbs that do not

describe actions. For example, feelings, emotions, descriptions.
We use the present simple.
The verb want is a I really want an ice cream
This feeling is in this desire or feeling, so
moment, but it is not right now!
we use the present
an action. simple.
How do we make
sentences?
 Form: the present continuous
Hello! What are you doing? Where is Jayne? She’s cooking dinner in
the kitchen. I’m doing
No, I’m not. I’m not studying. my homework. Are you
I’m watching TV. doing your homework?

positive negative
I ’m (am) I ’m not (am not)
He/She/It ’s (is) verb -ing He/She/It isn’t (is not) verb -ing
We/You/They ’re (are) We/You/They aren’t (are not)

question short answers

Look at the
am I I am/’m not conversation again and
(question complete the table. The
is he/she/it verb -ing? Yes/No, he/she/it is/isn’t
word) first one is done for you.
are we/you/they we/you/they are/aren’t

The verb What verb is

to be this?
Form: the present continuous
positive The present
She’s cooking dinner.
I ’m (am) continuous always
has the verb to be
He/She/It ’s (is) verb -ing + verb -ing
We/You/They ’re (are)
We use short answers with closed
questions (yes/no questions).
negative
I’m not studying.
I ’m not (am not) Remember that there are two
He/She/It isn’t (is not) verb -ing types of questions – open
and closed. Open questions
We/You/They aren’t (are not) need a question word.

What are you doing? short answers No, I’m not.

question
Are you doing your I am/’m not
am I
(question homework? Yes/No, he/she/it is/’isn’t
is he/she/it
word) verb -ing we/you/they are/aren’t
are we/you/they

Spelling…
Things to think about…
…spelling changes with the verb -ing form. The spelling of the -ing form of
the verb can change depending
on the stem of the verb. The
Here are some examples. stem is the part of the verb you Look at the
dance – dancing, eat – eating, hit – hitting find in the dictionary, e.g. rule changes
Notice how there are small changes in spelling. swimming – the stem is swim. below…

verbs ending in one vowel

most verbs verbs ending in -e verbs ending in -ie
and then one consonant

Add -ing. Remove -e and add -ing. Change -ie to -y. Double the final
consonant.
e.g. eat eating e.g. dance dancing e.g. lie lying
e.g. swim swimming
The -e has vowel
The -ie is now Double
been removed
a -y. consonant!
here! consonant

Let’s practise!
Practice activities
Complete the sentences in the present continuous.

’s/is eating
1. What…………………………..(Trudy)………………………….(eat)? It looks delicious!

’re/are driving
2. Sophie and Lennard…………………………………………(drive) that expensive car – look!

’m not/am not working

3. I…………………………………..(not work) at the moment.

Are watching
4. …………………………..you……………………(watch) TV? I can hear a strange sound.

’re/are singing
5. It is a beautiful the day. The birds……………………………………(sing) in the garden.

isn’t/is not sleeping

6. My daughter………………………………..(not ’s/is swimming
sleep); she…………………………..(swim) in the lake!