Present Continuous Tense
Present Actions
Temporary Actions
Longer Actions in Progress
Future (Personal) Arrangements and Plans
Tendencies and Trends
Irritation
* We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about
actions happening at the moment of speaking.
o Neill is chatting with friends at the moment.
o I am watching the match between Turkey and Brazil.
* We use the Present Continuous Tense for temporary
actions.
* Temporary actions continue only for a limited period of
time.
o I am working extra hours in order to finish the project.
(After I finish the project, I won’t work extra hours.)
o She is staying at a hotel until she finds a house. (After
she finds a house, I won’t stay at a hotel.)
* We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about
longer actions in progress. These actions take time to
complete: writing a book, learning a new language,
studying for an exam, etc.
o They are saving money to buy a new car.
o I am reading an excellent novel nowadays.
* We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about
planned actions. These actions will happen in the near
future.
o They are having a party at the weekend.
o I and my classmates are going out this evening.
* We use the Present Continuous Tense to express
tendencies or trends.
o Technology is developing day by day.
o Jane is getting better. She can start working soon.
o More people are sharing photos on Facebook.
o Most people are using e-mail instead of writing letters
nowadays.
* We use the Present Continuous Tense to express
irritation or anger in the present with adverbs such as:
always, continually or constantly.
o You are always talking to your friends during the class.
o My neighbors are always arguing.
o I am studying for my exam. (I’m studying…)
o You are looking at the pictures now. (You’re looking…)
o My wife is cooking in the kitchen. (My wife’s cooking…)
o I am not studying for my exam. (I’m not studying…)
o You are not looking at the pictures now. (You aren’t
looking…)
o My wife is cooking in the kitchen. (My wife’ isn’t
cooking…)
A: Are you looking at the pictures at the moment?
B: Yes, I am. / No, I am not.
A: Is my wife cooking in the kitchen?
B: Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t.
A: Are my son and his friend playing football now?
B: Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.
A: What are you looking at?
B: I am looking at the pictures.
A: What is my wife doing in the kitchen?
B: She is cooking.
A: Where are the students watching a video?
B: They are watching a video in the classroom.
* We cannot use some verbs in the continuous form
because these verbs refer to states; not actions. We use
the Present Simple Tense with these verbs.
love
like
dislike
hate
want
hear
see
smell
taste
understand
believe
know
forget
remember
have***
*** We don’t use “have” in the Present Continuous Tense
when it means “to possess”. When there is a different
meaning, we can use in the continuous form.
o I have a car. (NOT: I am having a car.) → Have =
Possess
o We are having breakfast in the kitchen. → Have = Eat
o Everybody is having fun at the party. → Have = Enjoy
Most Verbs
Add “-ing”
Verbs ending in “e”
Drop “e”;
add “-ing”
If a one syllable (with only one vowel
sound) verb ends in one consonant
(for example p, t, r) that follows one
vowel (for example a, o, e)
Irregular Verbs
Double the last
consonant;
add “-ing”
work
play
study
come
working
playing
studying
coming
have
write
swim
get
stop
having
writing
swimming
getting
stopping
lie
die
lying
dying
* We use the following time expressions in the Present
Continuous Tense:
AT THE MOMENT
NOW
NOWADAYS
AT PRESENT
TODAY
RIGHT NOW
TONIGHT
THESE DAYS
USE
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
for present actions
PRESENT SIMPLE
for general actions
I am listening to music on the radio now. I listen to music after dinner every day.
for temporary actions
for permanent actions
I’m working at a hotel.
I work at a hotel.
for future arrangements and plans
future events (part of a timetable)
We are playing football this evening.
My train leaves at 8.00 this evening.
for longer actions in progress
for habits or actions we do regularly
I am reading a novel nowadays.
I read a novel when I have free time.
to talk about tendencies and trends
People are using tablets these days.
to express irritation
We use “make”:
* for producing, constructing,
something new.
o They make these toys in China.
creating
or
building
* to talk about plans and decisions:
o She doesn’t make a decision about her clothes easily.
o Make your choice: Do you want to play computer games
or football?
We use “make”:
* with nouns about speaking and certain sounds:
o Don’t make noise! Your brother is sleeping.
o I always make a comment on her decisions.
*
o
o
o
with food, drink and meals:
I and my wife like making a cake at the weekend.
She makes some tea when she watches TV.
We always make our dinner together.
We use “do”:
* to talk about work, jobs or tasks. (NOTE: They don’t
produce any physical object.)
o I do my homework after I have dinner.
o I do the ironing twice a week.
* to refer to activities in general with words “something,
nothing, anything, everything, etc”.
o Do something for her. She needs you.
o He does everything he can do to be successful.
Please, don’t forget to
do the exercises on
your book: Grammar
Fast.