The present continuous

How to form and when to use the present continuous tense

The Present Continuous The Present Continuous is formed using the present simple of the auxiliary verb TO BE and the main verb in its –ing form. Look at the table below for examples.

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-

?

I am reading You are reading He/She is reading

I am not reading You aren’t reading He/She isn’t reading

Am I reading?

Are you reading?

Is he reading?

We are reading You are reading They are reading

We aren’t reading You aren’t reading They aren’t reading

Are we reading?

Are you reading?

Are they reading?

Spelling rules when adding –ing to the base of the verb:  If the verbs ends –e: take out –e . have- having; live-living  If the base of the verb has an only syllabus ending consonant+vowel+ consonant: double the consonant. run- running; sit- sitting;  Two syllables verb with the stress in the last consonant: double the last consonant.

begin- beginning; refer-referring;

SHORT ANSWERS Use the personal pronoun followed by the verb to be: Yes, I am.

No, I’m not.

When to use the present simple 

To talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking To talk about actions in the future that we have planned in advance.

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Examples: I am studying the Present Continuous in this lesson.(action taking place now).

I am playing football with my team on Saturday.(action taking place sometime in the future).

Do you remember the difference between ‘tense’ and ‘time’?

The present continuous tense can refer to both: -

Present time if we talk about actions that are happening in the momento we are speaking,

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Future time if we talk about an action(a plan) that will take place in the future.

Time References for a present action: at the moment, now, right now.

Time References for a future action: tomorrow, next (Monday, Saturday, month, year, etc.)

! We can use all the time expressions at the beginning or end of the sentence, but they usually go at the end of the sentence.

Present Simple vs Present Continuous In order to know which verb tense we need to use it is important we check the time references that we have because these references will tell us when the action happens.

For example, if we have ‘at the moment’ as a time reference we know that we need a present continuous because the action is happening at the same time as we speak. On the other hand, if we have ‘always’ as a time reference we will use the present simple because this reference refers to actions that happen regularly.

TIP! There are some verbs that don’t have a continuous form. These verbs are called STATE VERBS and they describe states that last for some time.

Look at the table for some examples of dynamic and state verbs ActionVerbs Work Do Make listen Speak Write Have Run Read

State Verbs Like Be love- Hate want know - Remember understand