Present Progressive(also called ‘continuous’) - Use

1) actions happening at the moment of speaking

Peter is reading a book now.

2) fixed plan in the near future

She is going to Basel on Saturday.

3) temporary actions

His father is working in Rome this month.

4) actions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions)

My friend is preparing for his exams.

5) trends

More and more people are using their computers to listen to music.

6) repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Andrew is always coming late.

Signal words

now, at the moment, Look! Listen!

Form

to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + -ing

Examples

Affirmative sentences:

I am playing football.I'm playing football.

You are playing football.You're playing football.

Negative sentences:

I am not playing football.I'm not playing football.

You are not playing football.You're not playing football.You aren't playing football.

Questions:

Am I playing football? Are you playing football?

Present Continuous TenseI am singing

We often use the present continuous tense in English. It is very different from the simple present tense, both in structure and in use.

Continuous tenses are also called progressive tenses. So the present progressive tense is the same as the present continuous tense.

How do we make the Present Continuous Tense?

The structure of the present continuous tense is:

subject + auxiliary verb + main verb    be   base + ingLook at these examples:

  subject auxiliary verb   main verb  

+ I am   speaking to you.

+ You are   reading this.

- She is not staying in London.

- We are not playing football.

? Is he   watching TV?

? Are they   waiting for John?

How do we use the Present Continuous Tense?

We use the present continuous tense to talk about:

action happening now action in the future

Present continuous tense for action happening now

a) for action happening exactly now

I am eating my lunch.

past present future

The action is happening now.

Look at these examples. Right now you are looking at this screen and at the same time...

...the pages are turning. ...the candle is burning. ...the numbers are spinning.

b) for action happening around now

The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after now, and it is not permanent or habitual.

John is going out with Mary.

past present future

The action is happening around

now.

Look at these examples:

Muriel is learning to drive. I am living with my sister until I find an apartment.

Present continuous tense for the future

We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future - if we add a future word!!

We must add (or understand from the context) a future word.

"Future words" include, for example, tomorrow, next year, in June, at Christmas etc. We only use the present continuous tense to talk about the future when we have planned to do something before we speak.

We have already made a decision and a plan before speaking.

I am taking my exam next month.

past present future

A firm plan or programme

exists now.The action is in the future.

Look at these examples:

We're eating in a restaurant tonight. We've already booked the table.. They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working. When are you starting your new job?

In these examples, we have a firm plan or programme before speaking.

The decision and plan were made before speaking.

How do we spell the Present Continuous Tense?

We make the present continuous tense by adding -ing to the base verb.

Normally it's simple - we just add -ing.

But sometimes we have to change the word a little.

Perhaps we double the last letter, or we drop a letter.

Here are the rules to help you know how to spell the present continuous tense.

Basic rule

Just add -ing to the base verb:

work > working

play > playing

assist > assisting

see > seeing

be > being

Exception 1

If the base verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the last letter:

s t o p

  consonantstressedvowel

consonant

(vowels = a, e, i, o, u)

stop > stopping

run > running

begin > beginning

Note that this exception does not apply when the last syllable of the base verb is not stressed:

open > opening

Exception 2

If the base verb ends in ie, change the ie to y:

lie > lying

die > dying

Exception 3

If the base verb ends in vowel + consonant + e, omit the e:

come > coming

mistake > mistaking

Present Continuous Tense Quiz

1 they coming over for dinner?

2 Maxwell not sleeping on our sofa.

Is

is

3 My mother-in-law is at our house this week.

4 I my dinner right now.

5 My sister Spanish.

6 I at the hair salon until September.

7 We at a fancy restaurant tonight. Jason decided this yesterday.

8 When do you your new art class?

9 They are a new record shop downtown.

10 Melissa is down on her bed.

Present Continuous Tense Quiz ANSWER

1

stay

eat

learn

w ork

eat

start

opening

lieing

Are

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Comparison Simple Present - Present Progressive/ContinuousTest - 2

Your Test

A) Which actions - which tenses?

1) Which of the following actions is in the Present Progressive?

is

staying

am eating

is learning

am w orking

are eating

start

opening

lying

0 5 -1 1

true 1

fixed arrangement

spontaneous action in the future

things in general

2) Which of the following actions is in the Present Progressive?

action happening at the moment of speaking

recently completed action

repeated actions

3) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present?

action was in progress at special time in the past

fixed arrangement in the near future

spontaneous action in the future

4) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present?

fixed arrangement in the future

result of an action in the past is important in the present

things in general

true

true

true

1

true

true

true

1

true

true

true

1

true

true

true

5) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present?

action finished in the past

action happening at the moment of speaking

repeated actions

6) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present?

action beginning in the past and still continuing

plan in the future

repeated actions in the present

B) Fill in the verbs in the Simple Present or the Present Progressive.

1)

The flowers beautiful. (to smell)

2) I usually

as a teacher in Germany, but this summer I as a language assistant in Rome. (to work)

3) The bus to

New York at 6.30. (to leave)

1

true

true

true

1

true

true

true

1

true 1 true true true

true

1 true true true true

1 true true true true

4) Listen! They

home. (to come)

5) Hey! What

you there? (to do)

6) Right now

Christine on the computer. (to work)

7) John often

sugar in his coffee. (to take)

8) I thirsty. (to be)

9) My history

teacher too much. (to talk)

10) Anne

red hair. (to have)

C) Which answers are correct?

1) Which sentences/questions are in the Simple Present?

1 true true true true

1 true true true true

1 true true true true

1 true true true true

1 true true true true

1 true true true true

1 true true true true

1

true 1

Anne is always coming late.

First I get up then I have breakfast.

He's just finished the letter.

I was having breakfast.

I'm here.

She lives in Sofia.

2) Which sentences/questions are in the Present Progressive?

He had a shower in the morning.

He was sitting on the beach.

He's having a shower.

I don't think so.

We're thinking of buying a new car.

3) What are typical signal words for the Present Progressive?

Listen!

Look!

ago

at the moment

true

true

true

true

true

true

1

true

true

true

true

true

1

true

true

true

true

just

never

now

yet

4) What are typical signal words for the Simple Present?

already

at the moment

every day

last week

normally

now

seldom

usually

D) Which sentences are correct?

1) Which sentence is correct?

I love holidays.

I'm loving every minute of my holiday.

true

true

true

true

1

true

true

true

true

true

true

true

true

1

true 1

true

true

2) Which sentence is correct?

I am thinking we should go.

I think we should go.

3) Which sentence is correct?

I see what the teacher means.

I'm seeing what the teacher means.

4) Which sentence is correct?

I am tasting the soup.

The soup tastes good.

5) Which sentence is correct?

She is weighing the turkey.

She weighs 60 kilos.

6) Which sentence is correct?

I am remembering my first date.

I remember my first day at school.

1

true

true

1

true

true

1

true

true

1

true

true

1

true

true

7) Which sentence is correct?

I feel fine.

I'm feeling fine.

8) Which sentence is correct?

You are being very silly about this.

You are silly.

9) Which sentence is correct?

I am needing an umbrella now.

I need a new computer.

E) Fill in the correct verb forms.

1) Hey John! about Peggy?

2) We music in the street.

3) I his brother is football-crazy.

4) in ghosts?

1

true

true

1

true

true

1

true

true

1

true 1 true

1 true

1 true

1 true

5) He with his grandmother until his mother comes back from China.

6) with you.

7) This cake wonderful.

8) He the newspaper at the moment.

9) My father tea for breakfast.

10) I have to go now. dark.

Comparison Simple Present - Present Progressive/ContinuousTest - 2

Your Test - Answer

A) Which actions - which tenses?

1) Which of the following actions is in the Present Progressive?Correct Answer: fixed arrangement

2) Which of the following actions is in the Present Progressive?Correct Answer: action happening at the moment of speaking

3) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present?Correct Answer: fixed arrangement in the near future

4) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present?Correct Answer: things in general

5) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present?Correct Answer: repeated actions

1 true

1 true

1 true

1 true

1 true

1 true

6) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present?Correct Answer: repeated actions in the present

B) Fill in the verbs in the Simple Present or the Present Progressive.

1) The flowers smell beautiful. 2) I usually work as a teacher in Germany, but this summer I am working as a language assistant in Rome. 3) The bus to New York leaves at 6.30. 4) Listen! They are coming home. 5) Hey! What are you doing there? 6) Right now Christine is working on the computer. 7) John often takes sugar in his coffee. 8) I am thirsty. 9) My history teacher talks too much. 10) Anne has red hair.

C) Which answers are correct?

1) Which sentences/questions are in the Simple Present?Correct Answers: I'm here., She lives in Sofia., First I get up then I have breakfast.,

2) Which sentences/questions are in the Present Progressive?Correct Answers: He's having a shower., We're thinking of buying a new car.

3) What are typical signal words for the Present Progressive?Correct Answers: Look!, Listen!, now, at the moment

4) What are typical signal words for the Simple Present?Correct Answers: usually, seldom, normally, every day

D) Which sentences are correct?

1) Which sentence is correct?Correct Answers: I love holidays., I'm loving every minute of my holiday.

2) Which sentence is correct?

Correct Answers: I think we should go.

3) Which sentence is correct?Correct Answers: I see what the teacher means.

4) Which sentence is correct?Correct Answers: The soup tastes good., I am tasting the soup.

5) Which sentence is correct?Correct Answers: She weighs 60 kilos., She is weighing the turkey.

6) Which sentence is correct?Correct Answers: I remember my first day at school.

7) Which sentence is correct?Correct Answers: I feel fine., I'm feeling fine.

8) Which sentence is correct?Correct Answers: You are silly., You are being very silly about this.

9) Which sentence is correct?Correct Answers: I need a new computer.

E) Fill in the correct verb forms.

1) Hey John! Are you thinking about Peggy? 2) We hear music in the street. 3) I think his brother is football-crazy. 4) Does your little brother believe in ghosts? 5) He is living with his grandmother until his mother comes back from China. 6) I agree with you. 7) This cake tastes wonderful. 8) He is reading the newspaper at the moment. 9) My father prefers tea for breakfast. 10) I have to go now. It's getting dark.