Lesson 27 - Tenses (Present Continuous Tense) - WeVersity Free Online Courses with Certicates in Pakistan

Learn English to Earn – Adults

About Lesson

The Present Continuous Tense #1

There are several continuous tenses in English, and all of
them are similar in form.

They use BE + the -ing form of
another verb.

The uses of all the continuous tenses are similar
but not exactly the same–and of course they are used for
different times.

To understand present continuous tense better, let’s take
a look at its form.

Present Continuous Tense: Form

The present continuous tense always has two parts:

1.		BE (present: am, are, is)

2.		a verb ending in –ing

Examples:

He is studying.
They are arguing.
It is raining.
You are reading these examples.
I am using my computer to make these examples.

________________________________________________

Special Notes:

1.		Contractions with BE are common with present continuous tense, especially with subject pronouns: He‘s studying. They‘re arguing. It‘s raining. You‘re reading these examples. I‘m using my computer to make these examples.

2.		Contractions are also possible when the subject is a noun–especially when the subject means he, she, or it: Bob’s sleeping. Maria’s watching TV. The bell’s ringing loudly.

3.		Some people use the term present progressive tense instead of present continuous tense. Both names are correct.

4.		It is actually more accurate to say that sentences like “I’m using my computer to make these examples” are in present tense and show the progressive aspect.

Present continuous tense: Form

Positive statement: I am playing, You are playing, He is playing

Negative statement: I am not playing (I’m not playing), You are not playing (You aren’t playing), He is
not playing (He isn’t playing)

Question: Are you playing? Is he playing?

Negative question: Are you not playing? (Aren’t you playing?) Is he not playing? (Isn’t he playing?)

The present continuous tense is formed with the verb to be and the present participle (-ing ending)

The negative question normally expresses a surprise: Isn’t he working?

Use

The present continuous tense is used:

If we want to say that something is happening at the time of speaking. We often use it with time
expressions such as now or at the moment.

I am doing housework at the moment.

You aren’t listening to me now!

Look at him! What is he doing?

For temporary activities that are true now, but maybe not happening at the time of speaking. Time
expressions such as today, this week or these days are typical of this use.

I am in London. I am learning English here.

She can’t go out today. She is preparing for an exam.

You can’t meet him this week. He is working in Bath.

For planned future arrangements. The time of the action must be given in the sentence (soon,
tomorrow, on Monday, next week), otherwise it is not clear that we talk about future.

I am coming soon.

We are leaving on Monday.

She is starting next week.

With always to express the idea that something happens too often and it annoys the speaker.
I am always forgetting my keys.

He is always smoking in the living room!

TASK

He _________ (sleep)?
John __________ his favorite movie. (watch)
Alice __________ in the market. (shop)
Tom __________ this party (not, attend)
They __________ around the world. (travel)
Mark __________ to his friend on the phone. (talk)
It __________ in the mountains. (snow)
They __________ the hot air balloon ride. (enjoy)
I __________ my parents this weekend. (visit)
She __________ French at the school. (teach)

Make negative questions with the words in brackets.

Example:

Our teacher is speaking too fast. (not speak slowly) –

Why isn’t she speaking slowly?

My brother is sleeping.

Why ……………………………………………………………….. ? (not get up)

I am working at a hotel now.

Why………………………………………………………….. ? (not learn for exams)

Ourdaughter is waiting over there.

Why………………………………………………………….. ? (not wait with you)

They are flying to Mumbai.

Why………………………………………………………….. ? (not fly to Calcutta)

My mum and dad aren’t doing anything.

Why………………………………………………………….. ? (not watch a film)

I’m tired, so I’m drinking tea.

Why…………………………………………………………… ? (not drink coffee)

Heis washing his T-shirts by hand.

Why ……………… his wife………………………………… ? (not wash them)

We are staying at home next weekend.

Why…………………………………………………………… ? (not go to see your friends)

Make positive questions.

Example:

Where are you parking?

I am parking near here.

What………………………………………..at the moment?

I am writing a test on the present continuous tense.

Which………………………………………………………..just now?

I am doing exercise 3.

………………………………………………………………………with it?

No, nobody is helping me.

Which……………………………………………………….?

Well, I am making question 4.

………….your friends…………………………………… ?

No, they are not looking at me.

Andwhat……………………………………… now?

I’m sorry, I don’t know what they are doing.

……….. yourteacher……………………………around the classroom?

No, she isn’t walking. She’s sitting at her desk.

………..the sun…………………………. today?

Yes, it is. It’s shining as usual. And I want to go out.

Choose the correct form.

I………………………………………….. an email now.

am writing • am writting

Susan……………………………… in the bed at the moment.

lying • is lying

I………………………………… in London this month.

am staying • stay

Peter………………………………… this week.

working • is working

My mum and dad………………………………… now.

is cooking
are cooking

I’d like to know why you…………………………………. my bedroom.

are tiding • are tidying

Jane isn’t at home. She …………………………………. .

is shoping • is shopping

I can see Daniel. He………………………………… over there.

is siting • is sitting

Can I help you? – No, thank you. We ………………………………………………

just looking • are just looking

I am in Hastings.……………………………………. English this summer.

I learning • I’m learning