Simple continuous tense in English. Everything you need to know about Present Continuous! Examples of affirmative sentences in the present continuous tense

Present Continuous Tense (pronounced: present continuous tense) is the present continuous tense, it is also called Present Progressive (pronounced: present progressive). This is predominantly indicating the action that takes place at the moment of speech. But also Present Continuous can talk about action in the future.

Education Present Continuous (Present Progressive)

The formation of all tenses of the English language is quite similar. Some parts of speech are taken, put in desired forms and connect with each other. To form the Present Continuous tense form, you need to take the auxiliary verb to be in the present tense, add the participle of the semantic verb in the present tense to it.

to be + verb + ending -ing:

I tremble - I am trembling - I'm trembling.
You tremble - You are trembling - You are trembling.
We tremble - We are trembling - We are trembling.
He / she / it trembles - He / she / it is trembling - He / she / it trembles.
They tremble - They are trembling - They tremble.

Negative sentences in Present Continuous

To get a negative sentence in the present continuous tense, it is necessary to modify the original affirmative sentence. Between to be and the verb must be placed negative particle not:

Statement: Now he is trying to get back his children - Now he is trying to get his children back.
Negation: Now he is not trying to get back his children - Now he is not trying to get his children back.

Statement: Jack and Lucy are choosing a new TV - Jack and Lucy are choosing a new TV.
Negation: Jack and Lucy are not choosing a new TV - Jack and Lucy are not choosing a new TV.

Negative sentence word order

Subject + to be + not + action verb + rest of sentence

Steven Spielberg is not making new film - Steven Spielberg is not making a new film.

Interrogative sentences in Present Continuous

In order for a question to be formed in the present continuous tense, it is necessary to change the sentence in the affirmative form. To do this, you need to swap the subject and the auxiliary verb to be:

Are they listening progressive rock? Do they listen to progressive rock?
Is he looking at me right now? Is he looking at me right now?
Are we buying a new knife this Sunday? Are we buying a new knife this Sunday?

Interrogative sentence word order

To be + Subject + Action verb + Rest of the sentence

Are they cooking Italian food? Do they cook Italian food?

The verb to be in Present Continuous

The verb to be in Present Continuous does not always have the same form. It can change depending on the face change. In accordance with the change of persons, the verb to be in Present Continuous tense will have three forms:

Am- 1 person, unit hours - I am thinking- I think.
Is- 3rd person, unit. hours - He is walking- He walks.
Are- 2 person unit. hours and all plural forms - They are waiting- They are waiting.

Using Present Continuous

The rules for using the Present Continuous are simple - the present continuous in English e, as a rule, is used in specific cases: when a certain action is relevant at the moment of speech, when it began before the moment of speech and lasts after, when it comes to something temporary, some kind of development or change, etc. We have prepared for you examples of using the present continuous tense in each case.

The action is relevant at the moment of speaking:

I am listening to the news - I am listening to the news.
You are washing your clothes - You wash your clothes.
Who is Bob talking to on the phone? Who is Bob talking to on the phone?
Look, he is trying to steal that man's pen - Look, he is trying to steal a pen from that man.

The action began before the moment of speech and continues after:

At noon we are usually having brunch - At noon we usually eat brunch.
When she get home the children are doing their homework - When she came home, the children were doing their homework.
I am learning all that stupid tenses!
I am reading the book Moby Dick - I am reading the book Moby Dick.

It's about something temporary.

I'm looking for a blue beach house - I'm looking for a blue beach house.
She's thinking about leaving her parent's house - She is thinking about leaving her parents' house.
Are you eating enough food? – Are you eating enough?

We are talking about something new that is compared with the previous one:

These days children are using smartphones instead of reading books - These days children use smartphones instead of reading books.

It is about development, changes:
The puppies are growing quickly, I think their size would be doubling every week! – The puppies are growing fast, I think their size will double every week!.
His Spanish is improving - His Spanish is getting better.

The action happens again and again for a long period:

Ann is always coming to work late - She is constantly late for work.
I don’t like her because she is always complaining - I don’t like her because she constantly complains.

It's about a plan to do something in the future:

Oscar is going to a new town next week - Oscar is moving to another city next week.
What is Jane doing after work? What does Jane do after work?
I am not going to the cinema tonight - I will not go to the cinema today.
Isn't they coming with you tonight? “Won’t they come with you today?”

Verbs not used in Present Continuous

Each tense of the English language has such verbs that cannot be used in this tense. And the Present Continuous is no exception. We have prepared for you a list of verbs that are not used in the present continuous tense.

Feelings/perception

to hear - to hear
to feel - to feel
to see - see
to taste - to feel the taste
to smell - to smell

Opinions

to believe - to believe
to assume - agree
to consider - to believe
to feel (= to think) - to feel (= to think)
to doubt - to doubt
to find (= to consider)
to suppose - to believe
to think - to think

Thinking

to imagine - represent
to know - to know
to forget - forget
to mean - keep in mind
to notice - notice
to remember - remember
to recognize - to recognize
to understand - understand

Emotions/Desires

to envy - to envy
to dislike - dislike
to hate - to hate
to fear - to be afraid
to hope - hope
to love - to love
to like - like
to mind - remember
to regret - regret
to want - want
to prefer - prefer
to wish - wish

measurements

to contain - contain
to hold - keep
to measure - measure
to cost - cost
to weigh - weigh
Other
To look - in the meaning of "to have a resemblance"
to be - to be
to seem - look
to have - in the meaning of "possess something"

Video about Present Continuous

The present continuous tense of any verb consists of two parts - present tense of the verb to be + present participle (-ing form of the verb).

(Formation of the participle in the present tense: stem+ing, e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling)

Examples: TO GO, Present Continuous

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
I am going	I am not going	Am I going?
You are going	You aren't going.	Are you going?
He, she, it is going	He, she, it isn't going	Is he, she, it going?
We are going	We aren't going	Are we going?
You are going	You aren't going	Are you going?
They are going	They aren't going	Are they going?

note: alternative negative constructs: I "m not going, you" re not going, he "s not going etc.

Functions of the Present Continuous

As in all tenses in English, speaker's attitude is as important as the time of the action or event. When someone uses the present continuous tense, they always think of something that not yet completed or not complete

The present continuous tense is used:

to describe the action that is currently happening: You are using the Internet. You are studying English grammar.
to describe an action that lasts for a given period of time, or when something is trending: Are you still working for the same company? More and more people are becoming vegetarian.
to describe an action or event in the future that has already been planned or prepared: We're going on holiday tomorrow. I"m meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visiting you next winter?
to describe a temporary event or situation: He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment.
with the words "always, forever, constantly" to describe and emphasize a series of repetitive actions: Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're constantly complaining about your mother-in-law!

BE CAREFUL! Some verbs are not used in continuous form

Verbs that are not used in continued form

The verbs listed below are usually used in the present form because they refer more to states rather than actions or processes.

Feelings / Perceptions

to feel*
to hear
to see*
to smell
to taste

Opinion

to assume
to believe
to consider
to doubt
to feel (= to think)
to find (= to consider)
to suppose
to think*

mental states

to forget
to imagine
to know
to mean
to notice
to recognize
to remember
to understand

Emotions / desires

to envy
to fear
to dislike
to hate
to hope
to like
to love
to mind
to prefer
to regret
to want
to wish

Measurement

to contain
to cost
to hold
to measure
to weigh

Other

to look (=resemble)
to seem
to be (in most cases)
to have (when it means "to possess")*

Exceptions

Perception verbs (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) are often used with can: I can see... These verbs can have a continued form, but with a different meaning.

This coat feels nice and warm.(your perception of the coat's qualities)
John's feeling much better now(his health is improving)
She has three dogs and a cat.(possession)
She's having super.(She's eating)
I can see Anthony in the garden(perception)
I "m seeing Anthony later(We are planning to meet)

Good afternoon friends! Today, I and the English teacher, Ekaterina, would like to discuss with you the topic “The present continuous tense in English” - The Present Continuous (Progressive) Tense. Using this grammatical concept as an example, it is easy to imagine how much time is valued in Great Britain, the birthplace of British.

From this article you will learn:

General rule

In Russian, this is the usual present tense, like English. There is no difference in the translation of the verbs.

When to apply - it is clear how the predicate changes in such expressions? Consider the affirmative, interrogative and negative statements and analyze examples.

We observe and tell

The declarative statements in the grammatical structure under consideration, as usual, have a clear structure:

Subject + predicate + secondary members

Read carefully the conjugations given in the table:

I	am	playing	Lego	now
He She It	is	writing	the letter	now
You We They	are	helping	about the house	now

What did you notice when analyzing the examples by the members of the sentence? Of course, in them the predicate consists of two verbs at the same time! Now it remains to remember that am / is / are are forms of the auxiliary verb to be. See how simple it is:

man + to be + Ving + everything else

Let's practice

Let's try to do a simple exercise: I offer you a set of words, and your task is to make sentences out of them in Present Progressive. The word order will be changed and am/is/are and the ending ing will be added. Use the diagrams and examples we have already covered.

Ready? Let's start:

Do, my son, now, homework, his.
Dinner, at the moment, cook, I.
My friends, film, an interesting, now, watch.
Check if you got it right:
My son is doing his homework now.
I am cooking dinner at the moment.
My friends are watching an interesting film now.

What is happening now?

Of course, you remember that in order to ask a question, you need to put an assistant verb at the beginning of the sentence before the subject. This rule is also preserved for Present Continuous. We have already found assistants, this is am/is/are. Here we will move them to the beginning:

Are you walking in the street at the moment?
Is she playing the piano now?

Dealt with questions. Here it is worth clarifying that it is customary to answer them briefly:

Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
Yes, she is. / No, she is not.
Yes, we are. / No, we are not.

The pattern is easy to see, we act according to the rules and nothing more.

No, no, what are you!

Negative expressions do not differ at all from affirmative ones, you just need to add not after the helpers:

I'm not reading now.
look! He is not (isn't) writing.
They are not (aren't) watching TV.

Whatever the expression, the ing ending of the word denoting action does not disappear anywhere.

Now you can easily use The Present Progressive time, it remains only to practice exercises with native speakers in the courses, and you can safely go on a trip to Europe!

Subscribe to my blog, find even more useful articles and rules, and you will also receive as a gift, completely free of charge, an excellent basic phrasebook in three languages, English, German and French. Its main advantage is that there is a Russian transcription, therefore, even without knowing the language, you can easily master colloquial phrases.

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Present Progressive (Present Continuous) tense- present long time. In most cases, this time indicates that the action is happening right now. For us Russians, Present Continuous may seem too difficult to understand at first. This is not surprising, because in Russian there are no such tenses of the verb. For example, the sentence “I play the balalaika” in Russian may mean that I am playing now or playing at all (I know how to play). In English, these are two different sentences. However, some verbs in different situations are also used in different ways.

In general terms: if we want to say that an action is happening right now, then we use the Present Continuous (Present Progressive) form. But this is not the only case of using this temporary form. But more on that later. Let's answer the question first - How is Present Progressive (Continuous) formed?

Education Present Continuous: elementary rules and examples

The Present Progressive is formed quite simply: we take the verb to be, put it in the form corresponding to the subject (we change it in accordance with the subject - I am, he is, my mother is and so on) and add the verb corresponding to the specific action (in question) with the ending ing, which is "attached" to its base.

Too difficult? Let's look at a diagram illustrating this process.

Still unclear? Okay, let's look at examples. To do this, take the verb to think- think. Since it ends in a consonant, then adding ing will not discard anything, that is, we get - thinking. If we want to say "I'm thinking" (about something at the moment), then we get - I am thinking. Now with other faces:

The negative and interrogative forms are formed very simply:

Interrogative form	negative form

Am I think ing? - I think?	I am don't think ing. - I don't think (I'm not thinking.)
Are you think ing? - You think?	You are don't think ing. - You do not think. (You aren't thinking.)
Is he think ing? - He thinks?	He is don't think ing. He doesn't think. (He isn't thinking.)
Is she think ing? - She thinks?	She is don't think ing. She doesn't think. (She isn't thinking.)
Is it think ing? Does it think?	It is don't think ing. It doesn't think. (It isn't thinking.)
Are we think ing? - We are thinking?	We are don't think ing. We don't think. (We're not thinking.)
Are they thinki ng? - They think?	They are don't think ing. They don't think. (They aren't thinking.)

Rules for using Present Continuous and examples

The formation of the Present Continuous form is quite simple. The most difficult thing is the correct use of this form. The bottom line is that there are several cases when it is necessary to use the Present Continuous tense, and not any other tense. Briefly, all these cases are indicated using the diagram:

This scheme is not yet completely clear to us, but it will be useful in order to quickly recall the main uses of the present progressive.

So, Present Continuous is used:

1. Designation of what is happening or not happening now, at the moment (now, at the moment).

I'm studying the present continuous . - I study the present for a long time.
I'm not watching TV at the moment. — I am not watching TV at the moment.
I'm sitting now.- Now I'm sitting.
I'm using the Internet. — I use the Internet.
We're talking about life. We are talking about life.
She's not listening to me. She doesn't listen to me (now).

2. Designation of what is happening now in the broadest sense of the word - today, this month, this year, and so on. Temporary situations that we feel or know will not last.

I am studying to become a teacher. — I study to be a teacher (for example, 5 years).
Are you working on any special projects at work? Are you (now) working on some work project?
I'm living in Moscow for a few months. — I have been living in Moscow for several months.
I'm reading a great book. I am reading a wonderful book (Now, these days. Reading a book is a long process).
He's living with his mother until he finds an apartment. He lives with his mother until he finds an apartment.

3. Recent or temporary habits that have not always existed.

My father is smoking too much . (He used to smoke less or not at all.)
My cat's eating a lot these days . (She didn't eat that much before.)

4. Repetitive, annoying actions, habits using always, constantly, forever:

I don't like him because he is always complaining.
They're forever being late.
My sister is always losing her keys.

5. Plans for the near future

I'm leaving at 5 am. — I leave at 5 am.
Are you visiting your parents next weekend? Will you visit your parents next weekend?
I am not going to the party tonight. - I'm not going to the party tonight.

6. Changing the situation (usually slow) - little by little, gradually etc.

My son is getting better at playing the guitar.
The weather is improving.

These were all the rules for the formation and use of the present continuous (the present progressive).

Present continuous tense - Present Continuous Tense of the English language, which is used in the following cases:

To describe temporary situations or states

We are staying at the Grand Hotel at present. We are currently staying at the Grand Hotel.

She is living in Moscow now (but she usually lives in Saint Petersburg) - She now lives in Moscow (but she usually lives in St. Petersburg).

He is working as a manager now, but he usually works as a teacher. He works as a manager now, but usually he works as a teacher.

In other words, if the action istime span, then you need to use the time Present Continuous to describe this action. It is this time that will show that the action NOT ALWAYS and will change soon.

Dialogue on the phone:

“Hi Jack, what are you doing?” - "Hello Jack! What are you doing/What are you doing?”

Hello Bob! I’m just watching some funny videos” – “Hi Bob. I just watch funny videos."

To describe repetitive actions with the adverb “ALWAYS”, if you need to express irritation and criticism:

She's always interrupting me! She always interrupts me!

They're always making mistakes! They always make mistakes!

To describe scheduled events in the near future:

The Browns are visiting us tonight (It's all arranged). – The Browns are coming to visit us tonight (the meeting is scheduled)

I'm leaving at 7 o'clock (I've already bought tickets). I am leaving at seven o'clock (I have already bought tickets).

The meaning of the future tense, in which Present Continuous is used, practically has the same meaning when in Russian the present tense is used in the meaning of the future:

I'm meeting a friend tonight.

"meet" - the present tense of the verb, but the action will take place only in the future!

Use the Present Continuous in the meaning of the future, when you are at everything 100 % you know that this action will take place, that is, for example, you have already bought tickets, you have already made an appointment, etc.

To describe changing or developing situations or states:

His English is getting better. – His English is getting better.

The weather is becoming worse. - The weather is getting worse.

Temporal expressions that are used in Present Continuous time:

now - now

At the moment - at the moment

Always - always (only to express irritation, criticism, discontent)

Tonight - tonight

At present - currently

Nowadays - nowadays

The form of the verb in Present Continuous

affirmative proposals. positive sentences

Affirmative sentences use the verb to be in present time(am, is, are) and the main verb with the ending–ing :

I am reading the book now. – I am reading a book now.

He is listening to his sisters at the moment. - At the moment he listens to his sisters.

We are leaving in the evening. - We're leaving in the evening.

In other words, the form of the main verb does not change in any person.(always with the ending -ing -reading, writing, going, speaking), only the auxiliary verb changes to be according to the person and number of the subject.

negative suggestions. negative sentences.

In negative sentences, you must use the particle"not" after the verb to be (am, is, are) + main verb with ending–ing.

I'm not running a marathon. - I don't run a marathon.

We are not going to the gym. We are not going to the gym/We are not going to the gym.

In negative sentences, the form of the main verb also does not change, only the particle is added"not" after the verb to be.

Interrogative sentences. Questions.

In interrogative sentences, the verb to be (am, is, are) brought forward and placedBEFORE subject. The main verb does not change, remains in the same form, with the ending–ing:

For a detailed analysis, study the verb conjugation table to read (read) in Present Continuous time in all three types of sentences:

positive sentences

negative sentences

Questions

full form

short form

full form

short form

I am reading

You are reading

He is reading

She is reading

It is reading

We are reading

They are reading

I'm reading

You're reading

He's reading

She's reading

It's reading

We're reading

They're reading

I am not reading

You are not reading

He is not reading

She is not reading

It is not reading

We are not reading

They are not reading

I'm not reading

You aren't reading

He isn't reading

She isn't reading

It isn't reading

We aren't reading

They aren't reading

Am I reading?

Are you reading?

Is he reading?

Is she reading?

Is it reading?

Are we reading?

Are they reading?

When the verb ends in one vowel , located between two consonants, it is necessary double last consonant and add ending–ing:

S w i m - swi mm ing

S i t – si tt ing

S t i r – sti rr ing

If the verb ends with a letter–e , so when adding the ending–ing, the letter –e is not written:

Write-e-write-ing

Driv e–driving

Pay attention to the spelling of these verbs:

L ie–l y ing

Die-dying

State verbs

Verbs that describe a permanent state are called in English − state verbs. These verbs are usuallynot usedin Present Continuous time. These verbs include the following:

Feeling verbs:

See - see

Hear - to hear

Smell - to smell, smell

Feel - to feel

Taste - to taste

Hurt - to hurt, hurt

Remember! Verbs to hurt and feel can be used as in the form simple , and in the continuous form:

John feels/is feeling worse today. John feels worse today.

How are you feeling? / How do you feel ? - How do you feel?

My leg hurts/is hurting. - I have a pain in my leg.

Opinion verbs:

agree - agree

Believe - believe

Consider - consider

Emotion verbs:

Forgive - forgive

Hate - to hate

Like - like, love

love - to love

Appear (=seem) – meaning to appear

Be - to be

belong - to belong

Fit - fit

Have - to have

Know - know

Need - need

Require - require

Want - want

Weight - weigh

Wish - wish

But it is important to remember that some of these verbs can still be used in the Present Continuous, but in this case, there is a difference in meaning. Pay attention to the following suggestions:

Stative verbs (Static verbs)	Action verbs (action verbs)
I think she's famous. - I think (or I believe) that she is famous.	I'm thinking about your ideas. – I am considering your idea (at the moment, there is a thought process)
He has a dog. - He has a dog (or he owns a dog).	He is having dinner. - He's having dinner. ( have dinner - a stable expression, so in this case the verb to have can be used in the Continuous form, as it is part of stable expression. When the verb to have used in the sense of belonging, that is,"I have a dog" , in which case we do not have the right to use it in the Continuous form)
I see you are in trouble. - I understand (or I see) you're in trouble.	I'm seeing my doctor today. - I am dating with my doctor today. (The meaning of the verb to see in the Continuous form will be - to see someone, to meet)
Ann is very kind. - Anya is very good. (unchanging state, she is always very kind	Ann is being very kind today. Anya is very kind today. (Usually Anya is an angry girl, but today her behavior has changed and she was very kind.)

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