Present Continuous1 Forms

Positive Negative Question

 I am speaking.  I am not speaking.  Am I speaking?

 You are
speaking.
 We are speaking.
 They are
speaking.
 He is speaking.
 She is speaking.
 It is speaking.
 You are not  Are you
speaking. speaking?
 We are not speaking.  Are we speaking?
 They are not  Are they
speaking. speaking?
 He is not speaking.  Is he speaking?
 She is not speaking.  Is she speaking?
 It is not speaking.  Is it speaking?

Verbs not used in the continuous tenses:

1) Verbs of thinking:
to know, to recognize (= a recunoaste), to admire, to understand, to believe, to
want, to see (=to understand) etc.
TO THINK :
give/ask for(= a cere) an opinion
e.g. : What do you think about your new schedule (=program/orar)?
I think it’s too busy.
EXCEPTION:
TO THINK can be used in the progressive tenses in ALL OTHER SITUATIONS.
e.g.: Is he thinking about the project?
No, he’s thinking about his children.

2) Verbs of emotion:
to feel, to love, to hate, to dislike, to like, to miss (= a-i lipsi (cuiva)) etc.
EXCEPTION:
To feel (= physically)
e.g.: Are you feeling ok?

3) Verbs of possession:
To have (=to possess), to possess, to own (= a detine), to owe (= a datora), to
belong (= a apartine) etc.

EXCEPTION: TO HAVE (= all meanings(=intelesuri) but(= mai putin) ‘to possess’)

e.g.: I’m having lunch with Monica today.

1
Continuous = Progressive
 4) Verbs of senses:
to see(= a vedea), to hear (= a auzi), to smell (= a mirosi), to taste (= a gusta)
EXCEPTION:
TO SEE (=to meet, to go out with someone)
e.g.: John is seeing the C.E.O. of Facebook on Friday morning.
e.g.: Romeo, are you seeing Juliet?
Yes, I am.
When the action is done deliberately (= intentionat) by the speaker (vorbitor), the other
sense verbs CAN be used in continuous tenses.
e.g.: I’m smelling some perfumes, I want to choose one for my friend.

5) Various verbs:
to seem (= a părea), to contain (= a contine), to mind (= a deranja), to appear (=a
aparea, a parea etc.), to need (= a avea nevoie) etc. (use a good dictionary:
http://www.oxfordadvancedlearnersdictionary.com/dictionary/seem)