THE PRESENT

CONTINUOUS TENSE
by Svjetlana Torlo

TO FORM PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Subject + to be + verb+ing
Negatives and Questions in the Present Continuous Tense

Statement

Yes/no
question

Wh- question

Negative

I am eating.

Am I eating?

What am I eating?

I am not eating.

You are crying.

Are you crying?

Why are you crying?

You are not crying.

He is going.

Is he going?

Where is he going?

He is not going.

She is arriving.

Is she arriving?

When is she arriving?

She is not arriving.

It is sleeping.

Is it sleeping?

Why is it sleeping?

We are leaving.

Are we leaving?

When are we leaving?

It is not sleeping.

They are arguing.

Are they arguing?

Why are they arguing?

We are not leaving.

They are not
arguing.

SPELLING CHANGES VERB + ING

When a verb ends in a single e, this e is
dropped before -ing: argue-arguing, hatehating,love-loving
except after age, dye and singe (ageing, dyeing
singeing) and verbs ending in ee (agree-agreeing,
see-seeing)
When a verb of one syllable has one vowel and
ends in a single consonant, this consonant is
doubled before ing (hit-hitting, run-running,
stop-stopping)

SPELLING CHANGES VERB + ING

Verbs of two or more syllables whose last syllable
contains only one vowel and ends in a single
consonant double this consonant if the stress
falls on the last syllable (admit-admitting,
begin-beginning, prefer-preferring)
A final -l after a single vowel is, however,
always
doubled
(signal-signalling,
traveltravelling) except in American English!
-ing can be added to a verb ending in -y without
affecting the spelling of the verb (carrycarrying,enjoy-enjoying, hurry-hurrying)

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE - USAGE

o

To talk about particular actions or events that have begun but have not
ended at the time of speaking, we use the present continuous tense:

The car isnt starting again.

I am waiting for a friend. (The wait has begun, and its not over yet.)

The present continuous means that we are in the middle of an action.

We often use time expressions such as at the moment, at present,

currently, just, and still to emphasise that the action or event is
happening now.

We can also use the present continuous tense when we are in the middle
of something, but not actually doing it at the moment of speaking.

Im studying for a test.

We use the present continuous tense or present simple tense to describe
something that we regularly do at a particular time. Compare:
We usually watch the news on TV at 9:00. (= we start watching at 9:00).
Were usually watching the news on TV at 9:00 (= were already
watching at 9:00).

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE - EXAMPLES

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE USAGE (CONTINUED)

o

We use the present continuous to imply that a situation is or may be

temporary. Compare:
Banks lend money to make a profit. (this is what usually happens)
Banks are lending more money (these days) to encourage businesses to
expand (implies a temporary engagement).
We use the present continuous when we talk about changes,
developments, and trends:

The growing number of visitors is damaging the footpaths.

Im beginning to realise how difficult it is to be a teacher.

When we want to emphasize that something is done repeatedly, we use

the present continuous tense with words like always, constantly,
continually, or forever. We often do this when we want to show that
we are unhappy about it, including our own behaviour:

Theyre constantly having parties until the early hours of the morning.

Im always dropping things.

 There is a certain group of verbs that usually

STATIVE
(STATE) VERBS

doesnotappear in theContinuous form. They are called

Stative (State) Verbs, and if used in the Continuous form,
they have a different meaning.

Verbs of the senses (involuntary actions): feel, hear, see,

smell; also notice and observe (= notice), and feel, look,
taste used as link verbs

Verbs expressing feelings and emotions, e.g. admire (=

respect), adore, appreciate (= value), care for (= like),
desire, detest, dislike, fear, hate, like, loathe, love, mind
(= care), respect, value, want, wish

 Verbs of mental activity, e.g. agree, appreciate (=

STATIVE
(STATE) VERBS

understand), assume*, believe, expect* (= think), feel (=

think), feel sure/certain, forget, know, mean, perceive,
realize, recall, recognize, recollect, remember etc.

Verbs of possession: belong, owe, own, possess

Non-Continuous Meanings

feel = 'have an opinion' - He feels he should get a second chance.

see = 'understand' - I see what you mean.
think = 'have an opinion' - I think we should leave immediately.
Continuous Meanings
feel = 'feel physically' - I'm feeling awful this afternoon.
see = 'visit' - She's seeing a doctor this morning.
think = 'use the brain' - He's thinking hard about the problem

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!