Present Continuous Tense
The present continuous (present progressive) tense is a way to convey any action or condition that is happening right now, frequently, and may be ongoing. It adds energy and action to writing, and its effect helps readers understand when the action is happening.
The present continuous (sometimes called the present progressive) tense in English is really easy to make and is the same for all verbs. We make it using the present simple of ‘be’ + verb-ing or the present continuous of any verb is composed of two parts – the present tense of the verb to be + the present participle of the main verb.
| Affirmative | ||
| Subject | + to be | + base + ing |
| She | Is | Talking. |
| Negative | ||
| Subject | + to be + not | + base + ing |
| She | is not (isn’t) | talking |
| Interrogative | ||
| to be | + subject | + base + ing |
| Is | She | Talking? |
FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
As with all tenses in English, the speaker’s attitude is as important as the time of the action or event. When someone uses the present continuous, they are thinking about something that is unfinished or incomplete
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS IS USED:
- to describe an action that is going on at this moment: You are using the Internet. You are studying English grammar.
- to describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend: Are you still working for the same company? More and more people are becoming vegetarian.
- to describe an action or event in the future, which 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 “always, forever, constantly”, to describe and emphasise a continuing series of repeated actions: Harry and Sally are always arguing! You’re constantly complaining about your mother-in-law!
Here is how we make the positive:
| Positive | Positive Short Form |
| I am sleeping | I‘m sleeping |
| you are sleeping | you‘re sleeping |
| he is sleeping | he‘s sleeping |
| she is sleeping | she‘s sleeping |
| it is sleeping | it‘s sleeping |
| we are sleeping | we‘re sleeping |
| they are sleeping | they‘re sleeping |
We can make the negative by adding ‘not’:
| Negative | Negative Short Form |
| I am not sleeping | I‘m not sleeping |
| you are not playing | you aren’t playing |
| he is not reading | he isn’t reading |
| she is not working | she isn’t working |
| it is not raining | it isn’t raining |
| we are not cooking | we aren’t cooking |
| they are not listening | they aren’t listening |
Spoken English in Bhubaneswar, English Mania in Bhubaneswar