PRESENT CONTINUOUS

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!

BE CAREFUL! Some verbs are not usually used in the 

continuous form

FORMING THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

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?

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?

EXCEPTIONS

Perception verbs (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) are often used with can: I can see... These verbs may be used in the continuous 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 supper. (She's eating)
• I can see Anthony in the garden (perception)
• I'm seeing Anthony later (We are planning to meet)

EXERCICES

Positive Sentences - Part 1

Choose the correct present progressive form.

1. Look! Andy am workingare workingis working in the garden.
2. I am watchingare watchingis watching TV at the moment.
3. We am readingare readingis reading a book.
4. She am playingare playingis playing the piano.
5. Listen! Sue and John am singingare singingis singing.

Positive Sentences - Part 2

Put the verbs into present progressive.

1. My sister (to clean)  the bathroom.
2. Look! They (to go)  inside.
3. I (to wait)  in the car now.
4. Mrs Miller (to listen)  to CDs.
5. We (to speak)  English at the moment.

Exceptions

Choose the correct form. Note that there are exceptions in spelling when adding 'ing.'

1. His brother is writeingis writingare writing a test at the moment.
2. They (to swim)  in the pool.
3. Look! David and Max (to come)  home.
4. My dog Charlie is runingis runningare running to the park.
5. I (to make)  breakfast now.

Negative Sentences

Rewrite the sentences using the negative forms.

1. We are playing a game. 
2. I'm drawing a picture. 
3. He is making pizza right now. 
4. Susan and her brother are taking photos. 
5. Dad is working in the kitchen. 

Questions and Signal Words

Write questions in present progressive.

1. Robin / to ride / his bike - 
2. where / she / to go - ___________
3. what / your mother / to do / now - __________

https://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/present-continuous/

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests/present-progressive-1