Present continuous or present progressive tense

Present Continuous or Present Progressive

Introduction

As with all tenses in English, the speaker's attitude is as important as the time of the action or event.
The present continuous tense is used to show an activity that is in progress or not complete at the time of speaking. The activity started in the past and will go into the future. 

The present continuous is made from the present tense of the verb be and the –ing form of a verb.

Forming

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.

(The form of the present participle is: base+ing, e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling)

Affirmative

S + to be + V(ing)

  • She is talking

Negative

S + to be + not + V(ing)

  • She is not talking

Interrogative

Tobe + S + V(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?

Note: alternative negative contractions: I'm not going, you're not going, he's not going etc.I'm not going, you're not going, he's not going etc.

Present Continuous function

+ 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.
  • I am replying to the letter as soon as I have the time.
  • I'm working in London for the next two weeks.

+ To describe and emphasise something which happens again and again we use with 'always, forever, constantly', 

  • Harry and Sally are always arguing!
  • You're forever complaining about your mother-in-law!
  • It's always raining in London.
  • They are always arguing.
  • George is great. He's always laughing.

+ To describle a changing, growing, developing, or evolving situation.

  • Pollution is causing global warming.
  • They are hailing it as the new wonder drug.
  • A small acorn is growing into a great oak tree
  • The children are growing up quickly.
  • The climate is changing rapidly.
  • Your English is improving.

BE CAREFUL! Some verbs are not used in the continuous form - see below.

Non-continuous Verbs

Non-continuous verbs are verbs that we do not normally use with continuous tenses. These "stative" verbs are about state, not action, and they cannot express the continuous or progressive aspect.
The verbs in the list below are normally used in the simple form, because they refer to states, rather than actions or processes:

List of common verbs normally used in simple form:

+ Senses / Perception

appear, feel, hear, see, seem, smell, sound, taste

+ Opinion/ Thinking/ Mental states
assume, believe, consider, doubt, feel (= think), find (= consider), suppose, think,  imagine, know, mean, realize, recognize, remember, understand, notice, forget

+ Feeling/ Emotions / Desires
hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish, envy, fear, dislike, hope, mind, regret

+ Measurement
contain, cost, hold, measure, weigh
+ communication
agree, deny, disagree, mean, promise, satisfy, surprise

+ Others
look (=resemble), seem, be (in most cases), have (when it means to possess),   belong, concern, depend, involve, matter, need, owe, own, possess
 

 

Examples

  • I wish I was in Greece now.
  • She wants to see him now.
  • I don't understand why he is shouting.
  • I feel we are making a mistake.
  • This glass holds half a litre.


Notes:

+ 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, compare:

Examples

  • 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)