The Present Continuous Tense

The Present Continuous Tense - When to use 1. We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening now. Examples The kids are watching TV. I am sitting down, because I am tired. I am not learning German, because this is an English class. Who are you writing to? 2. We can also use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening around now, and not necessarily this very moment. Examples Sally is studying really hard for her exams this week. I am reading a really interesting book now. How are you brushing up on your English for the trip? We aren't working hard these days. 3. The Present Continuous Tense is also used to talk about activities happening in the near future, especially for planned future events. Examples I am seeing my dentist on Wednesday. Polly is coming for dinner tomorrow. Are you doing anything tonight? We aren't going on holiday next week.

Present Continuous - Practice What uses of the Present Continuous Tense do these sentences have? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

I am playing football tonight. I can't play with you now. I am finishing my homework. Where are you studying? What are you doing these days? Working? Sally is taking a bath. What are you doing at the weekend? Peter and Mary are going out. They met at Adam's party last week.

Forming the Present Continuous Tense

Introduction

The present continuous tense (also called the present progressive tense) is commonly used in English for actions happening right now, or in the future. This page will explain the rules for forming the tense with regular verbs.

Forming the present continuous tense This tense is formed using two components: the verb BE (in the present tense), and the -ING form of a verb. Here are the rules, using the example verb "sing":

Subject

BE

-ING FORM

I

am

singing

You

are

singing

He

is

singing

She

is

singing

It

is

singing

We

are

singing

They

are

singing

How to make the -ING form With many verbs, the you can simply add -ING to the end of the verb. However, with some verbs, you need to change the ending a little. Here are the rules:

Verb ending in...

How to make the -ING form

Examples

1 vowel + 1 consonant

Double the consonant, then add -ING

swim swimming hit - hitting get - getting

1 vowel + 1 consonant + E

Remove E, then add -ING

come - coming lose - losing live - living

Add -ING

say - saying go - going walk - walking

[anything else]

If you would like more information on this topic, try one of the pages below. When you are sure you understand clearly, you can click on "First exercise" to continue

Introduction In the present continuous tense, negative forms are made using NOT, and and question forms are made by changing the word order of the sentence. This page explains the rules.

Forming a negative Negatives in the simple present are formed by adding not or n't after the verb BE:

Positive sentence

Negative sentence

Contracted negative

I am eating.

I am not eating.

I'm not eating.

You are working.

You are not working.

You aren't working.

He is driving.

He is not driving.

He isn't driving.

She is teaching.

She is not teaching.

She isn't teaching.

It is raining.

It is not raining.

It isn't raining.

We are reading.

We are not reading.

We aren't reading.

They are writing.

They are not writing.

They aren't writing.

Forming a question Yes/no questions are created by moving the verb BE to the beginning of the sentence. WH-questions are formed by moving the verb BE, and then adding the WH- word. Here are the rules:

Statement

Yes/no question

Wh- question

I am eating.

Am I eating?

What am I eating?

You are crying.

Are you crying?

Why are you crying?

He is going.

Is he going?

Where is he going?

She is arriving.

Is she arriving?

When is she arriving?

It is sleeping.

Is it sleeping?

Why is it sleeping?

We are leaving.

Are we leaving?

When are we