PRESENT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

1. Present continuous, form

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
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?

Example: 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.

2. Present continuous, function

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 e.g. 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, e.g.
  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 (See also 'Ways of expressing the future) e.g. 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, e.g. 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, e.g. Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're forever complaining about your mother-in-law!

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

3. Verbs that are not normally used in the continuous form

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

feel*, hear, see*, smell, taste

Opinion

assume, believe, consider, doubt, feel (= think), find (= consider), suppose, think*

Mental states

forget, imagine, know, mean, notice, recognise, remember, understand

Emotions / desires

envy, fear, dislike, hate, hope, like, love, mind, prefer, regret, want, wish

Measurement

contain, cost, hold, measure, weigh

Others

look (=resemble), seem, be (in most cases), have (when it means to possess)*

Notes:

1. 'Perception' verbs (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) are often used with 'can': e.g. I can see...

2. * These verbs may be used in the continuous form but with a different meaning, compare:

a. This coat feels nice and warm. (= your perception of the coat's qualities)
b. John's feeling much better now (= his health is improving)

a. She has three dogs and a cat. (=possession)
b. She's having supper. (= She's eating)

a. I can see Anthony in the garden (= perception)
b. I'm seeing Anthony later (= We are planning to meet)

Examples: Do you like London? (not ‘are you liking’)

                  He doesn’t understand. (not ‘he isn’t understanding’)

                  These shoes belong to me. (not ‘are belonging’)

                  What do you think Tom will do? (= what do you believe he will do?)

                  but : what are you thinking about? (= what is going on in your mind?)      

                  I wish(‘not am wishing’) I was in Greece now.

                  I feel (not’ am feeling’)we are making a mistake.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE EVENTS

1. Present continuous for the future, form
See notes on form in section on Present Continuous.

Subject	+ to be	+ base-ing
She	is	meeting

2. Future: Present continuous for the future, function
The present continuous is used to talk about arrangements for events at a time later than now.
There is a suggestion that more than one person is aware of the event, and that some preparation has already happened. e.g.

a. I'm meeting Jim at the airport = and both Jim and I have discussed this.
b. I am leaving tomorrow. = and I've already bought my train ticket.
c. We're having a staff meeting next Monday = and all members of staff have been told about it.

More examples:

a. Is she seeing him tomorrow?
b. He isn't working next week.
c. They aren't leaving until the end of next year.
d. We are staying with friends when we get to Boston.

Note: in example (a), seeing is used in a continuous form because it means meeting.

BE CAREFUL! The simple present is used when a future event is part of a programme or time-table. Notice the difference between:

a. We're having a staff meeting next Monday.
b. We have a staff meeting next Monday.(= we have a meeting every Monday, it's on the time-table.)

When you are talking about what you have already arranged to do, use the present continuous (I am doing). Do not use the present simple (I do).

-       A : what are you doing tomorrow evening? (not ‘what do you do’)

B : I’m going to he theatre. (not ‘I got’)

-       A : Are you playing football tomorrow?

B : Yes, but Tom isn’t playing. He has hurt his leg

-       A : Ann is coming tomorrow

B : Oh, is she? What time is she arriving ?

A : At 10.15

B : Are you meeting her at the station?

A : I can’t. I’m working tomorrow morning

It is also possible to use going to (do) in these sentences :

-       What are you going to do tomorrow evening?

-       Tom is going to play tennis on Monday afternoon

But the present continuous is usually more natural when you are talking about arrangements

PRESENT CONTINUOUS (I AM DOING)  OR PRESENT SIMPLE (I DO)?

Study this explanation and compare the example :

Present continuous (I am doing) Use the present continuous to talk about something which is happening at or around the time of speaking : I am doing past                      now                   future The kettle is boiling. Can you turn it off, please? Listen to those people. What language are they speaking? ‘where’s Tom?’ ‘He’s playing tennis.’ (you find a stranger in your room) what are you doing here? Please don’t make so much noise. I am studying Silvia is in Britain for three months. She’s learning English. Use the present continuous for a temporary situation : I’m living with some friend until I can find a flat. That medicine isn’t working. It broke down this morning

Present simple (I do) Use the present simple to talk about things in general or things which happen repeatedly : I do past                        now                    future Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Excuse me, do you speak English? Tom plays tennis every Saturday What do you usually do at weekends? What do you do? (=What’s your job?) Most people learn to swim when they are children. Use the present simple for a permanent situation : My parent live in London. They have been there for 20 years That machine doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked for years.