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The Present Continuous Tense

The document discusses the present continuous tense. It defines the present continuous tense as describing actions that are happening at the time of speaking or around the present time. Some key uses of the present continuous include talking about temporary actions or changes happening now. The document provides examples of forming the present continuous in the affirmative, negative, and interrogative. It also discusses spelling rules for verbs ending in letters like 'e' or consonants when forming the present continuous ('-ing') form of verbs. Finally, it notes that some verbs describing states like 'know' or 'want' are not usually used in the continuous tense.

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156 views

The Present Continuous Tense

The document discusses the present continuous tense. It defines the present continuous tense as describing actions that are happening at the time of speaking or around the present time. Some key uses of the present continuous include talking about temporary actions or changes happening now. The document provides examples of forming the present continuous in the affirmative, negative, and interrogative. It also discusses spelling rules for verbs ending in letters like 'e' or consonants when forming the present continuous ('-ing') form of verbs. Finally, it notes that some verbs describing states like 'know' or 'want' are not usually used in the continuous tense.

Uploaded by

IanDragoneVenegas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE PRESENT

CONTINUOUS TENSE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

DEFINITION:
We use the present continuous when often the
action is happening at the time of speaking.

Please be quiet. Im working.


Lets go out now. It isnt raining any more.
Im tired. Im going to bed now. Good night!
Wheres Margaret? Shes having a bath.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
But the action is not necessarily happening at the
time of speaking. We use the present continuous
when we talk about things happening in a period
around now (for example, today / this week /
this evening etc.):

Youre working hard today.

Is Susan working this week? No, shes on holiday.


We use the present continuous when we talk about changes
happening around now, but maybe not at the moment of
speaking, things are temporary:

The population of the world is rising very fast.

Is your English getting better?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
AFFIRMATIVE
We make the Present Continuous with:

Subject + be +(not) + verb + ing


gerund
POSITIVE
Im working at the moment.
You/We/Theyre looking for a job.
He/She/Its waiting for you.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
NEGATIVE
NEGATIVE
Im not driving very fast.
You/We/They arent watching TV.
He/She/It isnt working now.
The children arent playing in the garden
now.
You can turn the television off. Im not
watching it.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
INTERROGATIVE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
INTERROGATIVE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
INTERROGATIVE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
INTERROGATIVE
QUESTION
WORD
PRESENT
CONTINUOUS

AUXILIARY

SUBJECT

VERB

WHERE AM

GOING?

WHY

SHE

WATCHING
TV?

IS

Rules for spelling the gerund


(verb+ing)
SPELLING RULES:

1. Verbs that end in e drop it: -e


Make
making
write
Come
coming
dance

eing
writing
dancing

2. Verbs that end in ie change it: -ie


ying
Die
dying
tie
tying
Lie
lying
3. Verbs that end in a vowel + a consonant double
this consonant: p
pp
Stop
stopping
sit
sitting
Swim
swimming
run
running

Exercises:

Exercises:

Exercises:

Exercises:

Exercises:

Exercises:

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
We use continuous tenses only for actions
and happenings. Some verbs are not action
verbs, but they describe states (the
physical/mental condition of sb.)
The following verbs are not normally used in
continuous tenses, but in simple tenses:
Like, love, hate, want, need, prefer, know,
realise, suppose, mean, understand, believe,
remember, belong, contain, consist, depend,
seem

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Examples:
Im hungry. I want something to eat. (not
Im wanting)
Do you understand what I mean?
Ann doesnt seem very happy at the
moment.

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