Present-Continuous-Tense

Present Continuous/Progressive Tense

The present continuous is mainly used to express the idea that something is happening at the moment of speaking. It also describes activities generally in progress (not at the moment). Another use of the tense is to talk about temporary actions or future plans.

Uses of Present Continuous tense:
• It is used to talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking.
Example.
Yuri is talking with her friends.

• I is also used for activities continuing only for a limited period of time.
Example.
I am riding a bike to get to work because my car is broken.

• It is used to talk about something that takes time to complete.
Examples.
Markova is studying hard to become a doctor.

• It is used to show that something is planned and will be done in the near future.
Example.
He is flying to London in September.

• It is used for expressing tendencies or trends.
Examples.
Our country is getting richer.
The internet is becoming less of novelty.

• It expresses irritation or anger over somebody or something in the present with adverbs such as: always, continually or constantly.
Example.
Sarah is always asking stupid questions.
I don’t like them because they are always complaining.

Sentence Structure of Present Continuous Tense

Structure of Simple Sentence: 
Subject + am/is/are + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + Object
Note: ‘am’ is used with subject ‘I’. ‘is’ is used with ‘he, she, it and 3rd person subjects’. ‘are’ is used with ‘they, you and plural subjects’.

Positive/Simple Sentences:

                   Subject + Helping Verb  +  Verb+ing    +   Object

                  (He               is                    playing        in the hall.)

He is playing in the hall.                She is taking care of her health.
It is Sleeping on the sofa.              They are getting late for school.
We are speaking good English.     You are telling a story.
I am watching T.V.                         Julia is going to school.

Structure of Negative Sentence: 
Subject + am/is/are + not + (1st form of verb + ing) + Object.

Note: ‘am’ is used with subject ‘I’. ‘is’ is used with ‘he, she, it and 3rd person subjects’. ‘are’ is used with ‘they, you and plural subjects’.

Negative Sentences:
                  Subject + Not + Helping Verb  + Verb+ing + Object
                (He          not               is                 playing      in the hall.)
He Is not Playing in the hall.
She Is not Taking care of her health.
It Is not Sleeping on the sofa.
They Are not Getting late for school.
We Are not Speaking good English.
You Are not Telling a story.
I Am not Watching T.V.
Jack Is not Going to school.

Structure of Interrogative Sentence: 
Am/is/are + Subject (1st form of verb + ing) + Object?

Note: ‘am’ is used with subject ‘I’. ‘is’ is used with ‘he, she, it and 3rd person subjects’. ‘are’ is used with ‘they, you and plural subjects’.

Interrogative Sentences:

                 Helping Verb  + Subject +  Verb+ing  +  Object?

                 (Is                         he            playing      in the hall?)
Is He Playing in the hall?
Is She Taking care of her health?
Is It Sleeping on the sofa?
Are They Getting late for school?
Are We Speaking good English?
Are You Telling a story?
Am I Watching T.V?
Is John Going to school?

Note: For ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’, helping verb is used, for ‘I’, “am” is used and for ‘they’, “are” is used in the sentences of present continuous tense and “ing” is added with the verb.

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