The Present Tense Continuous

Este folosit cu:

1 Actiuni care au loc in momentul vorbirii (nu este necesara, dr este posibila adaugarea unor
cuvinte si expresii precum: now, right now, just now, at this moment etc.):

John is taking a bath (right now). It is raining.

2 Actiuni neterminate care nu au loc neaparat in momentul vorbirii, dar care sunt percepute de
vorbitor ca continue 10510w2217k pe o perioada de timp mai indelungata:

She is reading a novel by Henry James. I am teaching geometry this year.

3 Cu verbe de stare pentru a face diferenta intre o actiune limitata in timp fata de o actiune de
mai lunga durata:

I am living in Paris (= this year, for a while). I live in Paris (= my permanent residence is there)

4 Cu actiuni de foarte scurta durata care se rapeta in momentul vorbirii:

He is jumping. Somebody is knocking at the door.

5 Pentru a exprima un plan imediat (este intotdeauna asociat cu expresii temporale):

They are leaving tomorrow. She is meeting Tom at the station at 7 o'clock.

6 Cu actiuni care au inceput inainte de un anumit moment in timp si care vor continua si dupa
aceea:

At 8 we are having breakfast. (We have breakfast at 8 =we start breakfast at 8).

7 Pentru a exprima un eveniment dramatic (de obicei in asociere cu Present Tense Indefinite):

1
When they get there and unlock the door they see a girl sitting at the desk in the dark room. She seems
very preoccupied and does not see the two men entering the room.

Nota 1: Singurul adverb de frecventa care poate fi folosit cu Present Tense Continuous este always, dar
numai in urmatoarele cazuri:

8 Cand o actiune il deranjaza sau I se pare nerezonabila vorbitorului:

My husband is always going to footbal matches on Sunday. (=ceea ce inseamna ca sotul nu se duce
neaparat in fiecare duminica la meci, dar aceasta actiune se intampla prea des in opinia sotiei si acest
lucru o deranjaza)

9 Cu o actiune aparent continua, pentru a arata aprobarea sau dezaprobarea vorbitorului

(depinde de context):

That girl is always reading.

Nota 2: Exista anumite verbe care nu pot fi folosite la Present Tense Continuous:

Ø Verbe ale simturilor (numai cand exprima actiuni involuntare): feel, hear, see, smell, notice,
observe (=notice), si feel, look, taste folosite ca verbe de legatura ( - The water feels cold)

Ø Verbe care exprima sentimente sau emotii: admire, adore, appreciate, care for (=like), desire,
detest, dislike, fear, hate, like, loathe, love, mind, respect, value, want, wish etc. (Totusi, unele dintre
aceste verbe pot fi folosite cu aspectul continuu atunci cand au un alt inteles: admire=look at with
admiration, appreciate=to increase in value, care for=look after etc.)

Ø Verbe care exprima o activitate mentala: agree, appreciate(=understand), assume, belive, expect,
feel(=think), feel sure/certain, forget, know, mean, perceive, realize, recall, recognize, recollect,
remember, see(=understand), suppose, think(=have an opinion), trust(=belive/have confidence),
understand.

Ø Verbe de posesie: belong, owe, own, possess.

Ø Auxilialele, cu exceptia lui be si have (in anumite situatii).

Ø Cu: appear(=seem), concern, consist, contain, hold(=contain), keep(=continue), matter, seem,

signify, sound(seem/appear).

Ø *** Verbul feel nu se foloseste la Present Tense Continuous cand are sensul de "try to find
something by touching" sau cand e urmat de adverbe precum "angry/pleased, happy/sad, hot/cold,
tense/relaxed, nervous/confident etc.