Present Progressive(also called continuous) - Use

1) actions happening at the moment of speaking

Peter is reading a book now.

2) fixed plan in the near future

She is going to Basel on Saturday.

3) temporary actions

His father is working in Rome this month.

4) actions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions)

My friend is preparing for his exams.

5) trends

More and more people are using their computers to listen to music.

6) repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Andrew is always coming late.

Signal words
now, at the moment, Look! Listen!

Form
to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + -ing

Examples
Affirmative sentences: I am playing football. I'm playing football. Negative sentences: I am not playing football. I'm not playing football. You are not playing football. You're not playing football. You aren't playing football. You are playing football. You're playing football.

Questions: Am I playing football? Are you playing football?

Present Continuous Tense

I am singing We often use the present continuous tense in English. It is very different from the simple present tense, both in structure and in use. Continuous tenses are also called progressive tenses. So the present progressive tense is the same as the present continuous tense.

How do we make the Present Continuous Tense? The structure of the present continuous tense is: subject + auxiliary verb + main verb be base + ing Look at these examples: subject + + ? ? I You She We Is Are auxiliary verb am are is are he they not not main verb speaking reading staying playing watching waiting to you. this. in London. football. TV? for John?

How do we use the Present Continuous Tense? We use the present continuous tense to talk about:

action happening now action in the future

Present continuous tense for action happening now a) for action happening exactly now I am eating my lunch. past present future

The action is happening now. Look at these examples. Right now you are looking at this screen and at the same time...

...the pages are turning.

...the candle is burning.

...the numbers are spinning.

b) for action happening around now The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after now, and it is not permanent or habitual.
John is going out with Mary. past present future

The action is happening around now.

Look at these examples:

Muriel is learning to drive. I am living with my sister until I find an apartment.

Present continuous tense for the future We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future - if we add a future word!! We must add (or understand from the context) a future word. "Future words" include, for example, tomorrow, next year, in June, at Christmas etc. We only use the present continuous tense to talk about the future when we have planned to do something before we speak. We have already made a decision and a plan before speaking. I am taking my exam next month.
past present future

A firm plan or programme exists now.

The action is in the future.

Look at these examples:

We're eating in a restaurant tonight. We've already booked the table.. They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working. When are you starting your new job?

In these examples, we have a firm plan or programme before speaking. The decision and plan were made before speaking.

How do we spell the Present Continuous Tense? We make the present continuous tense by adding -ing to the base verb.

Normally it's simple - we just add -ing. But sometimes we have to change the word a little. Perhaps we double the last letter, or we drop a letter. Here are the rules to help you know how to spell the present continuous tense. Just add -ing to the base verb: work play Basic rule assist see be > > > assisting seeing being > > working playing

If the base verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the last letter: s t o p stressed consonant consonant vowel (vowels = a, e, i, o, u) Exception 1 stop run begin > > > stopping running beginning

Note that this exception does not apply when the last syllable of the base verb is not stressed: open > opening

If the base verb ends in ie, change the ie to y: Exception 2 lie die > > lying dying

If the base verb ends in vowel + consonant + e, omit the e: Exception 3 come mistake > > coming mistaking

Present Continuous Tense Quiz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Is

they coming over for dinner?

is

Maxwell

not sleeping on our sofa.

stay

My mother-in-law is I
eat

at our house this week.

my dinner right now.

learn

My sister I
w ork

Spanish. at the hair salon until September. at a fancy restaurant tonight. Jason decided this yesterday.
start

We

eat

When do you They are Melissa is

your new art class? a new record shop downtown. down on her bed.

opening

lieing

Present Continuous Tense Quiz ANSWER

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Are

is

staying

am eating

is learning

am w orking

are eating

start

opening

lying

Comparison Simple Present - Present Progressive/Continuous Test - 2

Your Test

-1

A) Which actions - which

tenses?
true 1

1) Which of the following actions is in the fixed arrangement spontaneous action in the future things in general

Present Progressive?
true true true

2) Which of the following actions is in the Present Progressive?

true
true true

action happening at the moment of speaking recently completed action repeated actions

1 true true

3) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present? action was in progress at special time in the past fixed arrangement in the near future spontaneous action in the future

true

1
true true true

4) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present? fixed arrangement in the future result of an action in the past is important in the present things in general

5) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present? action finished in the past action happening at the moment of speaking repeated actions

true
true true

1 true

6) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present? action beginning in the past and still continuing plan in the future repeated actions in the present

true
true

B) Fill in the verbs in the Simple Present or the Present Progressive.

true 1

1)

true

true

true

true

The flowers
1

beautiful. (to smell) 2)

true true true true

I usually as a language

as a teacher in Germany, but this summer I assistant in Rome. (to work)

1

3)

true

true

true

true

The bus to

New York
1

at 6.30. (to leave) 4)

true true true true

Listen! They

home. (to come)

1

5) you

true

true

true

true

Hey! What

there? (to do)

true true true true

6)

Right now

Christine
1

on the computer. (to work) 7)

true true true true

John often

sugar in his coffee. (to take) 8) thirsty. (to be)

1 true true true true

9)

true

true

true

true

My history

teacher
1

too much. (to talk) 10)

true true true true

Anne

red hair. (to have)

C) Which answers are correct?

1

true

1) Which sentences/questions are in the Simple Anne is always coming late. First I get up then I have breakfast. He's just finished the letter. I was having breakfast. I'm here. She lives in Sofia.

Present?
true true true

true
true true

2) Which sentences/questions are in the Present Progressive?

true true true true

He had a shower in the morning. He was sitting on the beach. He's having a shower. I don't think so. We're thinking of buying a new car.

true

3) What are typical signal words for the Present Progressive?

true true

Listen! Look! ago

true

true true

at the moment just never now yet

true
true true

1 true true

4) What are typical signal words for the Simple Present? already at the moment every day last week normally now seldom usually

true
true true true

true
true

D) Which sentences are correct?

1

true

1) Which sentence is correct? I love holidays. I'm loving every minute of my holiday.

true
true

1 true true

2) Which sentence is correct? I am thinking we should go. I think we should go.

3) Which sentence is correct? I see what the teacher means.

true

true

I'm seeing what the teacher means.

1 true

4) Which sentence is correct? I am tasting the soup. The soup tastes good.

true

1
true true

5) Which sentence is correct? She is weighing the turkey. She weighs 60 kilos.

1 true true

6) Which sentence is correct? I am remembering my first date. I remember my first day at school.

7) Which sentence is correct? I feel fine. I'm feeling fine.

true
true

1 true true

8) Which sentence is correct? You are being very silly about this. You are silly.

9) Which sentence is correct? I am needing an umbrella now. I need a new computer.

true
true

E) Fill in the correct verb forms.

true

1) Hey John!

true

about

Peggy?
1

2) We 3) I 4)

true

music in the street. his brother is football-crazy. in ghosts?

true

true

5) He mother comes back from China.

1

true

with his grandmother until his

6)

true

with you.
true

7) This cake 8) He
true

wonderful. the newspaper at the moment.

9) My father

true

tea for breakfast.

true

10) I have to go now.

dark.

Comparison Simple Present - Present Progressive/Continuous Test - 2

Your Test - Answer A) Which actions - which tenses? 1) Which of the following actions is in the Present Progressive? Correct Answer: fixed arrangement 2) Which of the following actions is in the Present Progressive? Correct Answer: action happening at the moment of speaking

3) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present? Correct Answer: fixed arrangement in the near future 4) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present? Correct Answer: things in general 5) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present? Correct Answer: repeated actions 6) Which of the following actions is in the Simple Present? Correct Answer: repeated actions in the present

B) Fill in the verbs in the Simple Present or the Present Progressive. 1) The flowers smell beautiful. 2) I usually work as a teacher in Germany, but this summer I am working as a language assistant in Rome. 3) The bus to New York leaves at 6.30. 4) Listen! They are coming home. 5) Hey! What are you doing there? 6) Right now Christine is working on the computer. 7) John often takes sugar in his coffee. 8) I am thirsty. 9) My history teacher talks too much. 10) Anne has red hair.

C) Which answers are correct? 1) Which sentences/questions are in the Simple Present? Correct Answers: I'm here., She lives in Sofia., First I get up then I have breakfast., 2) Which sentences/questions are in the Present Progressive? Correct Answers: He's having a shower., We're thinking of buying a new car. 3) What are typical signal words for the Present Progressive? Correct Answers: Look!, Listen!, now, at the moment

4) What are typical signal words for the Simple Present? Correct Answers: usually, seldom, normally, every day

D) Which sentences are correct? 1) Which sentence is correct? Correct Answers: I love holidays., I'm loving every minute of my holiday. 2) Which sentence is correct? Correct Answers: I think we should go. 3) Which sentence is correct? Correct Answers: I see what the teacher means. 4) Which sentence is correct? Correct Answers: The soup tastes good., I am tasting the soup. 5) Which sentence is correct? Correct Answers: She weighs 60 kilos., She is weighing the turkey. 6) Which sentence is correct? Correct Answers: I remember my first day at school. 7) Which sentence is correct? Correct Answers: I feel fine., I'm feeling fine. 8) Which sentence is correct? Correct Answers: You are silly., You are being very silly about this. 9) Which sentence is correct? Correct Answers: I need a new computer.

E) Fill in the correct verb forms. 1) Hey John! Are you thinking about Peggy? 2) We hear music in the street. 3) I think his brother is football-crazy.

4) Does your little brother believe in ghosts? 5) He is living with his grandmother until his mother comes back from China. 6) I agree with you. 7) This cake tastes wonderful. 8) He is reading the newspaper at the moment. 9) My father prefers tea for breakfast. 10) I have to go now. It's getting dark.