THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS FORMS 1. Affirmative Form = TO BE + Vb-ing Examples: I am listening to the teacher.

Those gentlemen are looking at us. We are taking piano lessons this semester. 2. Negative Form = am not / are not / is not + Verb-ing Examples: I'm not listening to you anymore. She isn't going to school this week. He's not doing his homework, he's playing computer games. 3. Interrogative Form = TO BE + subject + Vb-ing Examples: Are you listening to me? Why is she talking to that girl? Where are we having lunch? !!! Short answers (Yes / No) follow the rule: Adverb + Pronoun Subject + TO BE (auxiliary) Examples: Are you listening to me? > Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. > Yes, she is. / No, she isn't. > Yes, she is going. / No, she isn't going. > Yes, she goes. / No, she doesn't go. Are they going to the conference this afternoon? > Yes, they go. > Yes, they are going. > Yes, they are. !!! There are some verbs which don't have a continuous aspect: modals verbs of intellect (to know, to understand etc.), feeling (to (dis)like, to fear, to respect, to appreciate etc.) and perception (to taste, to smell, to see, to hear, to feel *) * the verbs of perception reject the continuous aspect only when they express an innate feature. When they refer to a mere activity, they can always be continuous. Examples: Can / Do you see that man over there? He's my new boyfriend. Oh, you're seeing him? The keyboard of this old piano feels cold, so I'm not going to play, because I'm not feeling very well either. The verbs to be and to have are not usually used in continuous forms (being and having) when they are a main verb with their basic meaning (be = 'to exist', have = 'to possess'): Examples: These people are among the most disadvantaged in society. (not 'are being') They have a loving family to look after them. (not 'are having') Isn't she going to school this week?

To be and to have are sometimes used as a main verb with a different meaning in a continuous form to emphasise a temporary state or action: She's having a shower at the moment can she call you back? (= 'showering') We're having a great time here in New York. (= 'enjoying our visit') I feel you're not being entirely honest with me. (= 'you're keeping something from me') Being + Adjective is only used with adjectives which describe an attitude or behaviour (honest, patient, etc.), not those describing feelings (happy, sad, etc.). My boss is being awkward about giving me time off. (= 'behaving in an awkward way')

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Examples:

USES

We use the Present Continuous to talk about actions which happen over a determined period of time, or on a particular occasion (as opposed to a general situation or event). They are taking piano classes this semester. Most evenings my parents stay at home and watch TV, but tonight they are going out. We use the Present Continuous with Adverbs of frequency (always, never, forever etc.) to talk about situations which annoy or upset us. My big brother is always telling me what to do. it annoys me My big brother always tells me what to do. I'm okay with it We use the Present Continuous for future to talk about personal plans. In these cases, we often use time expressions. We're visiting some friends in Scotland next weekend. You're not going to school tomorrow, are you? I'm going out with my friends on Saturday.

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Examples:

Examples:

!!! Never mistake the verb GO the Present Continuous (am/are/is going) for the expression BE GOING TO (meaning 'to intend', 'to plan'). Examples: I'm going to a ballet performance tonight. it's already been arranged I'm going to see a ballet performance. I intend to, but it has not been set yet