Present Continuous Tense | bdmclass

Present Continuous Tense

Present continuous or present progressive is another tense frequently used on daily basis. It is used to talk about that action that is happening at the time of speaking, plans that have been made for the future and temporary situations. And it is basically formed by adding –ing to the verbs (be + Ving). Please note that non-action verbs cannot be used in continuous tense. 

Forms

Positive: Sub + am/is/are + Ving………

    Ex. I am reading this article right now.
Negative: Sub + am/is/are + not + Ving………

    Ex. She isn't cooking at the moment.
Yes/No: Am/is/are + Sub + Ving………?

Short answers

• Yes, sub + be.
• No, sub + be not. 

    Ex. Are you checking social media at the moment?
Wh-question: Wh-word + am/is/are + Sub + Ving………?

    Ex. What are you doing right now? 

Usage 1 : In progress action in the present

The Present Continuous Tense is typically used to talk about the action that is happening at the moment of speaking. See the following examples.

        You are reading this article. 

The action of reading is happening now. My mom is cooking dinner in the kitchen. If I go into the kitchen I will see the action of cooking is going on right now. 

- People are travelling on the streets.
- Birds are flying in the sky.
- Dogs are barking people walking nearby.
- Teacher is teaching the students in the class.

Usage 2 : Future plans or intentions

Present continuous can also be used in place of “be going to” to talk about future plans or arrangements that have already been made. See the following examples.

- She is getting married next year. This means that she already got engaged and planned with her family about the marriage.

- We are having a trip next week. We already planned with friends. We talked about where to visit, who to go with where to stay.

- They are playing soccer this weekend. They already talked to their friends about where and what time to play.

- She is visiting Angkor Wat next month.
- My dad is having a business trip in the next couple of days.

Note
Please note that when using present continuous tense to talk about future plans, it is highly recommended to you future time expressions like this week, next month, in the next few days…etc.

Usage 3 : Temporary situation

Temporary Actions: This refers to the action that is in progress now into the future for a period of time but the action is not necessarily happening at the time of speaking. See some examples below.

        My friend is taking his master degree the US.

The action of taking master degree in the US is not forever it is just for about two years and he will come back to his home country and the action of studying isn’t necessarily happening at the time of speaking now. It can be Sunday.
- I am living with my sister in Phnom Penh this year.
- They are working on an important project this month.
- We are staying at this hotel for 2 weeks.

Spelling rules
The verbs used in present continuous must be added with –ing and there are three important rules to keep in mind when changing it.

Rule 1: The verbs that end in –e, we have to drop when before adding –ing. 

Live > living, 

love > loving, 

receive > receiving.

Rule 2: one syllable verb that ends in consonant, vowel and consonant, we have to double the consonant before adding –ing. 

Plan > planning, 

spot > spotting, 

sit > sitting.

Rule 3: if the verbs don’t follow rule 1 and 2, just add –ing. 

Stay > staying

cry > crying

eat > eating

watch > watching.

Non-Action Verbs

Here is a list of common non-action verbs that can only be used in present simple but not in continuous tense.

Senses or feelings

• look
• feel
• sound
• taste
• smell

Desires

• love
• like
• want
• prefer

Possessions

• have
• own
• belong to
• posses

Opinions

• think
• believe
• consider

Practice