The Present Continuous Tense

Present continuous

Moment of speaking

Future

Past

We use the Present Continuous to talk about things that are in progress at the time of speaking or around that time.

playingsingingdrinking

is's

are're

am'm

He SheIt

YouWe They

Affirmative

The Present Continuous Tense

• In the current time.

I am painting red flowers with my paint brushes.

not

playingsingingdrinking

is's

are're

am'm

He SheIt

YouWe They

negative

The Present Continuous Tense

I am not drawing a chicken with my pencil.

playing ?singing ?drinking ?

Is

Are

Am

He SheIt

YouWe They

interrogative: YES / NO QUESTIONS

The Present Continuous Tense

• Shor answer:

No, I am not / I'm notNo, he is not / he's not / he isn'tNo, they are not / they're not / they aren't

• Long answer:

No, I am not / I'm not running...No, he is not / he's not / he isn't listening...No, they are not / they're not / they aren't swimming...

VS

Negative Answers

• Short answer:

Yes, I amYes, she isYes, we are

• Long answer:

Yes, I am / I'm playing...Yes, she is / she's dancing...Yes, we are / we're singing...

Affirmative answers

is

are

am

(complement)

Why

What

When

playing ?singing ?drinking ?

He SheIt

YouWe They

interrogative: INFORMATION QUESTIONS

The Present Continuous Tense

What is she doing?She is sketching some dog photographies

ING Spelling

reading

going

eating

read

go

eat

In general, we just add -ING to the base form of a verb

General rule

writing

riding

dancing

write

ride

dance

Remove the silent E from the base form of the verb and add -ING

Verbs ending in consonant + silent E

seeing

agreeing

being

see

agree

be

Do not remove the E in this cases; just add -ING

Be careful!

tying

lying

dying

tie

lie

die

Remove the IE from the base form of the verb and add -YING

Verb ending in IE

stopping

running

cutting

stop

run

cut

When a verb with one syllable ends in a C + V + C we double the final consonant before adding -ING .

Consonant + vowel + consonant

playing

fixing

snowing

play

fix

snow

Do not double the final letter at the end of the verb when it is W, X, or Y.

EXCEPTIONS!

Submitting

Forgetting

Beginning

Submit

Forget

Begin

If the verb has two or more syllables and the last one IS stressed, double the final letter.

Last syllable IS stressed

Nowadays

At the moment

This week

Today

Now

Time expressions