The use of the present continuous tense
- The present continuous is used to talk about actions happening at the time of speaking. Example:
- Where is Mary? She is having a bath. (Not she has a bath)
- What are you doing at the moment in front of your screen? Don't you know? Well … you are reading this lesson. You are learning English.
- The present continuous can also be used when an action has started but hasn’t finished yet.
Example:
- I am reading a book; it’s a nice book. (It means = I am not necessarily reading it; I started reading it but I haven’t finished it yet
Special verbs
There are verbs which are normally not used in the present continuous.
Examples:
be, believe, belong, hate, hear, like, love, mean, prefer, remain, realize, see, seem, smell, think, understand, want, wish
It's not correct to say:
He is wanting to buy a new car.*You must say:
He wants to buy a new car.
The form of the present continuous tense
The verb to be (in the simple present)
|
verb + ing
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The affirmative forms of the present continuous:
I
|
am
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eating.
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’m
|
||
You, we, they
|
are
|
|
’re
|
||
He, she, it
|
is
|
|
's
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The interrogative forms of the present continuous
Am
|
I
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eating? |
Are
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you, we, they
|
|
Is
|
he, she, it
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The negative forms of the present continuous
I
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am not
|
eating.
|
’m not
|
||
You, we, they
|
are not
|
|
aren't
|
||
He, she, it
|
is not
|
|
isn't
|
Here you have a video with the explanation of this tense, do not miss it!!!!
To finish, here you are some links to practice the present continuous or progressive, it is the same!!
http://www.eslgamesplus.com/present-progressive-continuous-esl-grammar-fun-game-online/
http://www.eslgamesplus.com/action-verbs-present-progressive-grammar-game-rally-game/
http://eslgamesworld.com/members/games/grammar/fling%20the%20teacher/actionverbs/present%20progressive%20multiple%20choice.html
I hope you enjoy the post!
Bye!
Maria Jose
