Present Continuous Grammar Guide

Verb Form – Affirmatives  We form the PRESENT CONTINUOUS with the present of the verb BE (auxiliary) the present of the verb BE (auxiliary) and the present participle of the main verb: and the present participle of the main verb: AM / IS / ARE + V-ING I am sitting now. He is reading at the moment.

Verb Form – Affirmatives  In speech and informal writing we usually contract am, is or are to ’m, ’s or ’re: Well, Alan’s drawing in his room and Sophie’s watching TV with me. We’re learning now.

Spelling Rules  base form + -ing: draw  drawing, watch  watching, speak  speaking  base form ending in -e  drop e + -ing : take  taking, receive  receiving, create  creating  base form ending in -ie  change it to y + -ing: lie  lying, die  dying  short verbs - base form ending in one vowel and one consonant  double consonant + -ing : swim  swimming, run  running; but: grow  growing

Verb Form – Negatives  We form the negatives with the auxiliary am is+ not + v-ing are  We usually use the contracted forms ‘m not, isn’t and aren’t in speech and informal writing: We aren’t reading. I’m not knitting at the moment. She isn’t writing now.

Verb Form – Questions  We form the questions with am (question word) is+ subject + v-ing are are What are the children doing? What are they playing now? Are they playing football?

Practice  Jennifer is playing the piano now. y/n?wh-?

Practice  Jennifer isn’t playing the piano now. y/n? Is Jennifer playing the piano now?  Yes, she is.  No, she isn’t. wh-?What is Jennifer playing now? What is she doing now?

Practice  Tom and Jerry are swimming in the lake now. y/n?wh-?

Practice  Tom and Jerry aren’t swimming in the lake now. y/n? Are Tom and Jerry swimming in the lake now?  Yes, they are.  No, they aren’t. wh-? What are Tom and Jerry doing now? Where are they swimming now? Where are they swimming now?

Activity: Wordle Look at the pictures. Tell your partner correct questions and answers. Wordle Wordle  What is he doing? He is swimming.  What is she doing? She is driving.  What are they doing? They are dancing.  What is he doing? He is cooking.  What are they doing? They are singing.  What is she doing? She is skiing.

Use: Things Happening Now  The present continuous describes an action in progress at the moment of speaking. The action is likely to continue after the time of speaking, but is likely to stop at some point, i.e. it is temporary: It’s raining. Why are you sitting at my desk? Hurry up! We are all waiting for you. What is the baby doing? She is smiling.

Use: Around Now  The present continuous also describes an action in progress around the time of speaking (= about this time but not necessarily at the moment of speaking) I’m reading a play by Shaw. (= this week, temporary action, not now) We are studying accountancy this semester. She is staying with John to try and find out if his place really is haunted.

Use: At a Specific Time  We can also use the present continuous to speak about something that is happening at a specific time we are thinking of, even if it is not now: He likes to be left alone when he is working on a project.

Use: Trends  We also use the present continuous to describe things which are changing: British summers are getting hotter and winters are getting wetter. This town is developing all the time.  These changes, developments and trends can last a long time: Species are constantly evolving. The polar ice caps are melting. The universe is expanding, and has been since its beginning.

Use: Repeated events  We can also use the present continuous to speak about repeated actions, especially when we find these actions irritating. In this case, we usually use the present continuous with words like always or constantly: She is always interrupting when others are trying to speak. The neighbours are constantly slamming doors and shouting during the night.

Use: Future Arrangements  We usually use the present continuous for future events which involve other people and where we have made some form of commitment (= a promise or firm decision to do something) : I'm meeting Sue for a drink after work. What are you doing next weekend? We’re seeing a musical at the theatre next week. (= It’s arranged, we’ve got the tickets.)

Verbs Not Used In The Continuous  There are a number of verbs in English which we rarely use in a continuous tense. They often describe states of being, thinking, possessing or feeling: Most people don’t believe in the existence of UFOs. I like this music. We need to talk. He is enjoying his holiday in the Arctic. He hates touristy places and he doesn’t mind the cold.

Verbs Not Used In The Continuous The most common of these verbs are: The most common of these verbs are:  verbs of existing or being: be, consist of, contain, exist  verbs of appearance: appear, resemble, seem  verbs of feeling or wanting: adore, desire, despise (= to dislike and have a low opinion of someone or something), detest (= to hate something or someone very much), dislike, envy, hate, like, love, need, pity, prefer, trust, want, wish

Verbs Not Used In The Continuous The most common of these verbs are:  verbs of thinking or believing: believe, doubt, expect, feel (= think), forget, imagine, intend, know, realise, recognise, remember, see (= understand), suppose, think, understand  verbs of possessing: belong to, have (= own), include, lack, own, possess  other verbs: concern, depend, deserve, fit, matter, measure, mean, mind, weigh

Enjoy using Present Continuous Tense

Activity  come out of the sea  listen to music  make a sandcastle  play football  play volleyball  read a book  run along the beach  sell ice cream  sleep on the beach  steal someone’s bag  swim in the sea  talk on the mobile  windsurf  write a postcard

Activity Talk to one person at the time. Ask and answer questions. A: What is Mary doing? B: I don’t know. A: What is James doing? B: He is watching TV.

Activity A: What does your company do? B: We design computer games for children. A: What is it doing at the moment? B: We are developing a new game for adults.

At the Moulin Rouge At the Moulin Rouge by Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse – Lautrec

opened: 1889

At the Moulin Rouge At the Moulin Rouge by Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse – Lautrec

At the Moulin Rouge At the Moulin Rouge by Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse – Lautrec

Activity Student A: Look at the painting and describe it for your partner to draw it. Student B: Listen to your partner describing a painting. Try to draw it. Ask questions to help you. Compare your drawings with the original paintings!

The Peasant Dance by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Activity Change roles! Student B: Look at the painting and describe it for your partner to draw it. Student A: Listen to your partner describing a painting. Try to draw it. Ask questions to help you. Compare your drawings with the original paintings!

Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre-Auguste Renoir