1. The Present Continuous Tense
Grammar Sense 1, Chapter 8

2. Present Continuous Tense: Affirmative Statements
Formula: Subject + am + verb + ing. is are

3. Present Continuous Tense: Affirmative Statements
I am waiting. (I’m waiting.)
You are waiting. (You’re waiting.)
He is waiting. (He’s waiting.)
She is waiting. (She’s waiting.)
It is waiting. (It’s waiting.)
We are waiting. (We’re waiting.)
They are waiting. (They’re waiting.)

4. Present Continuous Tense: Negative Statements
Formula:
Subject + am + not + verb + ing. is
are

5. Present Continuous Tense: Negative Statements
I am not waiting. (I’m not waiting.)
You are not waiting. (You’re not waiting.)
He is not waiting. (He’s not waiting.)
She is not waiting. (She’s not waiting.)
It is not waiting. (It’s not waiting.)
We are not waiting. (We’re not waiting.)
You are not waiting. (You’re not waiting.)
They are not waiting. (They’re not waiting.)

6. Spelling of Verbs Ending in -ing
For most verbs, add –ing to the base form of the verb.
sleep—sleeping talk—talking
2. If the base form ends in a single e, drop the e and add – ing (exception: be—being).
live—living write—writing
3. If the base form ends in ie, change ie to y and add –ing.
die—dying lie—lying
4. If the base form of a one-syllable verb ends with a single vowel + consonant, double the final consonant and add –ing.
hit—hitting stop—stopping

7. Spelling of Verbs Ending in –ing (cont’d)
5. If the base form of the verb with two or more syllables ends in a single vowel + consonant, double the final consonant only if the stress is on the final syllable. Do not double the final consonant if the stress is not on the final syllable.
admit—admitting begin—beginning
develop—developing listen—listening
Do not double the final consonant x, w, and y.
fix—fixing grow—growing obey--obeying

8. Present Continuous Tense: Yes/No Questions
Am I waiting? Yes, you are./No, you aren’t.
Are you waiting? Yes, I am./No, I’m not.
Is he waiting? Yes, he is./No, he isn’t.
Is she waiting? Yes, she is./No, she isn’t.
Is it waiting? Yes, it is./No, it isn’t.
Are we waiting? Yes, you are./No, you aren’t.
Are you waiting? Yes, we are./No, we aren’t.
Are they waiting? Yes, they are./No, they aren’t.

9. Present Continuous Tense: Information Questions
How am I doing? Great.
What are you doing? I’m cooking dinner.
Who is he calling? He’s calling David.
Why are you waiting? Because we missed the bus.
Where are they waiting? In the cafeteria.
Who is talking? Sasha.
What is cooking? Your dinner is cooking.

10. Present Continuous Tense: Meaning and Use Notes
1A: Activities in Progress
Use the present continuous to talk about activities that are in progress (happening) at the moment of speaking.
Time expressions such as
now right now at the moment
make the meaning clear.
What are you doing?
I’m studying for my chemistry test.
A. How is the weather there in Michigan?
B. It’s snowing right now.

11. Present Continuous Tense: Meaning and Use Notes
1B: Activities in Progress
Use the present continuous for activities that are in progress, but are not happening at the exact moment of speaking.
Time expressions such as
still these days this week this semester
make the meaning clearer.
Two Former Classmates Meet on the Street
So, Rick, what are you doing these days?
I’m still working for my dad.