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Present Continuous

Present Continuous Form

Level: beginner

We use the present progressive tense:

1. When somebody is doing something at this moment.

  • Sarah is changing her clothes right now.
  • Her boyfriend is waiting for her.
  • We are learning the progressive tense in English.

2. When something is happening at this moment. When the action has started but hasn't finished.

It is snowing at the moment.

  • The economy is growing at an exponential rate.
  • The children are sleeping so please be quiet.

3. To talk about something that is happening around the time of speaking but not necessarily at that exact moment.

    • Alfredo is studying a lot for his exam.
    • I'm reading a great book. (Not necessary right at this moment)
    • We are planning a trip to Jamaica.

4. future plans or arrangements:
Mary is going to a new school next term.

What are you doing next week?

Stative verbs
We do not normally use the continuous with stative verbs. Stative verbs include:

  • verbs of thinking and feeling:
believe
dislike
know
like
love
hate
prefer
realise
recognise
remember
suppose
think 
(= believe)
understand
want
wish

 
  • verbs of the senses:
appear
feel
look
seem
smell
sound
taste
 
  • others:
agree
be
belong
disagree
need
owe
own
possess

We normally use the simple  present instead:

I understand you. (NOT I am understanding you.)
This cake tastes wonderful. (NOT This cake is tasting wonderful.)

Level: intermediate

We also use the present continuous to talk about:

  • something which is happening before and after a specific time:

At eight o'clock we are usually having breakfast.
When I get home the children are doing their homework.

  • something which we think is temporary:

Michael is at university. He's studying history.
I'm working in London for the next two weeks.

  • something which is new and contrasts with a previous state:

These days most people are using email instead of writing letters.
What sort of clothes are teenagers wearing nowadays?
What sort of music are they listening to?

  • something which is changing, growing or developing:

The children are growing up quickly.
The climate is changing rapidly.
Your English is improving.

  • something which happens again and again ( or to express annoyance):

It's always raining in London.
They are always arguing.
George is great. He's always laughing.

Note that we normally use always with this use.

Level: advanced

We can use the present continuous to talk about the past when we are:

  • telling a story:

The other day I'm just walking down the street when suddenly this man comes up to me and asks me to lend him some money. Well, he's carrying a big stick and he looks a bit dangerous, so I'm wondering what to do …

  • summarising a book, film or play:

Harry Potter is a pupil at Hogwarts school. One day when he is playing Quidditch he sees a strange object in the sky. He wonders what is happening …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Present Continuous video  LET

Check your knowledge of the Present Continuous with these interactive quizzes
Interactive video for beginners

Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3

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