Present Continuous Explanation

Present Simple
Present Continuous: When to use it
PRESENT
Now The baby is sleeping.

It’s raining outside.
Can be used with: now, at the moment / at this moment.
Around now He is writing a book.

He is working on a project.
Temporary We are staying at a hotel.

I am living in London.
Used with: at the moment, for a few weeks, for a couple

of months, etc.
Trend / Temporary New The prices of houses are increasing.

Habits People are wearing white this summer season.
He’s eating a lot these days.
She’s swimming every morning (she didn’t use to do this).
Used with: at the moment, these days, etc.
Repeated Action They are always making noise.

You’re forever losing your keys!
(usually negative / She’s constantly missing the train!
annoying habit) Lucy is always smiling.
Used with: always, never, constantly.
FUTURE
Future Timetables / She’s flying to Mexico next week.

Schedules I’m meeting my father tomorrow.
Use with: tomorrow, later, at 7pm tonight, on Tuesday.

Present Continuous: When not to use
I am living in Canada.
Permanent
I am working at ABC company.
Stative Verb I am understanding English. (mental stative verb)
We are liking this show. (emotional stative verb)
a verb that described
They are having a car. (possessive stative verb)
a state of being or
perception. Are you needing help? (emotional stative verb)
* Stative verbs can refer to mental states e.g., believe, or emotional states e.g.,
dislike, as well a physical states or qualities e.g., contain. A dynamic verb describes
an action.
Present Continuous: How to use it
Subject + to be + verb + ing
I am working
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I am Am I
You you
We are Are we
They not they
working working
working
He he
She is Is she
It it
Question Words
Where are you working How are you working?

What are you working on? How much are you working?
Who are you working with? How many people are you working with?
When are you working? How often are you working?
Why are you working?
Present Continuous: Contractions
Affirmative Negative
I am I’m I am not I’m not
You are You’re You are not You’re not
He is He’s He is not He’s not
She is She’s learning She is not She’s not watching
It is It’s It is not It’s not
We are We’re We are not We’re not
They are They’re They are not They’re not
Present Continuous: Spelling
Verbs Changes Spelling
eat > eating

most verbs add -ing
walk > walking
use > using

verbs ending in e drop -e
take > taking
drop -e lie > lying

verbs ending in ie
add -y tie > tying
clap > clapping

verbs ending in c, v, c double the last letter
sit > sitting
Present Continuous: Short Answers
When someone asks you a question, there is no reason to repeat the whole
question when answering.
Formula: yes / no + pronoun + do / does
Is he working late?
Yes, he is. (no contraction)
No, he isn’t. (contraction of is not)
If a question starts with is then your answer will include is or isn’t at the end,
depending on whether your answer is a positive or a negative one.
*There is no way to shorten the affirmative answer.
Are they going to the meeting?

Yes, they are. (no contraction)
No, they aren’t. (contraction of do not)
Are you studying?

Yes, I am. (no contraction)
No, I’m not. (contraction of do not)
*Are you is the exception in that you don’t add it to the answer.
Present Simple: Common Errors
My brother watching the news John not helping

My brother is watching the news John is not helping / John isn’t
to be’ is helping
missing She going?
Is She she going?
to be' is Bob and Maria is driving home. He ain’t studying

incorrect Bob and Mare is are driving home. He ain’t isn’t studying.
Verb is She is do her homework. The game is start now.

incorrect She is do doing her homework. The game is start starting now.
She’s lieing / siting / writeing. Were going to the mall.

Spelling
She’s lying / sitting / writing. We’re going to the mall.
I am needing some water. I am want to visit Hawaii.

Stative verb I am needing need some water. I am wanting want to visit Hawaii.
We are manufacturing cars. We manufacture cars.

Permanent
Present Continuous: Practice
1. I go I __________.
Affirmative 2. We wait We __________.
3. They play They __________.
4. She’s calling She’s __________.

Negative 5. We’re cooking We’re __________.
6. I’m reading I’m __________.
7. They are buying a new car.

_________________________________?
8. She is doing her homework.

Interrogative
_________________________________?
9. We are leaving at 8:00 pm.

_________________________________?
Present Continuous: Review
You know the present simple tense when you know when to use it and how to
use. You know how to use it when you can make an affirmative sentence, a
negative sentence and an interrogative sentence.
Examples:
David is making coffee.

David is not making coffee.
Is David making coffee.
Present Continuous: Exercises
1. Mary __________ to some customers.

talking
is talking
are talking
2. Why are you __________ the car?

stoppin
stoping
stopping
3. Peter’s flight __________ right now.
taking off
is taking off
take off
4. I am very thirsty. I __________ some water, please.

need
am needing
are needing
5. We __________ London this year.

ar’ent visiting
are’nt visiting
aren’t visiting
6. They’re __________ a lot of noise tonight.

makking
making
makeing
7. Which __________?
he is cooking
is he cooking
he cooking
8. Are they __________ arriving today?

Yes, they is.
Yes, they’re.
Yes, they are.
9. Which is correct?
He’s coming home at 8:00 pm.
He coming home at 8:00 pm.
He come home at 8:00 pm.
10. She’s __________ her shoelaces.

tying
tieing
tiying

Present Continuous Explanation

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Present Simple

Present Continuous: When to use it

Now The baby is sleeping.

Can be used with: now, at the moment / at this moment.

Around now He is writing a book.

Temporary We are staying at a hotel.

Used with: at the moment, for a few weeks, for a couple

Trend / Temporary New The prices of houses are increasing.

Used with: at the moment, these days, etc.

Repeated Action They are always making noise.

Used with: always, never, constantly.

Future Timetables / She’s flying to Mexico next week.

Use with: tomorrow, later, at 7pm tonight, on Tuesday.

Present Continuous: How to use it

Subject + to be + verb + ing

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

Where are you working How are you working?

I am I’m I am not I’m not

You are You’re You are not You’re not

He is He’s He is not He’s not

She is She’s learning She is not She’s not watching

It is It’s It is not It’s not

We are We’re We are not We’re not

They are They’re They are not They’re not

Present Continuous: Spelling

Verbs Changes Spelling

eat > eating

use > using

drop -e lie > lying

clap > clapping

Formula: yes / no + pronoun + do / does

Are they going to the meeting?

Are you studying?

Present Simple: Common Errors

My brother watching the news John not helping

to be' is Bob and Maria is driving home. He ain’t studying

Verb is She is do her homework. The game is start now.

She’s lieing / siting / writeing. Were going to the mall.

I am needing some water. I am want to visit Hawaii.

We are manufacturing cars. We manufacture cars.

4. She’s calling She’s __________.

7. They are buying a new car.

8. She is doing her homework.

9. We are leaving at 8:00 pm.

Present Continuous: Review

David is making coffee.

Present Continuous: Exercises

1. Mary __________ to some customers.

2. Why are you __________ the car?

4. I am very thirsty. I __________ some water, please.

5. We __________ London this year.

6. They’re __________ a lot of noise tonight.

8. Are they __________ arriving today?

10. She’s __________ her shoelaces.

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