Before you can understand the Present Continuous Tense, you need to know (and be able to use) the Simple Present Tense of the verb ‘to be’.

From the table above , you can see that the verb ‘to be’ can be a main verb (e.g. I am a teacher. You are students.)

BUT

The verb ‘to be’ can also be an auxiliary verb ( a helping verb).

In the Present Continuous Tense we use  present tense of the verb ‘to be’ as a helping verb.

FORM

You use the present continuous by using the present form of the verb “be” + the base of the main verb + ING

 

 

 

 

FUNCTION

• 4. actions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions)

  My friend is preparing for his exams.        I am studying at UAEU.

   

  5. trends

  More and more people are using their computers to listen to music.

  6. repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

  Andrew is always coming late. (I don’t like this.)

  Simple Present → Andrew always comes late. (Here I don’t give a comment.)

Look at the sentences below. What time functions do they have (actions happening now, actions that are temporary or definite future plans)?

 

1. PRESENT CONTINUOUS: TALKING ABOUT NOW

 

Watch this video (the first 3-5 minutes deals with the present continuous. (You can use this video for other verbs, later)

http://www.elihinkel.org/tips/tenses.htm

 

NB: We often find signal words with sentences that use the present continuous tense.

Look at the signal words below:

Signal words to look out for:

Actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now)

• at the moment
• now / just now / right now
• Listen!
• Look!

Arrangements for the near future

• in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening
• at noon / tonight
• tomorrow
• next …

Actions taking place only for a limited period of time

• this week / this month / this year

Actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking)

• at the moment
• now / just now / right now

Development, changing situations

• more and more

 

Online exercises on signal words:

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-progressive/signal/exercises

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-progressive/signal/exercises

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Mr Bean:  Present Continuous to show action that started in the past and is continuing

https://youtu.be/nTeGorY3rg4

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present-simple-continuous-tenses

 

QUESTIONS

 

Wh- and H- Question words with the Present Continuous Tense

Online exercises:

Go to the following site: https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/zeitformen.htm#present_progressive

There are about online 20 tests here for you to do (all functions of the tense).

 

Study the diagram and then do the task below it.

 

Paragraph work

Fill in the blanks:

Read the paragraph below and choose either the present continuous or past simple verb for each blank. Use the signal words as clues to help you.

It is a great day for a barbecue, so Ahmed and his family ________________ (spend) time in the desert today. Ahmed’s uncle ___________________ (visit) them right now. Last week his brother, Mohammed,  _______________ (be) in town for a business meeting so it is wonderful that he is here with them today. Ahmed’s father ___________________ (cook) the food today. Ahmed’s mother _______________(make) coffee for the family while they wait for lunch.  Everyone is there except his oldest brother who  ______________ (ride) a quad on the dunes in the distance. They can hear him revving the engine. Ahmed’s mother says, “That boy ________________ (drive) me crazy. He is never where I want him to be!”  Everyone laughs. Last week, Ahmed’s family  ___________ (try) to have a barbecue in the desert but it ____________ (rain), so they had to go home. Next week, the family ______________ (plan) to spend time together in Dubai.

 

Now look under the Grammar Tab and find out how to use the Present Continuous Tense for FUTURE arrangements:  siobhansweet.wordpress.com/grammar-guide/the-present-continuous-tense-to-talk-about-future-arrangements/

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Note:

There are some verbs that cannot be used in the Present Continuous Tense.We call these ‘stative verbs’. These “stative” verbs are about state, not action, and they cannot express the continuous aspect. Here are some of the most common non-continuous verbs:

feeling: hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish
senses: appear, feel, hear, see, seem, smell, sound, taste
communication: agree, deny, disagree, mean, promise, satisfy, surprise
thinking: believe, imagine, know, mean, realize, recognize, remember, understand
other states: be, belong, concern, depend, involve, matter, need, owe, own, possess