Introduction

We use the present continuous to talk about:

• an action happening right now (1)
• an action happening around this time (2) (it started in the past and continues now until sometime in the future)
• a definite arrangement in the future (3).

Examples:

• Please be quiet. I'm watching television. (1)
• She's studying Italian at the university. (2)
• They’re booking the hotel tomorrow. (3)

Part 1 - Present continuous positive

We make the present continuous with
the present form of the verb "be" ("am", "is", "are")
+ the "ing" form of the main verb (present participle).

For example:

I	'm / am	having	a shower at the moment.
He / She / It	's / is	working	in the city.
You We They	're / are	seeing	the doctor on Monday.

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Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct present continuous positive form of the verb in brackets.

• We a new car. (buy)
   
• He the box for me. (carry)
   
• David and Sue new carpets for their house. (choose)
   
• I at the concert on Saturday. (dance)
   

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Part 2 - Present continuous negative

To make a negative sentence we make the verb "be" negative –
‘m not (am not)
isn’t (is not),
aren’t (are not).

For example:

I	'm not / am not	having	a shower at the moment.
He / She / It	isn't / is not	working	in the city.
You We They	aren't / 're not / are not	seeing	the doctor on Monday.

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Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct present continuous negative form of the verb in brackets.

• Claire too fast. (drive)
   
• We potatoes during the summer. (eat)
   
• I fishing this Sunday. (go)
   
• The boss to Brazil next week. (fly)
   

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Part 3 - Present continuous questions

To make questions we put the verb "be" before the subject.


For example:

Am	I	having	a shower at the moment?
Is	he / she / it	working	in the city?
Are	you we they	seeing	the doctor on Monday?

Short answers

Yes,	I	am.
No,		am not.
Yes,	he / she / it	is.
No,		isn't.
Yes,	you we they	are.
No,		aren't.

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Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct present continuous question form of the verb in brackets.

• you a new car? (get)
   
• he you a lift on Friday? (give)
   
• Sonia and Katy at the hospital? (help)
   
• we them to the party? (invite)
   

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Further practice

Choose the correct answer to complete the sentence: a, b, c or d.

• I ____ how to repair a tyre.


is learning aren't learning am learning don't learning



• ____ on Monday?


John leaving is Is leaving John John are leaving Is John leaving



• They ____ any new toys.


isn't making aren't making not making doesn't making



• The cat ____ the door.


aren't opening not opening doesn't opening isn't opening



• ____ close to the school?


Are you parking Is you parking You is parking Do you parking 



• We ____ a comic together.


is writing writing are writing are write

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