Present continuous
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 withthe 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. |
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct present continuous positive form of the verb in brackets.
.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. |
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct present continuous negative form of the verb in brackets.
.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. |
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct present continuous question form of the verb in brackets.
.Further practice
Choose the correct answer to complete the sentence: a, b, c or d..
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Related links
The following exercises include use of this grammar structure:
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Beginner
- Past simple
- Past continuous
- Present simple
- Present continuous (present)
- Present perfect
- 'Going to' and 'will'
- Present continuous (future)
- Imperatives
- To be
- Pronouns: subject, object
- Pronouns: relative
- Adjectives and pronouns: possessive
- Adjectives and pronouns: demonstrative
- Basic adjective word order
- WH questions (interrogative pronouns)
- Articles: a, an, the
- Prepositions: time and place
- There is/ there are and quantifiers
- Conjunctions and, or, but
- Comparatives / superlatives (than)
- Zero conditional (if)
- First conditional (if)
- Modals: can/can't, could, will, shall
- Verb patterns
- Sequence adverbs
Intermediate
- Past perfect
- Past simple vs. present perfect
- Past simple vs. past continuous
- Present perfect continuous
- Future simple
- Future continuous
- Passive
- Indirect speech
- Used to/would
- Second conditional
- Third conditional
- Relative clauses
- Reflexive pronouns
- Modals: must, have to, should, should have
- Verb patterns: gerund or infinitive
- Adverbs of degree
- Adjective order
- Adjectives: ed or ing
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