ТЕМА ІІІ.3. The Continuous Form

The Continuous form denotes an action in progress at the present moment or at a given moment in the past or future. It is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to be in the required tense and Participle I of the notional verb.

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

§ 9. The formation of the Present Continuous.

1. The Present Continuous is formed by means of the Present Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional verb.

2. In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.

In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.

Affirmative Interrogative Negative

I am reading Am I reading? I am not reading

He is reading Is he reading? He is not reading

She is reading Is she reading? She is not reading

We are reading Are we reading? We are not reading

You are reading Are you reading? You are not reading

They are reading Are they reading? They are not reading

3. The contracted affirmative forms are:

I’m reading; She’s reading; We’re reading;

The contracted negative forms are:

She isn’t reading; We aren’t reading;

4. The negative-interrogative forms are:

Am I not reading?; Is she not reading?; Isn’t she reading?; Are you not reading?

Aren’t you reading?

§ 10. The use of the Present Continuous.

1. The Present Continuous is used to denote an action going on at the present moment. It should be borne in mind that the term ‘present moment’ is not limited to the actual moment of speaking. It has a wider meaning.

How is Dartie behaving now?

The second-year students are reading the novel.

Note. — The Presenf Indefinite, not the Present Continuous, is used to denote actions going on at the present moment when the fact is important and not the process.

He did such a mean thing and you defend him.

Why don’t you read your examples?

Why do you look at me as if you had never seen me?

The Present Continuous can be used to denote a certain state or quality peculiar to the person at a given moment.

You are being a nuisance.

2. When there are two actions one of which is in progress and the other is a habitual action, the first is expressed by the Present Continuous and the second by the Present Indefinite.

I never talk while I am working.

3. The Present Continuous is used to denote a future action mainly with such verbs as to go, to come, to leave. The future action is regarded as something fixed.

I’m leaving tonight.

He is coming to us to-morrow.

4. The Present Continuous is used to express a continual process. In this case the adverbs always, constantly, ever are used.

The earth is always moving.

5. The Present Continuous is used to express an action thought of as a continual process (with the adverbs always, ever, constantly). The action is represented as going on without any interval.

She is always grumbling.

THE PAST CONTINUOUS

§ 11. The formation of the Past Continuous.

1. The Past Continuous is formed by means of the Past Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional verb.