The Present Continuous Tense

The Present Continuous Tense is used

1. to denote that an action is happening now, at the moment of speaking.

Example: I am playing the piano now.

2. to denote that an action is happening around now, but not necessarily at the moment of speaking.

Example: He is shooting a film.

3. to denote a planned action that will happen in the nearest future.

Example: Tomorrow we are leaving this place.

4. to denote an action that is happening regularly, sometimes too often, it may make us annoyed or critical though our attitude to the action is not always negative, still there is always an element of exaggeration.

Example: He is constantly grumbling.

Spelling Rules

The following spelling rules should be observed in the formation of Participle I:

1. The mute –e is dropped before adding the suffix –ing: to take – taking.

2. The final consonant is doubled (before the suffix –ing) if it is preceded by a vowel expressing a short stressed sound: to get – getting.

3. The final –l is doubled if it is preceded by a vowel expressing a short sound: to travel – travelling.

4. In the verbs to die, to lie and to tie the letters ie are replaced by y before the suffix –ing: to die- dying; to lie- lying; to tie- tying.

5. The final -y is not changed before adding the suffix –ing no matter whether it is preceded by a consonant or a vowel: to say – saying; to dry – drying.

6. The letter r is doubled if the final syllable is stressed: prefer – preferring; but offer – offering.

The Forms of the Present Continuous Tense:

Affirmative

I	am	speaking English. writing a letter. playing the piano. walking fast. reading a newspaper. playing football.
He My brother Her brother	Is
We You The girls	Are

Negative

I	am not	speaking English. writing a letter. playing the piano. walking fast. reading a newspaper. playing football.
He My brother Her brother	is not
We You The girls	are not

Interrogative

Is	his wife their friend her mother	working in the garden? writing anything? standing at the window? reading exercises? working in the room?
Are	the students the children

Present Continuous and Present Simple

We use continuous tenses only for actions and happenings (They are eating / it is raining etc.). Some verbs (for example, know and like) are not action verbs. You cannot say ‘I am knowing’ or ‘they are liking’; you can only say ‘I know’, ‘they like’.

The following verbs are not normally used in continuous tenses:

like love hate want need prefer know realize suppose mean understand believe remember belong contain consist depend seem

• I’m hungry. I want something to eat. (not ‘I’m wanting’)

• Do you understand what I mean?

• Ann doesn’t seem very happy at the moment.

When think means ‘believe’, do not use the continuous:

• What do you think (=believe) will happen? (not ‘what are you thinking’)

But

• You look so serious. What are you thinking about? (=What is going on your mind?)

• I am thinking of giving up my job. (= I am considering)

When have means ‘possess’ etc., do not use the continuous:

• We’re enjoying our holiday. We have a nice room in the hotel. (not ‘we’re having’)

But

• We’re enjoying our holiday. We’re having a great time.

We normally use the present simple (not continuous) with these verbs: