Present Continuous seems incomprehensible to many students, because there is no such analogue in our native language. Let's figure out how the present continuous tense is formed and in what cases it is used in order to make friends with it once and for all.

The Present Continuous is called the Present Progressive in some textbooks - remember that they are the same thing. Most often, the Present Continuous describes an action that occurs during a certain period of time in the present. But this time also has other functions. We will show you how to use it correctly depending on your specific situation.

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The Present Continuous tense is formed according to the following scheme:

To avoid mistakes in spelling verbs ending in -ing, pay attention to the following rules:

if the verb ends in a vowel -e, then it is omitted: bake – baking;
when a verb ends in vowels -ie, they change to -y: tie – tying;
if the verb ends in one consonant letter, preceded by a stressed vowel sound, then the consonant letter at the end is doubled: let – letting, begin – beginning, regret – regretting.

Affirmative sentence:

She is petting her dog now. - She is now strokes your dog.

In a negative sentence, the particle not is placed between the auxiliary and main verbs.

She is not (isn't) petting her dog now. - She is now doesn't iron your dog.

In an interrogative sentence, the auxiliary verb comes first, followed by the subject and the main form of the verb.

Is she petting her dog now? - She is now strokes your dog?

Below you can see how the Present Continuous is formed in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.

Cases of using the Present Continuous

Let's look at examples of using the Present Continuous, starting with the simplest ones and gradually moving towards more complex ones.

For beginner and intermediate levels

The Present Continuous is used to describe an action that is happening at the current moment in time:
Listen! The music is playing. - Listen! Music plays.
Hush! The kids are sleeping. - Shh! Children sleeping.
In such a situation, marker words are often found: now (now), right now (at this very minute), at the moment (at the moment), at present (currently). These are a kind of pointers to the present continuous tense.
Steve is watching TV at the moment. - Now Steve looks TV.
The Present Continuous is used to describe ongoing actions in the present, even if they are not happening at the time of speech. That is, over some time we periodically perform this action:
Jessica is learning French. - Jessica teaches French. (she has been learning French for some time and will continue to learn it, but she is not studying French right now)
In this situation, Present Continuous marker words such as now, these days, currently are also often found. They are translated “now”, “at the moment”.
Pete is currently training to participate in the Olympics. - Pete currently training to participate in the Olympic Games. (he is currently going to training and will continue to do so until the Olympics, but right now he is not in training)
The Present Continuous is used to describe changes occurring in a situation and the process of development. In such constructions, the action is often conveyed by the verbs to get (become), to increase (increase/increase), to decrease (decrease/decrease), to rise (rise), to fall (fall), to start (start/begin), to change (change/change), etc.
An average day temperature is slowly increasing. - Average temperature gradually increases.
The petrol is getting cheaper day by day. - Every day fuel becomes cheaper.
The Present Continuous can be used to indicate events in the near future, but only if it concerns planned actions. The future in such sentences is indicated by time, days of the week, or the words tomorrow (tomorrow), next week (next week), next month (next month), next year (next year).
Chris is buying a new phone tomorrow. - Tomorrow Chris will buy new phone. (he has already chosen the model, put aside money for the phone)
We are flying to India next week. - Next week We we're flying to India. (the trip has already been planned, tickets have been purchased, the trip will definitely take place)
When talking about the near future, we often use verbs of motion: to go (to go), to leave (to leave), to come (to come). These verbs indicate that an action will be performed immediately or in the near future.
I don't feel well. I am going to bed. - I do not feel myself well. I I'm coming sleep. (I will take this action immediately)
I "m coming in 5 minutes. Can you meet me up? - I I'll come In 5 minutes. Will you meet me? (I'm already on my way and I'm about to arrive.)
Present Continuous helps to express dissatisfaction or irritation when used with the words constantly (constantly), all the time (all the time), always (always). This way we show that some regular or frequently occurring action causes negative emotions.
Susan is always leaving her coffee mug in the sink. - Susan constantly leaves your coffee cup in the sink. (the action is performed regularly, and the speaker is unhappy with this situation)
There are verbs that are not used in the Present Continuous. We are talking about state verbs (stative verbs), which express feelings and mental processes: to know, to forget, to notice, to understand, to recognize, to remember ( remember), to love, to hate, to want, to need, to believe, to hear, etc.
I know which bus to take to get home. - I I know, which bus you need to take to get home. (knowledge is my state, not action)

For high level

The present continuous tense in English can also be used in the following situations:

There are verbs that in one meaning are verbs of state and cannot be used in the present continuous tense, and in another meaning they act as verbs of action and can be used in the Present Continuous. Let's look at examples:
to think - consider, believe (state) and to think - reflect (action)
to see - see (state) and to see - meet, see each other (action)
to have - to have (state) and to have as part of a stable expression, for example, to have breakfast (breakfast), to have a good time (have a good time)
I think it is a nice jacket. - I I think that this is a good jacket. (it's my opinion)
What are you thinking about? - What are you talking about? you think? (At the moment)
The use of the Present Continuous form with some state verbs (to attract - to attract, to like - to like, to love - to love) is possible when the speaker wants to emphasize the temporary nature of his feelings.
Usually I don't like music festivals, but I am loving this one. - I usually do not like music festivals, but this one is me adore. (the speaker emphasizes that this is the festival he likes now.)
We use some verbs that describe thought processes (to realize - to realize, to understand - to understand, to regret - to regret) in the Present Continuous to emphasize that we have just started to think about something and have not yet formed our final opinion.
I "m realising how wrong I was. - I began to understand how wrong I was.
Verbs that describe physical sensations (to feel, to hurt / to ache) can be used both in the Present Simple and the Present Continuous without much difference in meaning.
I am feeling sad today. =I feel sad today. - I'm sad today.
My head is aching. = My head aches. - I have a headache hurts.
We can also use the static verb to be in the Present Continuous if we want to emphasize that a person’s behavior is uncharacteristic for him.
He is being weird after he lost his job. - He acting strange after he lost his job. (that is, he usually behaves differently)
We can use the Present Continuous and the Present Simple together to make our story sound more dynamic. In this case, the action in the Present Simple occurs against the background of the action in the Present Continuous, interrupting it and creating a feeling of suddenness.
Two guys are walking through a game park and they come across a lion that has not eaten for days. - Two boys are coming through the wild animal park, when suddenly they bump into at a lion who had not eaten for several days.

How not to confuse Present Continuous and Present Simple

It is worth considering the most common situations in which one tense from the Present group can be mistaken for another:

The Present Continuous is used to describe situations and actions that the speaker considers temporary. The Present Simple describes situations that the speaker perceives as permanent.
Linda is working at the ice cream shop during summer. - In the summer Linda works in an ice cream shop. (when the summer ends, Linda will no longer work at this location)
Sam works as a manager at the ice cream shop. - Sam works manager at an ice cream store. (this is his full-time job)
If we describe repeated actions that are associated with the present moment, we use the Present Continuous. And if they are not connected with the present moment, we use the Present Simple.
I "m speaking with my mom a lot these days. - Lately I have often I say with mom on the phone. (there is a connection with the current moment)
I speak with my aunt who lives in New York twice a year. - Twice a year I I'm talking with his aunt who lives in New York. (no connection with the present moment)
Present Continuous describes an action happening at the present moment. The Present Simple is used to describe facts that remain true at any given time.
Kathy is speaking with her father at the moment. - Now Katie speaks with his father. (she is speaking at this moment in time, the conversation will be over)
Kathy speaks English. - Katie speaks in English. (she can speak English, this statement remains a fact at any given time)

We suggest you take a test to reinforce the rules for using the Present Continuous tense.

Test on the topic “Present Continuous - present continuous tense in English”

When we talk on the phone, we are often asked “What are you doing now?”, and we usually answer, for example, “I am chilling / drinking coffee / cooking / reading a book.” In the answer we use “Present Continuous” or “present continuous tense”.

This tense helps to describe the action that is taking place at the moment of speech being spoken. This is our first rule for using “Present Progressive Tense”. But let's find out more, shall we?

Using the Present Continuous Tense

So, we use “Present Continuous” in the following cases:

when we talk about an action that is happening (or not happening) right now, at the moment of speech. Marker words can be used here: “ now" (Now), " at the moment" (At the moment). Also, we can use this tense for two actions that occur simultaneously in the present.

She"s drinking tea now.- She is drinking tea now.
He"s not playing computer games now because he"s sleeping.- Now he doesn’t play computer games because he’s sleeping.

when the action occurs in the present, but not at a specific moment of speech.

Something is happening around now. In this case " now” matters not only this second, but also today, as well as this week, this month or even this year.

I am reading an interesting book.- I’m reading an interesting book (I started reading it before the moment of the speech and will continue to read it for some time, but right now I’m not busy reading).
I usually drink tea, but today I’m drinking coffee. - I usually drink tea, but today I drink coffee.

when we talk about an action that develops and changes. Such action may be indicated by the words “ change"(change), " get/become"(become), " rise" (get up), " fall" (fall), " grow"(grow), " improve" (to improve), " begin/start"(begin).

Your English is getting better.- Your English is getting better.
Our country is developing.- Our country is developing.

when we talk about the near future, planned actions and plans. We use “Present Continuous” only with those actions that we have already firmly decided to perform. Marker words: “ this/next week"(this/next week), " this/next weekend"(this/next weekend), " this/next year"(this/next year), " tonight" (In the evening), " today" (Today), " tomorrow"(Tomorrow).

I am having a lesson tomorrow at 4.10 p.m.- I have a lesson tomorrow at 16:00 (I have already planned the action and know all the details).
We are going to the theater next Monday.- We are going to the theater next Monday (we know the name of the play, which theater, time, bought tickets, etc.).

when we want to show dissatisfaction, indignation, irritation. In these cases we use the words always(Always), constantly(constantly), all the time(all the time), forever(forever) to show that a person regularly does something that we don’t like and that it annoys us.

They are always complaining.- They always complain.
He's constantly biting his nails.- He constantly bites his nails.

As you may have noticed, the form of "Present Continuous Tense" is as follows:

Affirmative: Subject + verb "to be" + V-ing
Interrogative: Verb "to be" + subject + V-ing ?
Negative: No + subject + verb "to be" + not + V-ing

Nota Bene: different subjects have different forms of the verb “to be”: “I am", “he/she/it is", "you/we/they are».

Present Continuous Forms

Let's look at all forms of “Present Progressive Tense” using the example of the verb “work” - to work.

Affirmative	Negative	Questions
I am working now.	I am not working now.	Am I working now?
You are working now.	You are not working now.	Are you working now?
He is working now.	He is not working now.	Is he working now?
She is working now.	She is not working now.	Is she working now?
It is working now.	It is not working now.	Is it working now?
We are working now.	We are not working now.	Are we working now?
They are working now.	They are not working now.	Are they working now?

The main verb or semantic verb in "Present Continuous" has the ending "-" ing" Usually we just need to add this ending to the verb, but as always there are exceptions.

Also, do not forget about “insidious verbs” ( state verbs), which are not used in Present Continuous Tense. They can be divided into 6 groups:

Senses and perception: to feel, to hear, to see, to smell, to taste.
Opinion: to assume, to believe, to consider, to doubt, to feel (= to think), to find (= to consider), to suppose, to think.
Emotions and desires: to envy, to fear, to dislike, to hate, to hope, to like, to love, to mind, to prefer, to regret, to want, to wish.
Mental states: to forget, to imagine, to know, to mean, to notice, to recognize, to remember, to understand.
Measurement: to contain, to cost, to hold, to measure, to weigh.
Others: to look (= resemble), to seem, to be (in most cases), to have (= to possess).

But as always, there are several cases where state verbs are used with "Present Continuous". This happens when a verb has several meanings and one of them shows an action, and also when we want to show that the situation is temporary.

The steak tastes good.- This steak tastes great (steak always tastes so good).
The chef is tasting the steak.- The cook tastes the steak (he is tasting it now).

Conclusion

So, we have looked at the main features of using “Present Continuous”. It is used quite often in situations, for example, when we talk about the present, the future, our plans, and temporary events.

We hope that the article will help you understand all the nuances. Don't stop evolving!

We invite you to familiarize yourself with other tenses of the English language

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

Life moves on, and sometimes we don’t notice the events happening around us. The English, in order to draw a little attention to the beautiful seconds of the present, use the Present Continuous Tense.

What is the present continuous tense and why use it? Maybe many will be surprised, but in the Russian language there are also long tenses, it’s just that the grammar does not distinguish them, because we already understand the difference between “goes” and “goes,” “came” and “went.” Changing suffixes, prefixes, and even the root itself seems natural to us, just like the English use of auxiliary verbs. Present Progressive (Continuous) helps convey the duration of the process, that it is happening at the moment.

Comparison of present tenses

To make it easier to understand, let's look at some examples:

The main difference between these times is the display of action. If the first simply states a fact, says what is, then the continuous or Continuous reveals in detail how this action proceeds.

Education

The rules of the Present Continuous are quite easy to remember. To do this, you will need to remember the conjugation of the verb to be in the present tense and form the form of the first participle (Participle 1) or, in other words, a verb ending in -ing. This may sound a little confusing, but in reality it is easy. Let's look at the example of the verb to work:

TO BE (AM, IS, ARE) + Ving

What does this diagram mean? Thus, with the pronoun “I” the form “am” is used. For “she, he, it” we substitute “is”, but for all the others (you, we, they) we use “are”. After auxiliary verbs we put a predicate ending in ing.

I am working now. - I am working now.

She (He, It) is working now. - She's working now.

They (You, We) are working now. - They are working now.

English grammar Present Continuous (Progressive) tense says that this tense can be used in various sentences not only in meaning, but also in type: narrative, negative and interrogative. Of all tenses, the rules for the Present Continuous in this case are the easiest: either add the particle “not”, or swap the subject and auxiliary verb.

Subject + to be + Ving + minor members (affirmative sentence).
Subject + to be + not + Ving + minor members (negative sentence).
To be + subject + Ving + minor members (interrogative sentence)?

I am writing a letter right now.
I am not reading a book now.
Are you cooking dinner now?

Of course, despite the simplicity of the formation of forms, the grammar of present continuum is complicated by some nuances: writing features with the ending -ing.

If the verb ends in "e", and there is a consonant before it, then this letter disappears: use-using, manage - managing. But: dye - dyeing.
Letter "l" at the end of the word it is doubled: travel - travelling.
And here "y", despite previous consonants or vowels, is preserved (changes in some English rules, but not in the verb): stay - remaining, study - studying.
The consonant after a short stressed syllable is doubled: stop - stopping, sit - sitting. And, if at the end of the word there is a stressed syllable “ -er,- ur": occur - occurring, prefer - preferring. That's why it's so important to first get to know stressed and unstressed syllables.
"ie" changes to "y"at the end of a verb: die - dying.

Another difficulty is caused by verbs that are not used in the continuous form. In the article you will find out all the details.

Use

There are several uses of this tense in sentences and speech. How and why to use Continuous, you will learn from the following rules.

To express an action that is happening right now, at the moment of conversation. Such sentences are often accompanied by the indicators now, at (the) present moment, at this moment, Look! Listen! right now, just now.

What are you doing? — I am cooking now. Come and have supper with us. - What are you doing? I'm cooking now. Come and have dinner with us.

Some sentences emphasizing action in the present moment can be expressed parallel. So, to tell that the action is happening now, it lasts, conjunctions such as while, when, as help:

I am reading a book while children are playing in their room. — I read a book while the children play in the room.

Present Continuous is used to express actions that take a slightly longer period, but emphasizes that the action does not occur constantly, but rather lasts some period. The following hints can be used here: still, the whole morning (evening, night), all day.

I am reading the novel by K. Smirnov. — I’m reading a novel by K. Smirnov (the action is extended over time).
She is cooking the whole day. — She cooks all day.
It is raining all day. — It’s been raining all day.
Don't bother him! He is still sleeping. - Don't bother him! He's still sleeping.

If we are something planned for the near future, then it is better to express your plans in the present continuous. Here there must be hints in the sentence so as not to confuse Present and Future. These can be either tonight, tommorow, or verbs of motion. But most often the construction is used to be going to, which translates as “I’m going, intending”:

Are you doing anything tonight? —Are you doing anything this evening?
I am going to buy a new TV set. — I'm going to buy a new TV.

Well, the proposals are especially difficult reproach, irritation, condemnation and indignation. Usually everything is accompanied by emotional overtones and the adverbs always, too often, constantly, never again. All these are indicators of Present Simple (speaks about an ordinary event, fact), so look inside the sentence, text, meaning, so as not to get confused. Let's compare:

He is always going away for weekends. “He’s always going away for the weekend.”
He always goes away for weekends. — He always leaves for the weekend.

If the action is constantly changing, developing, carrying dynamic character, then select Present Continuous:

His handwriting is improving. — He writes better and better.
Fitness is becoming a generally accepted principle of life. — Fitness is becoming a generally accepted principle of life.

Of course, at first you need to often look at the rules for presentation continuum or at the table. But nothing, over time everything will be simpler, clearer and easier.

Present Continuous - the present continuous tense of the English language, means
action taking place at the present moment; an action that is a continuous process taking place at the moment of speech; future planned action. When we talk about such an event, we usually use the words now(Now), at the moment(At the moment), currently, presently(currently), etc. The action is incomplete.

Affirmative form

Affirmative form present tense is formed from the auxiliary verb " to be" in the corresponding person of the present tense ( am, is, are) and the semantic verb in the ing form ( V-ing), which follow the subject.

I am watching TV now -
I'm watching TV now

I am(=I"m) eat ing. -
I eat.

She is reading at the moment -
She is reading at the moment

Not reading a book. -
He is reading a book (now).

We are working now -
We are working now.

We/you/they are(=we"re/you"re/they"re) sing ing. -
We/you/they sing.

The water is boiling. Can you turn it off? -
The water is boiling at the moment. Turn it off.

Currently I am working on a very exciting project. -
Currently I'm working on a very interesting project.

We can't come right now because we are watching TV. -
We can't come right now because we watch TV.

Interrogative form

To ask a question in the present continuous tense, you need to use a verb "to be" before subject, a semantic verb in the form " -ing" should after the subject.

Am I reading now? -
I am reading now?

Is he reading a new book? -
Is he reading a new book?

Are we waiting for a bus? -
Are we waiting for the bus?

Are we playing basketball? -
Are we playing basketball now?

Are children enjoying the party? -
Do the children enjoy the holiday?

Is she speaking to her mother? -
Is she talking to her mother?

Is Mary sleeping?
Yes, she is. (She's sleeppin.)
No, she is not. (No, she is not sleeping)
No, she"s not. (She"s not sleeping)
No, she isn't (She isn't sleeping)

Special questions in the Present Continuous

Where is Mary sleeping?
On the sofa. (She's sleeping on the sofa)

Why are you watching TV?
Because I like this program. (I"m watching TV because I like this program)

Negative form

The negative form is formed by posing the negation " not" after the auxiliary verb.

They are not playing football now.
They don't play football now.

They are very busy.
They are very busy.

Compare with the present indefinite:

They don't play football at all. - They don't play football at all.

Interrogative-negative form

In interrogative-negative form the particle not is placed immediately after the subject or before the subject, forming a shortened form of the auxiliary verb and particle:

Am I not working?
Is he not working? (Isn't he working?)
Are we not working? (Aren't we working?)

+ She is standing.
- She is not standing.
? Is she standing?
Yes, she is. No, she is not. (No, she isn't.)

Affirmative form

Interrogative form

Negative form

... + am/is/are + IV

Am/Is/Are ... + IV ?

... am/is/are not + IV

I am (=I "m) playing.

I'm playing. (Now)

Am I playing?

Am I playing?

I am not (=I "m not) playing.

I do not play.

She

is playing

=(..."s playing)

she

play ing?

She

is not playing

=(isn't playing)

You

They

are playing

=(..."re playing)

Are

you

they

play ing?

You

They

are not playing

=(aren't playing)

Present Continuous to express actions taking place at the moment of speech

- What are you writing? - I am writing a letter to a friend of mine.
- What are you (now) writing? - I am writing (now) a letter to my friend.

They are not working. They are on their holidays. - They don't work (now). They are on vacation.

If at the moment the fact of the action itself is more important for the speaker than the process, then Present Indefinite is used rather than Present Continuous:

Why don't you answer? - Why don’t you answer?

Stop talking! Why don't you listen? - Stop talking! Why aren't you listening?

If at the moment of speech two simultaneous processes occur, then all three options for transmitting these actions are possible: both in Indefinite, one in Indefinite - the other in Continuous, both in Continuous:

Do you hear what he says? = Do you hear what he’s saying? = Are you listening to what he’s saying?
Do you hear (listen) what he says

Present Continuous tense markers

English verbs in the Present Continuous used c
temporary markers:
still- still,
now- Now,
at present- currently,
at the moment- At the moment,
meanwhile- Meanwhile,
while- Bye

Moreover, the presence of words denoting the moment of speech: now, at this moment, etc. is possible, but not at all necessary.

I am sitting at my table and writing. -
I'm sitting at the table and writing. (Now)

The bus is coming. -
The bus is coming.

It is raining. -
It's raining. (At the moment)

Mary, what are you doing? -
Mary, what are you (now) doing?

You are not listening to me. -
You don't listen to me.

Verbs that are not used in the Continuous:

(verbs of feelings)verbs of senses:
feel - feel,
hear - to hear,
notice - to notice
see - to see,
smell - smell,
sound - to sound,
taste - try.

I hear a siren. Do you here it too

(verbs of need and need) needs and wants:
need - to need,
wish - to wish,
want - want.

I want an apple

(tastes and dislikes) likes and dislikes:
dislike - not to love,
hate - to hate,
like - like,
love - to love,
prefer - to prefer.

(knowledge) knowledge:
forget - to forget,
know - to know
realize - realize
understand - to understand.

The Present Continuous is formed using the verb to be and the -ing form of the verb

To express a long-term action taking place in the present period of time, although not necessarily at the moment of speech, for example:

I am learning to drive. -
I'm learning to drive a car. (currently)

He is studying at school. -
He goes to school. (currently)

My husband is working on an invention. -
My husband is (currently) working on an invention.

Not writing a new play. -
He is writing a new play. (not right now, but at this point in life)

That firm is carrying on negotiations for the purchase of ore. -
This company is negotiating the purchase of ore.

to express future action

The Present Continuous is also used to express future action:

To express a planned future action (the actor expresses both the intention to perform the action and the confidence in its completion, since there is an agreement, plan, tickets, etc.), especially with verbs denoting movement or action. In this case, time adverbials are almost always used. This form is typical of the colloquial style, while Present Indefinite is typical of the formal style.

Such constructions often contain the words today, this week and even tomorrow

We are leaving tomorrow at 6.

I"m going to visit my aunt this evening -
I decided to go to my uncle this evening.

1) To express a planned future action (the actor expresses both the intention to perform the action and the confidence in its completion, since there is an agreement, plan, tickets, etc.), especially with verbs denoting movement or action. In this case, time adverbials are almost always used. This form is typical of the colloquial style, while Present Indefinite is typical of the formal style.

I'm leaving tomorrow. -
I leave tomorrow.

We're flying to Paris in the morning. -
We fly to Paris in the morning.

We are dining out on Saturday. -
We dine out on Saturday.

He is taking his examination on Friday. -
He is taking an exam on Friday.

2 To express a future action in adverbial subordinate clauses, conditions and time are introduced by conjunctions of condition (if if, in case, etc.) or time (before before, until (till) until... not, while in while, while, when when, etc.), for example:

If I am sleeping when he comes, wake me up, please. -
If I'm sleeping when he comes, please wake me up.

colloquial abbreviations:

Abbreviations used in colloquial speech:

I am= I"m
He (she, it) is = He"s (she"s, it"s)
We (you, they) are=we"re (you"re, they"re)
am not="m not
is not= isn"t="s not
are not=aren"t="re not

He's working.
He isn't working. = He's not working.
Aren't they working?

Present Continuous Tense (or Present Progressive Tense) is translated from English as “present continuous tense”. In English speech it is used on a par with the Present Simple, with the same frequency, and occupies an important place in grammar.

When the Present Continuous is used - when it is necessary to emphasize the duration of an action in the present. The limits of “duration” can be different: an action can last indefinitely or occupy a certain period of time - all these are cases of using the Present Continuous.

Present Continuous - formation of sentences of different types

Statement

According to the rules of the English language, any sentence is constructed in a certain order. In affirmative sentences, the subject takes first place, the predicate - second. In the Present Continuous, the predicate is made up of the auxiliary verb to be and the main (semantic) verb, which expresses the action. To be takes the desired form (am, is, are) depending on the subject, and the main verb takes on the ending -ing.

Formula: I am + ing verb Example: I am singing - I sing.
Formula: He/She/It is + ing verb Examples: He is smiling - He smiles. She is dancing - She is dancing. It is shining - It shines.
Formula: We/You/They are + verb-ing Examples: We are listening - We are listening. You are reading - You are reading. They are swimming - They are swimming.

Adding the ending -ing to a verb is a general rule. However, adding an ending can transform the stem of some verbs when forming the Present Continuous.

Verb ends in -e Rule: the last letter is discarded Example: make - making (to do)
The verb ends in -ie Rule: -ie is replaced by -y Example: lie - lying (lie down)
Monosyllabic verb ending in a vowel and a consonant Rule: last consonant is doubled Example: get - getting

Negation

When the Present Continuous is used in negative sentences, the auxiliary and main verb are separated by the particle not.

Formula: I am not + ing verb Example: I am not singing - I don’t sing.
Formula: He/She/It is not + ing verb Examples: He is not smiling - He does not smile. She is not dancing - She doesn’t dance. It is not shining - It does not shine.
Formula: We/You/They are not + verb-ing Examples: We are not listening - We are not listening. You are not reading - You are not reading. They are not swimming - They do not swim.

Question

When the Present Continuous is used in interrogative sentences, the auxiliary verb takes first place, followed by the subject and then the main verb.

Formula: Am I + verb-ing Example: Am I singing? - I sing?
Formula: Is He/She/It + verb-ing Examples: Is he smiling? - He smiles? She is dancing? - She is dancing? Is it shining? - Is it shining?
Formula: Are We/You/They + verb-ing Examples: Are we listening? - We are listening? Are you reading? - You are reading? Are they swimming? - They are swimming?

Present Continuous - used in typical cases

1. The action is happening right now, at the time of speech. You can also use the Present construction

Continuous for several actions occurring simultaneously in the present. Marker words: now (now), at the moment (at the moment).

Example: She is eating apple while I am drinking juice - She eats an apple while I drink juice. (two actions are performed simultaneously)

2. The action is extended in time and occurs in the present, but is not limited to the present second. It started a while ago and will continue for some time. During this period of time, the designated action is performed.

Marker words: now (now), currently (now, now), these days (In these days, the other day).

Example: We are moving into a new house - We are moving to a new house. (We are busy with the process of moving and will continue it, but at the time of speaking we are not specifically engaged in this, we are simply in a state of moving)

3. The situation is temporary.

Marker words: until (not yet), for (during), during (during).

Example: He is staying in New York for three months - He lives in New York for three months. (in three months, for some reason, he will leave New York, his period of stay in this city will end; this situation is temporary, he permanently resides, for example, in Moscow, and is in New York for work or in connection with studies)

4. The action is developing or constantly changing, the sentence often contains specific verbs to indicate it. Describing the process of change is a case of using the Present Continuous. Marker words: get (become), change (change), rise (rise), fall (fall), grow (grow), become (become), start (begin), improve (improve), begin (begin). Example: Your English is getting better - Your English is getting better. (there is a gradual increase in your level of English)

Special cases of using the Present Continuous construction

1. The deed is planned and will definitely be done in the near future, often with a date, place or some other details indicated.

Marker words: this/next week (this/next week), tonight (in the evening), today (today), tomorrow (tomorrow), this/next year (this/next year), this/next weekend (in these /next weekend).

Example: Next week we are buying a new car - Next week we are buying a new car. (we have not just decided, but have already chosen the brand of car and the car dealership where the purchase will be made)

2. We are talking about action in the present, influencing the near future, using verbs denoting movement.

Marker words: go (to go), move (to move), leave (to leave), start (to begin), come (to come), return (to return).

Example: I'm tired. I am going to bed. - I'm tired. I am going to sleep. (right now I feel tired and will go to sleep right after I report this)

3. The speech is emotionally charged, the speaker is dissatisfied, annoyed or outraged by something that constantly happens.

Marker words: all the time (all the time), always (always), constantly (constantly)

Example: You are always interrupting me! - You constantly interrupt me! (you do this all the time and it annoys me)

4. Present Continuous - cases of use with state verbs.

According to the rules, such verbs in English are not used in the present tense, since they denote feelings and mental processes that have no time limits - these verbs express a state rather than an action.

However, if the meaning of such a verb you need is a specific action that has a beginning and an end, then the phrase can be constructed using the Present Continuous formula.

Marker words: to love, to feel, to wish, to think, to see, to look, to smell, to have ) and others

Examples: The steak tastes good. - This steak tastes great. (steak prepared according to this recipe is always delicious) The chef is tasting the steak. - The cook tastes the steak. (he's doing it right now)

Using the Present Continuous in difficult cases

1. We are talking about something new with a contrast to the old.

Example: He has left university, now he is working with his friend - He left the university and is now working with his friend.

2. We are talking about the unusual behavior of a certain person, he suddenly began to behave differently than before.

Example: She is eating too much - She eats too much. (before this she did not have such a good appetite)

3. Present Continuous is used in subordinate clauses after conjunctions. The sentence speaks of two actions, one of which is single or “short” (Present Simple), the second long (Present Continuous). For an action that occurs “in the background,” the Present Continuous is used, and for an event that interrupts it, the Present Simple is used.

Marker words: as long as (yet), when (when), in case (if), if (if), while (while), unless (not yet).

Example: I try not to make noise in case my daughter is reading her book - I try not to make noise when my daughter reads.