1. What is the present continuous tense?
The present continuous tense is a verb form that describes actions happening at the moment of speaking or activities planned for the future.
2. Present continuous chart (present progressive)
The present continuous chart above offers a comprehensive overview of how to form sentences in this tense across various subjects. It illustrates the affirmative, negative, and interrogative structures of the present continuous in everyday conversation.
3. Use of the present continuous tense
Talking about something that is happening at the time of speaking
We use the present continuous tense to talk about ongoing actions happening at the time of speaking, which may continue in the future.
The present continuous tense is composed of the present simple tense of the verb to be + the present participle of the main verb.
N.B. To form the present participle, we add -ing to the base form of the verb, e.g., work => working, go => going.
- You are reading this sentence.
- You are learning English right now.
The following questions are frequently used in English. They mean "How are you?":
- How are you doing?
- How's it going?
- How are you getting on?
Expressing unfinished actions, which are not necessarily happening at the time of speaking
- I am looking for a job.
- Are you still working in a bank?
- I am learning Spanish.
- They are getting divorced.
- We are taking the murderer to court.
Talking about temporary situations
- I am currently living with my parents.
- I am staying with a friend for the summer holiday.
- Allica Bank is accepting applications for the position of loan manager at the moment.
- He is drinking a lot these days.
- I am temporarily closing my Facebook account.
Describing changing situations or actions in progress
- The economy is getting better.
- Brenda's health condition is getting worse.
- Your child is growing fast.
- Technology is progressing at an exponential rate.
- The train is arriving.
Talking about plans or intentions
We use the present continuous tense to talk about future arrangements or things we have planned to do at a specific time in the future.
- I am going out this evening.
- He is leaving tomorrow.
- My grandparents are visiting us this weekend.
- I'm looking forward to our meeting tomorrow.
- They are flying to London next week.
4. The form be + going to + verb (base form)
The form am/is/are + going to + the base form of the verb is frequently used to talk about future plans and intentions.
- I am going to break up with my girlfriend.
- I am going to bed now.
- They are going to take him to court.
- We are going to sell our house.
- She is going to have her hair cut.
5. Spelling rules of the present continuous
In most cases, we add -ing to the base form to make the -ing form.
Examples:
| be => being |
call => calling |
| say => saying |
try => trying |
| think => thinking |
feel => feeling |
| see => seeing |
ask => asking |
| look => looking |
do => doing |
| tell => telling |
drink => drinking |
In general, when the verb ends in -e, we take off the -e and add -ing.
| take => taking |
use => using |
| make => making |
give => giving |
| have => having |
rise => rising |
| become => becoming |
drive => driving |
| come => coming |
ride => riding |
| leave => leaving |
arrive => arriving |
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