B. Material of present continuous tense
Ø We use the present continuous
tense to show we are in the middle of an activity that is in
progress at this moment. The activity started in the past and will go on in the
future.
Examples:
I am reading / I'm writing.
So when we use the present continuous tense we are talking about something that is still not yet finished or complete at the time of speaking.
So when we use the present continuous tense we are talking about something that is still not yet finished or complete at the time of speaking.
The
present continuous tense of any verb is formed with the simple
present tense of the verb to be (=am, is, are) and the present
participle of the main verb (verb + ing)
Example:
I am eating a pie for lunch.
Example:
Mike is walking out after a row with his girlfriend.
Example:
Police are looking through a pile of papers and still haven't found what
they want.
Ø We use the present continuous tense:
·
for
an action that is still happening at the time of speaking.
Example:
She is cooking a meal now
- for an action that is still
going on about this time but not necessary at the time of speaking.
Example:
Jack is teaching at a secondary boys' school. (He is not actually
teaching now. He may be watching television or playing with his cat at the
moment of speaking.)
- to talk about an action that
has been planned or arranged to take place at a particular time in the
immediate or distant future.
Example:
We are performing magic tricks on stage in two weeks.
- to describe a situation that is
temporary and does not happen as usual.
Example:
He is usually the hero of the film, but he is playing the role of a
villain.
- for a changing or evolving
situation.
Example:
Pollution is causing global warming.'
- to describe a repeated action that
the speaker finds irritating.
Example:
He is forever making unfavourable comments about his
mother-in-law.
- with 'always', 'very often',
'forever', 'constantly' to describe an action that happens many times or
frequently.
Example:
My old car is always breaking down.
Example:
I very often go to my mum's for tea or coffee.
Example:
He told her that their love would last forever.
Example:
She is constantly reminding me to pay back the money I owe her.
- with time expressions such as
now, at this moment, at present, in a minute, just now, today, tonight,
tomorrow, nowadays, this week, next week, these days, this year.
Ø With present continuous tense
questions, we use: am/are/is + subject + ...ing
Am I angry? What are your cats doing in my garden? Is your dog barking at the postman?
Am I angry? What are your cats doing in my garden? Is your dog barking at the postman?
Ø We use the present continuous tense
in the following ways:
• Statement: I am shaving – we place the verb to be (am/is/are) after the subject (I).
• Negative: He is not sleeping – we place not after the verb to be (am/is/are).
• Question: Are they coming here? – we place the verb to be (am/is/are) before the subject (they)
• Statement: I am shaving – we place the verb to be (am/is/are) after the subject (I).
• Negative: He is not sleeping – we place not after the verb to be (am/is/are).
• Question: Are they coming here? – we place the verb to be (am/is/are) before the subject (they)
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