If we talk about the popularity of the use of tenses in English, the Simple group will undoubtedly get the first place. However, this group alone will certainly not leave you for London, and therefore it is necessary to expand the possibilities of the language. The second most popular group of tenses, the Continuous group, can perfectly help with this. Like all other groups, it contains past, present and future tenses. Today we will focus on Present Continuous Tense (pronounced present continius tense) or the present continuous tense, having studied how this time is formed.
Present Continuous Tense (also Present Progressive Tense) or the present continuous tense is the time of the English language, which is responsible for actions that occur in the present tense at the moment of speaking.
At the initial stage of language learning, this time is often confused with the time of Present Simple. Yes, both in the first and in the second case, the matter concerns the present, but the difference between these times is colossal. In order not to get into trouble using these tenses, let's take a closer look at the Present Continuous tense in English.
The formation of Present Continuous is based on the use of auxiliary and semantic verbs. The auxiliary verb is to be in the present tense. Depending on the person and number, this time can have 3 forms:
| Pronouns / Pronouns |
to be in present tense |
| I | am |
| He | |
| We |
Participle I or present participle is used as a semantic verb. To form the present participle in the active voice, you do not need to separately memorize the rules for regular and irregular verbs. It is enough just to take any verb in the infinitive form, remove the preposition to and add the ending –ing.
| Examples in Present Continuous Tense | Way of education |
| I am learning Chinese. (I'm learning Chinese.) |
to learn -> learn learn + ing = learning |
| She is working hard. (She works hard.) |
to work -> work work + ing = working |
| They are dancing. (They are dancing.) |
to dance -> dance danc(e) + ing = dancing |
| We are leaving. (We are leaving.) |
to leave -> leave leave(e) + ing = leaving |
| She is dying. (She is dying.) |
to die -> die dy + ing = dying |
When attaching an ending, it is worth considering certain nuances:
- If a word ends in -e, that letter is omitted:
A verb cannot be formed in this way if there are two -e in the word. In this case, the standard rule applies:
- If the word ends in -ie, this combination of letters is replaced with -y:
The exception is words ending in -x and -w, which are not doubled:
If the word ends in the consonant -r, this letter should be doubled if there is no diphthong in front of it:
Doubling the consonant -l at the end is possible if the stress falls on the last syllable, and before -l there is a short vowel:
In British English, -l is doubled even if the stress does not fall on the final syllable.
Note that words that end in -ing are not always present participles. Often nouns and adjectives are expressed in such words:
Present Continuous: sentence forms
Now let's look at how sentences are formed using auxiliary and semantic verbs:
Affirmative Present Continuous
The affirmative form of Present Continuous contains a direct word order. In such a sentence, the auxiliary and semantic verbs come after the subject. Affirmative sentence scheme:
The sentences above are used in the active voice, where the action is performed by the subject. However, sometimes situations arise in which it is necessary to show that the action is directed at the object / person itself. In such cases, a passive voice is used, for the formation of which it is necessary to use three verbs: the same auxiliary verb to be in the present tense, the verb to be in Participle I (being) and the past participle (or Participle II):
| Subject + (be) + being + Past Participle |
Everything is clear with the first two, but the Past Participle has its own characteristics. It contains two forms of education, the choice of which depends on the correctness or irregularity of English verbs. So the past participle with regular verbs is formed by adding the ending -ed. Irregular verbs do not obey this rule: each of them has a single form, so you just need to try to remember such verbs.
In such sentences, the preposition by is often used, which shows who did the action. Examples:
The rule is also preserved for sentences in the passive voice:
The auxiliary verb in the affirmative and negative forms is often abbreviated in speech and writing, similar to the Present Simple tense:
Abbreviating am not in the negative form as amn't is generally not accepted. This form of negation for Present Continuous can be found in Scotland and Ireland.
Interrogative Present Continuous
The interrogative form in Present Continuous time is built based on the type of question:
- General and alternative questions push the auxiliary verb forward before the subject:
This question is answered briefly, using an auxiliary verb:
This question requires a full answer:
When using two or more semantic verbs, the auxiliary verb is used once at the beginning.
- A special question for the Present Continuous must contain an interrogative word that is placed before the auxiliary verb.
A complete answer is also needed here:
A short answer is required here, similar to the answer to the general question:
These were all the rules for the formation of Present Continuous, with which you can easily make a grammatically correct sentence.
Present Continuous: use
Present Continuous or present continuous tense is used in speech all the time. Consider all cases of using Present Continuous.
- The present continuous tense in English is used to indicate actions that are going on at the moment of speaking. Often in such a case, the indicator words now (now) and at the moment (at the moment) are used:
| She is passing an exam at the moment. | She is currently taking her exam. |
| I'm working now. | I am working right now. |
| She is talking with the boss about a new project. | She is talking to her boss about a new project. |
| Cake is being made in the kitchen. | A cake is being prepared in the kitchen. |
Do not confuse Present Simple and Continuous:
- Present Continuous Tense is also used when talking about actions that are happening now, but not specifically at this moment.
- The use of Present Continuous is possible with adverbs always / constantly (constantly), again and again (every now), all the time (all the time). Such sentences differ from Present Simple sentences in that they tend to imply the speaker's annoyance about some habit. As a Russian analogue, adverbs here can act in the sense of “always doing something”:
- The use of Present Continuous Tense is possible in cases where the speaker knows or assumes that the action will not last long. In such sentences there are words for / during (during), until / till (until / until).
The second part of the sentence in this construction is usually used in Present Simple.
- The Present Continuous is used when talking about planned actions in the future. Preference for this time in this case can be given only when the action is definitely decided to be carried out. Sentences may contain satellite words: tonight (tonight), today (today), tomorrow (tomorrow), the day after tomorrow (the day after tomorrow), this (next) week / month / year (this (next) week / month / year).
The translation of such constructions is usually carried out in the present tense, although, in fact, nothing changes from this even in Russian: it is clear that the action is not taking place now.
- The present continuous tense in English is also used to express actions that will take place in the near future, using verbs of motion. These include: go (go), come (come), leave (leave), move (move), take off (take off), land (land), return (return), move (move).
The translation is also in the present tense, although the future is implied.
- Present Continuous or Progressive Tense is used when talking about actions that change gradually. Often for this case, words in English are used that imply this change: change (change), increase (increase), decrease (decrease), improve (improve), rise (rise), grow (grow), fall (fall), begin / start (begin), become / get (become):
- Present Continuous is used when emphasis is placed on the unusual behavior of a person that is not observed for him:
- However, the above cases do not always apply. So, for example, exceptions to the rules in Present Continuous Tense are state verbs or state verbs, with which Continuous time cannot be used, since they themselves imply action. Such an action is usually not visible to the eye. These include verbs that are responsible for:
- emotions (love - love, hate - hate, adore - adore, respect - respect);
- processes of mental activity (think - to think, believe - to believe, assume - to believe);
- perception (feel - feel, hear - hear, see - see, notice - notice);
- ownership rights (have - to have, belong - to belong, possess - to possess, own - to own);
- desires (wish - to dream, want - to want, desire - to wish);
- another (succeed - to succeed, need - to need, find - to search, fail - to fail).
These verbs use Present Simple tense.
However, there are certain situations where the stative verb can be used as an ongoing one. This is possible if:
- a word from the list of state verbs has one more meaning:
- see (see) can be used in the meaning of "meet" or "inspect":
- appear (seem) in the meaning of "perform on stage":
- have in set expressions
- Present Continuous is also used to contrast something new with something old:
- The Present Continuous tense is used in subordinate clauses to show that one action continues during another. For this, Present Continuous is used in the subordinate part, and Present Simple is used in the main part. In such constructions, the words when (when), if (if), in case (in case), as long as (yet), unless (yet) are often found:
- In order to show one long action against the background of another, the union while (while) can be used, expressing the adverbial clauses of time. Both parts use Present Continuous time:
| She is checking my work while I'm eating. | She checks my work while I eat. |
| While I'm singing, he is playing the guitar. | While I sing, he plays the guitar. |
Today we studied what Present Continuous is and in what situations it is used. The grammar of the Present Continuous is not very difficult, so you will quickly master this tense by practicing all the mentioned use cases.
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Present Continuous Tense (or Present Progressive Tense) is translated from English as "real long time". In English speech, it is used on a par with Present Simple, with the same frequency, and occupies an important place in grammar.
When Present Continuous is used - when it is required to emphasize the duration of the action in the present. The limits of "duration" can be different: the action can last indefinitely or take a certain period of time - all these are cases of using Present Continuous.
Present Continuous - the formation of sentences of different types
Statement
According to the rules of the English language, any sentence is built in a certain order. In affirmative sentences, the subject takes the first place, the predicate - the second. In Present Continuous, the predicate is made up of the auxiliary verb to be and the main (semantic) verb that expresses the action. To be takes the correct form (am, is, are) depending on the subject, and the main verb takes on the ending -ing.
- Formula: I am + verb-ing Example: I am singing - I sing.
- Formula: He/She/It is + verb-ing 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 swim.
Adding the ending -ing to the 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)
- Verb ends in -ie Rule: -ie is replaced by -y Example: lie - lying
- One-syllable verb ending in a vowel followed by a consonant Rule: the last consonant is doubled Example: get - getting (to receive)
Negation
When the Present Continuous is used in negative sentences, the auxiliary and main verbs are separated by not.
- Formula: I am not + verb-ing Example: I am not singing - I don't sing.
- Formula: He/She/It is not + verb-ing Examples: He is not smiling - He does not smile. She is not dancing - She does not 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
In cases of using Present Continuous in interrogative sentences, the auxiliary verb takes the 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? - Does it shine?
- Formula: Are We/You/They + Verb-ing Examples: Are we listening? - We listen? Are you reading? - You read? Are they swimming? - They are swimming?
Present Continuous - use in typical cases
1. The action is happening right now, at the moment of speaking. You can also use the Present construct.
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 is eating an apple while I am drinking juice. (two actions happening at the same time)
2. The action is extended in time and takes place in the present, but is not limited to the present second. It started some time ago and will continue for some time. During this period of time, the indicated action is performed.
Marker words: now (now), currently (now, now), these days (These days, one of these days).
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 just 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 has been living in New York for three months. (in three months, for some reason, he will leave New York, his stay in this city will end; this situation is temporary, he permanently lives, for example, in Moscow, and is in New York for work or in connection with study)
4. The action is developing or constantly changing, the sentence often contains certain verbs to denote it. The description of 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 Uses of the Present Continuous Construction
1. The case is planned and will certainly be done in the near future, often with a date, place, or some other details.
Marker words: this / next week (this / next week), tonight (evening), today (today), tomorrow (tomorrow), this / next year (this / next year), this / next weekend (this /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 the car and the car dealership where the purchase will be made)
2. We are talking about an action in the present that affects the near future with the use of verbs denoting movement.
Marker words: go (go), move (move), leave (leave), start (start), come (come), return (return).
Example: I'm tired. I am going to bed. - I'm tired. I am going to sleep. (Right now I'm feeling tired and I'll go to bed right after I report this)
3. Speech is emotionally colored, 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 keep interrupting me! (you do it 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, 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 built according to the Present Continuous formula.
Marker words: to love (to love), to feel (to feel), to wish (to wish), to think (to think), to see (to see), to look (to look), to smell (to smell), to have (to have ) other
Examples: The steak tastes good. - This steak tastes great. (the steak cooked according to this recipe is always delicious) The chef is tasting the steak. - The chef is tasting the steak. (he is doing it at the moment)
The use of Present Continuous in difficult cases
1. It's about something new versus 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 that, she did not have such a good appetite)
3. Present Continuous is used in subordinate clauses of time after conjunctions. The sentence refers to two actions, one of which is single or “short” (Present Simple), the second is long (Present Continuous). For an action that occurs “in the background”, use Present Continuous, and for an event interrupting it, use Present Simple.
Marker words: as long as (while), 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 is reading.
Present is translated as "present" and tells us that the action is being performed at the moment. Continuous is translated as "long / long" and says that the action began some time ago and is still going on.
Present Continuous is a long time. We use it when we want to say that something is in progress. For example, I am swimming, that is, I am in the process of swimming. Present Simple, on the other hand, simply shows the fact of this or that action without a process. Let's look at examples.
1. Present Simple
I drive a car.
I drive a car.
2. Present Continuous
I am driving a car.
I'm driving.
In Russian, these two sentences are translated almost identically, but but in English they express a completely different meaning:
1) just the fact that I can drive a car: I have a license and I can drive it.
2) I am driving: I have been driving a car for some time and now I am still driving, that is, I am in the process of driving.
Now let's take a closer look at exactly what cases we use present continuous.
Using Present Continuous Tense
The simple continuous tense is used in several cases.
1. When we talk about an action that is happening now (at the moment).
That is, the action began some time ago and is still ongoing (is in progress).
Example: “She is dancing” - she is in the process of dancing; "Children play with toys" - they are in the process of playing.
2. An action that is currently being performed, but not necessarily at the moment.
By this we emphasize the process of its duration.
Example: "He is studying at the university" - he is in the process of studying; "She's working on a big project" - She's in the process of working on a project.
Affirmative sentences in Present Continuous Tense
An affirmative sentence is formed by using the present tense auxiliary verb to be (am, are, is) and the ending -ing, which is added to the action verb.
The person in question + am/are/is + verb + -ing.
| I | am | |
| You | ||
| We | are | playing |
| They | swimming | |
| She | cooking | |
| He | is | |
| It |
for example
They are watch ing TV.
They watch TV.
I am drink ing tea.
I'm drinking tea.
He is smok ing now.
He is smoking now.
Rules for adding the ending -ing
There are several peculiarities when adding the ending -ing to verbs.
- If the verb ends in -e, then the letter e we remove and add to the verb -ing:
dance e- dance ing- dance;
mov e-mov ing-; move.
- If the verb is short, we double the last consonant:
si t-si tting- sit;
ba n-ba nning- forbid.
Exceptions: verbs ending in -x and - w:
mi x-mi xing- to mix;
flo w- flo wings- flow.
- If the verb ends in -ie, then we replace this ending with -y:
l ie-l ying- lie;
t ie-t ying- bind.
Words indicating time
The following words can help us determine what exactly is Present Continuous in front of us:
- now - now;
- at the moment - at the moment.
Let's look at examples.
They are running now.
They are running now.
I am eating now.
I am eating now.
We are working at the moment.
We are working at the moment.
She is having a break at the moment.
She is on hiatus at the moment.
Verbs not used in Present Continuous Tense
Some English verbs are never used in this tense.
1. Verbs expressing feelings
Present Continuous does not use verbs that are associated with the senses (sight, hearing, touch, etc.).
- hear - to hear
- smell - to smell,
- feel - feel, etc.
2. Verbs expressing a mental state
- forget - forget,
- know - to know
- understand - understand, etc.
3. Verbs expressing emotions and desires
- love - to love,
- want - want
- like - like, etc.
4. Verbs expressing possession of something
- have - to have,
- possess - possess, etc.
Why are these verbs not used in Present Continuous?
As we have already discussed, this tense is used to emphasize that an action is in progress: we started doing it some time ago, we are doing it now, but after some time we will finish doing it.
To be used in our continuous tense, the verb must be able to last. For example: cook - you started cooking, cook now, finish after a while.
Returning to our exception verbs. We cannot start smell (sniff) or hear (hear) and end this process after some time. This is what we do all the time. We talk about what we can smell and hear. Similarly, forgetting, understanding or emotions cannot be processes, because otherwise it will turn out that these processes began sometime, are now continuing and someday will end.
Negative form in Present Continuous Tense
The negation is constructed as an affirmative sentence, only the negative particle not is added to our verb to be.
The one in question + am/are/is + not + verb + -ing.
| I | am | ||
| You | |||
| We | are | playing | |
| They | not | cooking | |
| She | swimming | ||
| He | is | ||
| It |
Examples
We are not do ing our homework now.
We are not doing homework now.
She is not drive ing at the moment.
She is not driving at the moment.
I am not listen ing music now.
I don't listen to music now.
Interrogative form in Present Continuous Tense
To ask if someone is doing something right now, the verb to be comes first.
Am/are/is + the one in question + verb + -ing?
| Am | I | |
| you | ||
| Are | we | playing? |
| they | cooking? | |
| she | swimming? | |
| Is | he | |
| it |
Statement
I am read ing the book.
I am reading a book.
You are swimm ing in a pool.
You swim in the pool.
She is clean ing her room now.
She is cleaning the room now.
A question and a positive answer (our “yes”) would look like this:
| Question | Short answer (contains the verb to be) | Full answer (built as an affirmative sentence) |
| Am I read ing the book? I am reading a book? |
Yes, I am. |
Yes, I am read ing the book. Yes, I am reading a book. |
| Are you swimm ing in a pool? Do you swim in the pool? |
Yes, you are. |
Yes, you are swimm ing in a pool. |
| Is she clean ing her room now? Is she cleaning the room now? |
Yes, she is. |
Yes, she is clean ing her room now. Yes, she is cleaning the room now. |
Negative answers (our “no”) would look like this:
| Question | Short answer (contains the verb to be + not) | Full answer (formed as a negative sentence) |
| Am I read ing the book? I am reading a book? |
no, I amnot. |
no, I am not read ing the book. No, I am not reading a book. |
| Are you swimm ing in a pool? Do you swim in the pool? |
No, you arenot. |
No, you are not swimm ing in a pool. No, you don't swim in the pool. |
| Is she clean ing her room now? Is she cleaning the room now? |
No, she isnot. |
No, she is not clean ing her room now. No, she is not cleaning the room now. |
Examples
Are are they playing tennis?
They are playing tennis?
Yes, they are.
Yes, they are playing.
Are are they playing tennis?
They are playing tennis?
No, they are not.
No, they don't play.
Is he sleeping now
He is sleeping now?
Yes, he is sleeping now.
Yes, he is sleeping now.
Is he sleeping now?
He is sleeping now?
No, he is not sleeping now.
No, he is not sleeping now.
Special questions in Present Continuous Tense
When we ask a question with the following question words:
- what - what;
- where - where;
- who - who;
- which - which one;
- why - why.
These words are put in the first place in the sentence, and the further word order will be the same as in a regular question. The scheme is this:
Interrogative word + am/are/is + the one in question + verb + -ing?
| am | I | ||
| you | |||
| What | are | they | reading? |
| Where | we | playing? | |
| why | she | cooking? Reinforcement taskNow for some practice. Translate the following sentences into English. Be careful, among them are hidden sentences that relate to Present Simple. 1. She is flying in an airplane at the moment. As always, leave your answers in the comments below the article. |
It turns out that the British have their favorite times. Present Continuous tense or Present Continuous tense is one of them. We are talking today about how the Present Continuous is formed and when it is used.
General information
In Russian, you can find sentences of the following type:
- You can not rush! The shop is still open!
- She is now choosing a new dress.
- At the moment they are discussing new issues.
As can be seen from the examples, we are talking about long-term actions, about processes that occur at the very moment when they are spoken about. In Russian, this is indicated by such words as “now”, “at the moment”, “still”. Verbs are used in the present tense. The situation is different in English. To express duration, only adverbs of time are not enough. The main exponent of duration in the language of Foggy Albion is the tense form Present Continuous (Present Continuous):
- Don't hurry! The shop is still working!
- Now she is choosing a new dress.
- At this moment they are discussing new questions.
Education
Sentences in English are built according to the direct word order. In the first place - the subject, in the second - the predicate. Affirmative sentences in Present Continuous are no exception. Only the predicate is expressed by two verbs: auxiliary to be and the main one with the addition of the ending to its basis - ing. The following table demonstrates how the formula works in practice "subjects + to be + main verb + -ing":
When adding the ending -ing to the stem of a semantic verb, it is necessary to pay attention to the final vowel or consonant:
- if the verb ends with a silent vowel -e, then it is omitted ( to bake - baking, to blame - blaming);
- if the verb ends in -ie, then this combination is replaced by -y ( to die - dying);
- if the verb consists of one syllable and ends in a vowel + consonant, then the final consonant is doubled ( to cut - cutting, to put - putting).
Negative sentences
Negation in English is built using the negative particle not (not). In the Present Continuous tense, it stands between the auxiliary and main verbs: subject + to be + not + main verb + -ing.
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Question
A characteristic feature of English interrogative sentences is the reverse word order, when the auxiliary verb comes first. In Present Continuous questions are built according to the following formula: to be + subject + main verb + -ing?
Use cases
The answer to the question of when Present Continuous (Present Continuous) is used lies on the surface - in the very name of time. The word Present (Present) says that the action takes place in the present, and Continuous (Long) emphasizes the duration, the duration of the event. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Under dark water, other nuances of using this time are hidden:
- To illustrate an action that is happening at the moment of speech. In this case, it is possible to use such time markers as at this moment (at the moment), now (now):
My father is not smoking now. He is speaking to our neighbor - My father doesn't smoke now. He is talking to our neighbor.
- To describe an action that is extended over time: it is happening now and will continue for some time. In order to emphasize this “extension”, the time indicators these days (one of these days), currently (now) are used:
My grandmother is currently sewing a new shirt for me
- To illustrate temporary situations, events. In these sentences, you can find words such as until (yet), for (during), during (during):
Ann is working as a teacher until she moves to another city - Anna works as a teacher until she moves to another city (her job is not permanent, but temporary).
- To describe events that do not "stand in one place", they develop, change. As a rule, in these cases, the verbs to change (change), to get (become), to begin (begin), to improve (improve), to become (become) are used:
His skills are getting better - His skills are getting better.
- To describe planned activities, as well as events that should happen in the near future:
Tonight they are organizing New Year party - Tonight they are preparing a New Year's party.
The stable expression to be going to (gather) is used in the meaning of the future (We are going to visit a doctor - We are going to visit the doctor).
What have we learned?
The considered rules and examples of Present Continuous for children explain in detail how this tense form is formed when a consonant is doubled and what are the exceptions when adding the ending -ing to the main verb. It was also explained for beginners and complex cases of the use of time.
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Here you can take a lesson on the topic: Present Continuous in English. Present continuous tense.
In this lesson, we will get acquainted with another commonly used tense in English called Present Continuous(Present continuous). The Present Continuous is usually used for naming actions currently taking place. Additionally, this time can be characterized as unfinished and visual.
English verbs take on a special form to express the present continuous tense, namely the verb to be in the appropriate form is combined with a verb ending in the suffix -ing (Ving). Thus, the verb formula in Present Continuous is as follows: to be + Ving. For example:
He is watching football on TV. - He watches football on TV. (action is happening at the moment)
To better understand what verbs look like in Present Continuous, consider the conjugation of the verb work (to work) using personal pronouns as an example:
I am working (I "m working) - I work
you are working (you "re working) - you work / you work
he is working (he "s working) - he works
she is working (she "s working) - she works
it is working (it "s working) - he / she works (inanimate)
we are working (we "re working) - we are working
they are working (they "re working) - they work
As can be seen from the conjugation, there are also abbreviated forms. Moreover, they are preferable.
An interesting feature of verbs with the ending -ing is their pronunciation. As a rule, the last letter (g) in the ending is not read, and a deep nasal sound /ŋ/ is obtained. For example:
dancing /"da:nsiŋ/
singing /"siŋiŋ/ (particularly difficult to pronounce because of the double nasal sound)
reading /"ri:diŋ/
listening /"lisəniŋ/
writing /"raitiŋ/
There are also several spelling rules verbs to which the ending -ing is added:
1. So, for example, for verbs ending in the letter -e, when adding the ending -ing, the letter -e disappears. For example:
change - changing (change - changes)
arrive - arriving (arrive - arrives)
dance - dancing (dance - dancing)
2. In monosyllabic verbs ending in one vowel and one consonant, when adding the suffix -ing the consonant is doubled. For example:
swim - swimming (swim - swims)
run - running (run - runs)
sit - sitting (sit - sit)
3. If the verb ends with a combination of letters -ie, then when adding the ending -ing, this combination is replaced by the letter - y. For example:
lie - lying (lie - lies)
die - dying (to die - dies)
tie - tying (tie - tie)
There is a category of verbs to which ending -ing is not added. These verbs are called static verbs. These primarily include verbs of all feelings (for example: like, love, hate, smell, see, hear, etc.), verbs of thought processes (for example: think, know, understand, believe, etc. .), and all modal verbs.
I. As already noted, the Present Continuous is closely connected with the present, namely with actions at the moment. For this reason, very often in sentences expressed in the present continuous tense there are marker words: now, at the moment. Let's look at an example:
I am reading a book now. - I am reading a book now.
They are fishing now. - They are fishing now.
Claude is watching a cartoon at the moment. - Claude is watching a cartoon at the moment.
Looking at the examples, we can conclude that in affirmative proposals in Present Continuous time are of great importance subject and modified predicate, and the circumstance (now, at the moment) and the object, depending on the context, may be omitted. As a rule, even without the words now or at the moment, the formula to be + Ving in a sentence means that the action is happening right now. Let's look at a few more examples:
The baby "s (is) crying. - The child is crying (now, at the moment).
They "re having a party. - They are having a party (now, at the moment).
The dogs are barking. - Dogs are barking (now, at the moment).
She "s playing the violin. - She plays the violin (now, at the moment).
They "re moving furniture. - They move (rearrange) furniture (now, at the moment).
II. Negative sentences in Present Continuous time are formed by adding the particle "not" to the verb to be in the appropriate form. Consider the example of conjugation of the verb talk (to speak) with personal pronouns:
I am not talking (I "m not talking) - I don't speak
you are not talking (you aren "t talking) - you don't talk / you don't talk
he is not talking (he isn "t talking) - he does not speak
she is not talking (he isn "t talking) - she does not speak
it is not talking (it isn "t talking) - he / she does not speak (inanimate; can also apply to babies, and any animals)
we are not talking (we aren't talking) - we don't talk
they are not talking (they aren't talking) - they don't talk
The examples show that abbreviations are also possible. In most cases, they are preferred. Let's take a look at some suggestions:
He isn't watching football, he's reading a magazine. He doesn't watch football, he reads a magazine.
They aren't eating cookies, they're eating ice-cream. They don't eat cookies, they eat ice cream.
The baby isn "t crying, it is sleeping. - The baby is not crying, he is sleeping.
III. AT interrogative sentences in the Present Continuous time, the verb to be is brought forward and the following word order is obtained:
To be - Subject - Ving - (Object) - (Adverbial modifier - now, at the moment)?
Let's look at a few examples:
Are you looking at the tower? Are you looking at the tower?
Is he listening to the radio now? - Is he listening to the radio now?
Are the dogs barking? - Are the dogs barking?
Are you laughing? - You're laughing?
Is she writing a letter at the moment? - Is she writing a letter at the moment?
These examples relate to general questions and require short answers: yes or no. And short answers in Present Continuous repeat the verb to be in the question. For example:
Is he watching a film at the moment? -Yes, he is. -No, he isn't. - Is he watching TV at the moment? -Yes. -No.
Are Jill and Erica arguing now? - Yes, they are. -No, they aren't. - Are Jill and Erica fighting now? -Yes. -No.
For education special issues in Present Continuous, you need to use a question word before the verb to be (who, what, where, etc.) For example:
What are you doing now? - What are you doing now?
Where is she going? - Where is she going?
Who are they looking for? - Who are you looking for?
Why are they crying? - Why are they crying?
Thus, we examined the basic rules for the formation of different types of sentences in the present continuous tense, as well as some of the stylistic and phonetic features of this tense. For practice, it is recommended to build as many sentences as possible about the actions taking place around you at the moment, and this will be a good language exercise.
