TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Present Continuous Form Present Continuous Uses Present Continuous: Spelling Time Expressions State Verbs

PRESENT CONTINUOUS FORM

Types of Sentences Affirmative Sentences Negative Sentences

Questions

AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES

Auxiliar:
Am (I)

Sujeto

Are (You, We, They)

Is (He, She, It)

Verbo en Infinitivo + -ing

Resto de la Oracin

NEGATIVE SENTENCES

Auxiliar: Am not (I)

Sujeto

Arent (You, We, They)

Isnt (He, She, It)

Verbo en Infinitivo + -ing

Resto de la Oracin

QUESTIONS

Auxiliar: Am (I)

Are (You, We, They)

Is (He, She, It)

Sujeto

Verbo en Infinitivo + -ing

Resto de la Oracin?

USES OF THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

1. TEMPORARY ACTIONS AND SITUATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW. 2. FIXED FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS. 3. REPEATED ACTIONS AND EVENTS HAPPENING AROUND THE PRESENT. 4. INFORMAL PRESENT-TENSE STORIES.

Temporary actions and situations that are happening now (1)

Sorry, Mr. Clark cant see you at the moment. Hes talking to a customer. Why dont you come visit us? Were just having lunch.
THESE SITUATIONS OR ACTIONS ARE IN PROGRESS AT THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING

Temporary actions and situations that are happening now (2)

Americas powerful online merchants are moving eastward, to the new net market in Europe. Im reading a book that my mother gave me for my birthday. THESE SITUATIONS OR ACTIONS ARE HAPPENING AROUND NOW, THOUGH NOT NECESSARILY AT THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING

Temporary actions and situations that are happening now (3)

Computer games are getting better every year. The number of pupils in the school is falling.

THESE SITUATIONS OR ACTIONS ARE A CURRENT TREND AND A SIGN OF CHANGE

Fixed future arrangements

Im playing chess with Molly next Thursday. Shes going to the doctor this Wednesday.

THESE SITUATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT THEY WERE PLANNED IN THE PRESENT

Repeated actions and events happening around the present

Why is he hitting the dog? Im traveling a lot these days.

ALTHOUGH THESE SITUATIONS REPEAT OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THEY ARE TEMPORARY SITUATIONS RATHER THAN ROUTINES.

Informal present-tense stories

Theres this Scotsman, you see, and hes walking through the jungle when he meets a gorilla. And the gorillas eating a snake sandwich. So the Scotsman goes up to the gorilla...

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS IS USED FOR BACKGROUND THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY HAPPENING WHEN THE STORY STARTS, OR THAT CONTINUE THROUGH THE STORY.

For most verbs, we usually add (ing) in order to form the present participle. E.g. sing-singing, paintpainting, watch-watching, etc.

When the verb finishes in (e), we drop the (-e) and then add (-ing) in order to form the present participle. E.g. give-giving, smile-smiling, writewriting, etc.

When the verb finishes in one vowel + one consonant (except w, x, y), we double the consonant and then add (-ing) in order to form the present participle. E.g. sit-sitting, run-running, swim-swimming, etc.

When a two-syllable verb has its second syllable stressed, we double the consonant and then add (-ing) in order to form the present participle. E.g. begin-beginning, regret-regretting, etc.

When the verb finishes in (-ic), we add a (-k) and then (-ing) in order to form the present participle. E.g. picnic-picnicking, mimic-mimicking, etc.

When the verb finishes in (-ie), we change the (-ie) to (-y) and then add (-ing) in order to form the present participle. E.g. lie-lying, die-dying, etc.

When the verb finishes in a vowel + (-l), we double the (-l) and then add ing to form the present participle. E.g. Cancel-cancelling, etc.

Clean

-ing

Cleaning

Drink

-ing

Drinking

Believe + -ing

Rise + -ing

Believing Raise + -ing

Raising

Rising Come + -ing

Coming

Grease + -ing

Greasing

Put

-ing

Putting

Let

-ing

Letting

Admit

-ing

Admitting

Traffic

-ing

Trafficking

Panic

-ing

Panicking

Travel

-ing

Travelling (UK)

Tunnel

-ing

Tunnelling

At the moment

(Right) Now

Nowadays

Currently

These days

Today

A word on always
This photocopier is always breaking down. Youre always disrespecting me.

WE USE ALWAYS TO EXAGGERATE OR COMPLAIN. WE EMPHASIZE ALWAYS WHEN SAYING THE STATEMENTS.

State verbs (1)

They refer to those verbs that describe states rather than actions. In a sense, nothing happens. For this reason, these verbs represent conditions that are almost always permanent. Verbs like these are not normally used in the present continuous.

STATE VERBS

The senses

Feelings

Thinking

Possession

Being

Other verbs

Appear, seem, look like

Hear

Smell

Notice, see

Sound

Taste (=have a flavor)

Dislike, hate

Enjoy, like, love

Fear

Please

Prefer, want, wish

Agree, disagree

Believe, expect (=believe), feel (=believe), think (=believe) Realize, recognize, understand

Doubt

Forget, remember

Imagine, suppose, suspect

Know

Belong to

Contain

Have (=possess)

Include

Lack

Owe

Own

Possess

Be

Consist of

Exist

Astonish, impress, surprise Deserve

Come

Cost

Depend on

Deny Measure (=have length) Resemble

Fit

Involve

Matter

Mean

Need

Promise

Satisfy

Weigh

State verbs (2)

Some state verbs can have a state meaning and an action meaning. For the first meaning, we always use present simple; for the second meaning, we can use present simple or present continuous.

Verb to be
Our suppliers are usually very helpful. Our suppliers are being very helpful at the moment.
THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOWS A STATE; THE SECOND ONE SHOWS A TEMPORARY SITUATION.

Verb to have
I have two sisters. Im having problems with this computer.

THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOWS A STATE; THE SECOND ONE SHOWS A TEMPORARY SITUATION.

Verb to taste
This soup tastes salty. Im tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt.

THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOWS A STATE; THE SECOND ONE SHOWS AN ACTION.

Verb to think
I think youre right. Im thinking about changing my job.

THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOWS A STATE; THE SECOND ONE SHOWS A TEMPORARY SITUATION.

Verb to come
My husband comes from Cyprus. Reports of new bombings are coming in as we speak.
THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOWS A PERMANENT CONDITION; THE SECOND ONE SHOWS A TEMPORARY SITUATION THAT IS TAKING PLACE AT THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING.

Verb to see (=meet)

Do you see that guy over there? He used to be my boyfriend at high school. Im glad youre finally seeing your mom this afternoon. You will probably work out your problems.
THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOWS A FACULTY; THE SECOND ONE SHOWS A FIXED FUTURE ARRANGEMENT.

Verb to weigh
I weigh sixty kilos. Were weighing the advantages against the disadvantages before we make a decision.

THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOWS A STATE; THE SECOND ONE SHOWS AN ACTION.

Verb to fit (=assemble, install)

This vehicle fits the description the police gave on TV. The electrician is fitting a new alarm sistem.

THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOWS A STATE; THE SECOND ONE SHOWS AN ACTION.

Verb to love
I love to play tennis in the morning. Were loving this second honeymoon because it allows us to spend some time together.
THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOWS A PREFERENCE; THE SECOND ONE SHOWS A TEMPORARY SITUATION IN PROGRESS AT PRESENT TIME.

Verb to enjoy
They always enjoy to take a walk together. Theyre really enjoying their vacations in Bahamas. After all, they planned this trip for a long time.
THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOWS A PREFERENCE; THE SECOND ONE SHOWS A TEMPORARY SITUATION IN PROGRESS AT PRESENT TIME.

Verb to cost
These shoes cost a fortune. Your mistakes are costing me an arm and a leg.
THE FIRST SENTENCE SHOWS A CONDITION; THE SECOND ONE SHOWS A TEMPORARY SITUATION IN PROGRESS AT PRESENT TIME.