PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

A. DEFENITION OF THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

The present continuous tense is used to talk about present situations which we see as short-term
or temporary. We use the present simple to talk about present situations which we see long-term
or permanen.

In these examples, the action is taking place at the time of spaking.

 It’s raining
 Who is kate talking to on the phone?
 Look, somebody is trying to steal that man’s wallet
 I’m not looking. My eyes are closed tightly.

In these examples, the action is true at the present time but we don’t think it will be true in the
long term

 I’m looking for a new apartment.

 He’s thinking about leaving his job.
 They’re considering making an appeal against the judgment.
 Are you getting enough sleep?

In these examples, the actions is at a defenite point in the future and it has already been arranged.

 I’m meeting her at 6.30.

 They aren’t arriving until Tuesday.
 We are having a special dinner at top restaurant for all the senior managers.
 Isn’t he coming to the dinner?

To talk about things happening at the moment, use the present continuous.

(+)Jim is watching television at the moment

(-)Jim is watching television at the moment

(?) is jim watching television st the moment?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

S + To Be ( is, am, are) + verb1 ( +ing)

Example : they are eating rice.

I am burning a house of ant.

Negative Form

S + To Be ( is, am, are) + not + verb1 ( +ing)

Example : they are not eating rice.

I am not burning a house of ant.

Interrogative

To Be ( is, am, are) + s + verb1 ( +ing)

Example : are they eating rice?

Am i burning a house of ant?

Examples: TO GO, present continuous

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I am going I am not going Am I going?

You are going You aren't going. Are you going?

He, she, it is going He, she, it isn't going Is he, she, it going?

We are going We aren't going Are we going?

You are going You aren't going Are you going?

They are going They aren't going Are they going?

Note: alternative negative contractions: I'm not going, you're not going, he's not going etc.
Present Continuous Tense Uses

a) Study this example situation:

Ann is in her car.
She is on her way to work.
She is driving to work.
This means: she is drivig now, at the time of speaking.
This is the present continuous tense:
I am (= I’m)
He/she/(it) is (=he’s etc.)
We/they/you are (=we’re etc.)
We use the present continuous when we talk about something which is happening at the
time of speaking:
- Please don’t make so much noise. I’m studying. (not’I study)
- ‘Where is margaret?’ ‘She’s having a bath.’(not ‘she has’)
- Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more.
- (at a party) Hello, Ann. Are you enjoying the party? (not’do you enjoy’)
b) We also use the present continuous when we talk about something which is happening
around the time of speaking,but not necessarily exactly at the time of speaking. Study the
example situation:
- Tom and Ann are talking and drinking in a cafe. Tom says: ‘I’ m reading and
interesting book at the moment. I’LL lend it to you when I’ve finished it.’

Tom is not reading the book at the time of speaking. He means that he has begun the
blood and hasn’t finished it yet. He is in the middle of reading it. Here are some more
examples:

- Silvia is learning english at the moment.(not’laerns’)

- Have you heardabout tom? He is building his own house.(not’builds’)

But perhaps Silvia and Tom are not doing these things exactly at the time of speaking.

c) We often use the present continuous when we talk about a period around the present. For
example: today, this season etc:
- ‘You’re working hard today.’Yes, I have a lot to do.’
- Tom isn’t playing football this season. He wants to concentrate on his studies.
d) We use the present continuous when we talk about changing situations:
- The popularation of the world is rising very fast.(not’rises’)
- Is your english getting better? (not ‘does...get’)
More Uses of Present Continuous Tense

In addition to the above, the present continuous tense can be used to describe actions that
are being repeated. Words like always, constantly and forever are used along with the verb.
Examples of this use include:

Jack and Jill are always fighting.

She is constantly complaining about her sister.

Her mother is forever misplacing her keys.

Present continuous tense can be used when speaking about current trends. Examples of
this use include:

Shopping online is growing in popularity nowadays.

The stocks are dropping constantly due to the economy.

Today, most people are using text messages instead of the phone.

Another use of this tense is when talking about a planned event in the future. Examples of
this use include:

We are leaving for the beach tomorrow morning.

The kids are arriving at six o'clock.

She is speaking at the conference this evening.

When Not to Use Present Continuous Tense

There are certain verbs that cannot be used in the present continuous tense. The following
verbs are non-continuous:

Communication: agree, promise, surprise

Feelings: like, love, hate

Senses: hear, see, smell, taste

Thinking: believe, know, understand

The Importance of Present Continuous Tense

As you can see the present continuous tense is most often used in English grammar to
describe a continuing action, something that in unfinished. This tense is also important since it is
a simple sentence structure that can show actions or events that are happening right now, in the
planned future, or sometimes even in the past.

The present continuous tense is a frequently used tense in the English language. In this lesson,
we will go over the definition of the tense as well as how it is used in everyday speech.

To facilitate the understanding of the Present Continuous Tense, the following are
examples of the sentence:

1. (+)My mother is reading a magazine now.

(-)mother isn't reading a magazine now.
(?)Is mother reading a magazine now?

=Yes, she is. (+)

No, she isn't. (-)

2. (+)Mr.Hermawan is teaching English

(-)Mr.Hermawanisn't teaching English
(?)Is Mr.Hermawanteaching English?

=Yes, he is. (+)

No, he isn't. (-)

3. (+)Mira is sleeping.

(-)Miraisn't sleeping.

(?)Ia mira sleeping?

=Yes, she is. (+)

No, she isn't. (-)

4. (+) Father is eating lunch at the canteen.

(-)Father isn't eating lunch at the canteen.

(?)Is father eating lunch at the canteen?

 =Yes, he is. (+)

No, he isn't. (-)

5. (+) The sun is shining.

(-)The sun isn't shining

(?) Is the sun shinig?

=Yes, he is. (+)

No, he isn't. (-)

6. (+)Mr. Black is taking me to the movie tonight.

(+)Mr. Blackisn't taking me to the movie tonight.

(?)Is Mr. Blacktaking me to the movie tonight?

=Yes, he is. (+)

No, he isn't. (-)

7. (+)The baby is sleeping.

(-)The babyisn't sleeping.
(?)Is the baby sleeping?

=Yes, he is. (+)

No, he isn't. (-)

8. (+) Jack is drinking a glass of water.

(-)Jackisn't drinking a glass of water.

(?)Is jack drinking a glass of water?

=Yes, he is. (+)

No, he isn't. (-)

9. (+)We are watching television now.

(-)We aren't atching television now.

(?)Are we watching television now?

= Yes, we are(+)
 No, we aren't(-)

10. (+)The boys are playing badminton.

(-)The boys are`n playing badminton.

(?)Are the boys playing badminton?

= Yes, they are(+)

No, they aren't(-)

11. (+) My sister is cooking in the kitchen.

(-) My sister isn't cooking in the kitchen.

(?) Is my sister cooking in the kitchen?

= Yes, she is (+)

No, she isn't (-)

12. (+) They are writing a new novel.

(-) They aren't writing a new novel.

(?) Are they writing a new novel?

=Yes, they are. (+)

No, they aren't. (-)

13. (+) The students are walking to school.

(-) The students aren't walking to school.

(?) Are the students walking to school?

=Yes, they are. (+)

No, they aren't. (-)

14. (+) Rina is dancing a traditional dance.

(-) Rina isn't dancing a traditional dance.

(?) Is Rina dancing a traditional dance?

 =Yes, she is.(+)

No, she isn't(-)

15. (+) He is learning French.

(-) He isn't learning French.

(?) Is he learning French?

=Yes, he is. (+)

No, he isn't. (-)

 B. REFERENCES

RoziqinBaidatul. TanpaTahun, 1 jam mahir membuat kaliamat Passif dalam Bahasa

Inggris,Yogyakarta: Diva Press (Anggota IKAPI)

Morphy Raymond. 1985, English Grammar In Use, Melbourne: Cambridge University Press

https://www.hueber.de/shared/elka/Internet_Muster/Red2/3-19-002886-9_Muster.pdf

http://www.orchardzhotel.com/upload/hotel/meeting_brochure/past.pdf

https://wahabxxxxx.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/tenses.pdf

Betty Schrampfer Azar Stacy A.Hagen. basic english grammar second edition (page 84)

Betty Schrampfer Azar. Fundamentals of english grammar third edition (page 4)

Betty Schrampfer Azar third edition.understanding and using english grammar , (page 13)

https://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/present-continuous/
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

BY
NOVIA AMELIA NASUTION
1601020002

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH TAPANULI
2018