Present Tense Continuous

Present Tense Continuous

Affirmative : S + am/is/are + V_ing

e.g. : I’m studying now .

Interrogative :  Am/Is/Are + S + V_ing

e.g. : Are you writing a letter ?

Negative : S + am/is/are + not + V_ing

e.g. : He’s not playing football at this time.

It is used to express:

• An action that is going on now , at this time , at present

e.g. : I’m writing an example now.

• A temporally activity ( this week, this month , this year, today )

e.g. : Father usually buys the newspaper , but he’s away in business so I’m buying the newspaper this week.

• A future action as part of our program

e.g. : I’m visiting my grandma next weekend.

• An action that is repeated so many times that it’s getting on my nerves (always)

e.g. : He’s always asking the same question .

• Changing or developing situations

e.g. : My leg is getting better.

Verbs which are not used in the continuous aspect :

• vb. of perception : to see , to hear , to smell , to taste

e.g. : I can see you .

• vb. of feeling : to love, to enjoy, to want , to hate

e.g. : I hate going there.

• vb. of mental activity : to think , to understand , to believe, to consider

e.g. : I think that he’s right .

• momentary vb. : to stop , to start, to brake
• to be = to exist
• to have = to posses

!! BUT !!

• to see

to see a doctor

to see off/out = a conduce pe cineva

to see to a problem = to take care of that problem

e.g. : I’ll be seeing to that problem soon .

• to hear

to hear form

e.g. : I’ haring about that you’re sick .

• to be = temporal state

e.g. : You’re being rude today .

• to have = to drink ; to eat

e.g. : I’m having breakfast now.

I’m having a good time .

• to love = to enjoy

e.g. : I’m loving it .

Spelling rules :

1. – e + ing

invite – inviting

come – coming

write – writing I’m writing a nice composition.

take – taking

2. ø – y ying

play – playing

study – studying He’s studying now .

cry – crying

3. 1 v + c cc ing

run – running

swim – swimming He’ s swimming very well .

travel – traveling

stop – stopping

4. – ie y + ing

lie – lying He’s lying on the floor .

die – dying

tie – tying