THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

 The present continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb be

(is, am, are) and the – ing form of the main verb.

1. Patterns

AFFIRMATIVE (S+ BE [is, am, are] + V-ing + C)	NEGATIVE(S+ BE [is, am, are] + NOT +V-ing + C)
I am studying English now. He is studying English now. She is studying English now. We are studying English now. They are studying English now. You are studying English now.	am not studying English now. He is not studying English now. She is not studying English now. We are not studying English now. They are not studying English now. You are not studying English now
INTERROGATIVE (BE [is, am, are] + S + V-ing + C + ?)
Am I studying English now? (+) Yes, you are. (-) No, you aren’t. Is he studying English now? (+) Yes, he is. (-) No, he isn’t. Is she studying English now? (+) Yes, she is. (-) No, she isn’t.	Are we studying English now? (+) Yes, we are. (-) No, we aren’t. Are they studying English now? (+) Yes, they are. (-) No, they aren’t. Are you studying English now? (+) Yes, I am. (-) No, I am not.

2. Contractions

Affirmative

a. I am 􀃆 I’m

b. He is 􀃆 He’s

c. She is 􀃆 She’s

d. We are 􀃆 We’re

e. They are 􀃆 They’re

f. You are 􀃆 You’re

Negative

a. I am not 􀃆 I’m not

b. He is not 􀃆 He’s not / He isn’t

c. She is not 􀃆 She’s not / She isn’t

d. We are not 􀃆 We’re not / We aren’t

e. They are not 􀃆 They’re not / They aren’t

f. You are not 􀃆 You’re not / You aren’t

3. Spelling Problems

Infinitive Explanation	Verb – ing	Explanation
decide divide like write	deciding dividing liking writing	Verbs ending-e, drop the-e when they add-in
dig sit stop swim	digging sitting stopping swimming	Verbs with one syllable, ending in one vowel and one consonant, double the consonant when they add-ing.
die lie tie	dying lying tying	Verbs ending in-ie change the-ie to-y.
cry fly study	crying flying studying	No changes

4. Usages

We use the present continuous to describe:

a. actions in progress at the present moment.

Tom, please answer the phone. I’m taking a bath now.

b. actions happening around now, even though not at the

moment of speaking.

We’re learning how to operate the newest computer