The present continuous tense

The Present Continuous tense 

I.Introduction

The present continuous tense, also known as the present progressive tense in some grammar books, is one of the most often used tenses in English. It is also one of the tenses that English learners use incorrectly. It is important to remember that the present continuous tense is generally used to express something happening at the moment of speaking. It is not used to express everyday habits and routines.

Everyday habits and routines are expressed using the present simple tense. It is also important to remember that the present continuous is only used with action verbs and not stative verbs.

Listed below are examples, uses and structure of the Present Continuous followed by a quiz. Teachers will find this guide to teaching the present continuous helpful. 

Things that are happening now, at the moment.

What are you doing?
She's reading in the garden.
They're not standing in the rain.

Actions happening in a period around the present moment in time.

I'm reading "The Surgeon's Mate" by Patrick O'Brian.
Whose account are you working on?

She's studying hard for her final exam.

Future plans and arrangements.

We're having leftovers this evening.
What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?
She isn't coming on Friday.

II. Main part

Common present continuous time expressions include:

at the moment, now, today, this week, this month, tomorrow, next week (for future arrangements ), currently

Structure

Positive

Conjugate the helping verb "be" + verb + -ing.

I'm (I am) -> working today.

You're (You are) -> working today.
He's (He is) -> working today.
She's (She is) -> working today.
It's (It is) -> working today.
We're (We are) -> working today.
You're (You are) -> working today.
They're (They are) -> working today.

Negative

Conjugate the helping verb "be" + not + verb + -ing.

I'm not (I am not) -> coming this evening.
You aren't (You are not) -> coming this evening.
He isn't (He is not) -> coming this evening.
She isn't (She is not) -> coming this evening.
It isn't (It is not) -> coming this evening.
We aren't (We are not) -> coming this evening.
You aren't (You are not) -> coming this evening.

They aren't (They are not) -> coming this evening.

Questions

Question word + conjugate the helping verb 'be' + subject + verb + -ing

What -> are you -> doing this afternoon?
What -> is he -> doing this afternoon?
What -> is she -> doing this afternoon?
What -> is it -> doing this afternoon?
What -> are we -> doing this afternoon?
What -> are you -> doing this afternoon?
What -> are they -> doing this afternoon?

Present Continuous - Passive Voice

The present continuous can also be used in the passive voice. Remember that the passive voice conjugates the verb 'to be'. Seeing the construction 'is being' or 'are being' can seem strange to many learners. The reason for this construction is that 'ing' is added to the conjugated verb which is 'to be' in the case of modals.

Passive subject + auxiliary verb be + to be + ing + past participle

Cars are being made in this factory at the moment.
English is being taught by the teacher now.
Steak is being eaten by the people at table 12.
etc.

The passive use of the present continuous is possible, but is rarely used and sounds artificial.

The present continuous is similar in construction to other continuous forms including the past continuous, the present perfect continuous, the past perfect continuous, the future continuous and the future perfect continuous forms.

The present continuous is used to talk about what is happening at the moment, as well as for future scheduled events and takes the following forms:

Present Continuous Positive Form Review

Subject + to be (am, are, is) + present participle (ing form of verb) + objects

Examples:

Peter's working in the garden at the moment.
We're meeting Tom at five o'clock.

Present Continuous Negative Form

Subject + to be (am, are, is) + not + verb + objects

Examples:

Mary isn't watching TV now. She's outside.
They aren't working at the moment. They're on a break.

Present Continuous Question Form

(Question Word) + to be (am, are, is) + subject + present participle (ing form of verb)?

Examples:

What are you doing?
Where is Tim hiding?

Important Notes!

The present continuous, and continuous forms in general, are used with action verbs such as talk, drive, play, etc.

The continuous form is not used with stative verbs such as 'be', 'seem', 'taste', etc. Some stative verbs can be used as action verbs so there are some exceptions. For example: 'smell' - It smells good. (stative verb) / He is smelling the roses. (action verb)

Examples:

He seems happy.
This tastes very sweet.
It doesn't appear to be difficult.

Time Expressions with Present Continuous for Present Action

Now / At the Moment

'Now' and 'at the moment' refer to the moment of speaking. These two expressions are often used with the present continuous. It's also possible to use the present continuous without these time expressions to mean the same thing based on the context of the situation.

Examples:

She's taking a shower at the moment.

We're having dinner now.
Daren is studying for the test.

Currently / This Week - Month / Today

'Currently', 'this week / month' and 'today' are used to speak about what is happening around the present moment. These forms are often used in work to speak about a project in progress.

Examples:

Jason's taking the day off today.

·         LessonPlanFormat

They're working on the Smith account.
Are you developing plans for the new project?

Time Expressions with Present Continuous for Future Scheduled Action

Next / On / At

The present continuous is also used for planned events in the future such as meetings. Use future time expressions in this case:

Next - with week and month
On - with days of the week
At - with specific times

III. Conclusion.

Present Continuous Worksheet 1

Conjugate the verb in parentheses in the present continuous tense. In the case of questions, use the indicated subject as well.

Alexander _____ (study) for his exams at the moment.

Where _____ (you meet) Tim next week?

She _____ (not play) Golf tomorrow.

They _____ (make) dinnernow.

The company (not finish) the plans this week.

She _____ (eat) oysters for lunch right now.

David _____ (not fly) to Chicago next week.

I _____ (work) on a special report today.

We _____ (not cook) dinner this evening because we're eating out.

_____ (Tom drive) to work right now?

Alice _____ (read) a new book at the moment.

They _____ (not prepare) for the science exam at the moment.

When _____ (you have) lunch tomorrow?

We _____ (joke)!

_____ (they give) a party this weekend?

Susan _____ (make) the decision at 3 o'clock this afternoon.

People _____ (play) tennis golf on a beautiful day like this!

What _____ (youdo)?!

He _____ (bake) a cake at the moment.

Which motel _____ (they stay) at now?

Present Continuous Worksheet 2

Choose the correct time expression used with the present continuous tense.

They are cooking dinner (on the moment / now).

The company is preparing a report for their most important client (last / this) week.

My sister is studying for a test (at the moment / in the moment).

We're meeting Brian (on / at) three o'clock.

(Currently / Current) we're working on the Anderson account.

They aren't coming for dinner (this / at) evening.

Susan is playing tennis with Tim (now / then).

What are you doing (this / next) afternoon?

They're enjoying dinner (at / next) the moment.

What are you doing (tomorrow / yesterday) afternoon?

Henry is making the presentation (at / on) Wednesday.

Our teacher is helping us with grammar (that / this) morning.

My dog is barking (at the moment / in the moment).

We're finishing the report (today / yesterday).

The clock is striking twelve o'clock right (now / soon). It's time to go!

Frank is flying to Chicago (this / that) morning.

We're reading that book (at the moment / on the moment).

Thomas is presenting at the meeting (on / in) April.

She's mowing the lawn (now / moment).

They're developing a new product (this / last) month.

Check your answers on the next page.