Transcript Present Continuous

Present Continuous
Grammar Guide
Verb Form – Affirmatives

We form the PRESENT CONTINUOUS with
 the present of the verb BE (auxiliary)
 and the present participle of the main verb:
AM / IS / ARE + V-ING
I am sitting now.
He is reading at the moment.
Verb Form – Affirmatives
 In
speech and informal writing we usually
contract am, is or are to ’m, ’s or ’re:
Well, Alan’s drawing in his room and
Sophie’s watching TV with me.
We’re learning now.
Spelling Rules

base form + -ing:
draw  drawing, watch  watching, speak  speaking

base form ending in -e  drop e + -ing :
take  taking, receive  receiving, create  creating

base form ending in -ie  change it to y + -ing:
lie  lying, die  dying

short verbs - base form ending in one vowel and one
consonant  double consonant + -ing :
swim  swimming, run  running; but: grow  growing
Verb Form – Negatives

We form the negatives with the auxiliary
am
is
+
not + v-ing
are

We usually use the contracted forms ‘m not,
isn’t and aren’t in speech and informal writing:
We aren’t reading.
I’m not knitting at the moment.
She isn’t writing now.
Verb Form – Questions
 We
form the questions with
am
(question word) is
+ subject + v-ing
are
What are the children doing?
What are they playing now?
Are they playing football?
Practice
 Jennifer is playing the piano now.

y/n?


wh-?
Practice
 Jennifer is playing the piano now.

Jennifer isn’t playing the piano now.
y/n? Is Jennifer playing the piano now?
 Yes, she is.

No, she isn’t.
wh-?What is Jennifer playing now?
What is she doing now?
Practice

Tom and Jerry are swimming in the lake
now.

y/n?


wh-?
Practice
Tom and Jerry are swimming in the lake
now.

Tom and Jerry aren’t swimming in the lake
now.
y/n? Are Tom and Jerry swimming in the lake
now?

Yes, they are.

No, they aren’t.
wh-? What are Tom and Jerry doing now?
Where are they swimming now?

Activity: Wordle
Look at the pictures.
Tell your partner correct questions and answers.
Wordle






What is he doing? He is swimming.
What is she doing? She is driving.
What are they doing? They are dancing.
What is he doing? He is cooking.
What are they doing? They are singing.
What is she doing? She is skiing.
Use: Things Happening Now

The present continuous describes an action in
progress at the moment of speaking. The action
is likely to continue after the time of speaking,
but is likely to stop at some point, i.e. it is
temporary:
It’s raining.
Why are you sitting at my desk?
Hurry up! We are all waiting for you.
What is the baby doing? She is smiling.
Use: Around Now

The present continuous also describes an action in
progress around the time of speaking (= about this time
but not necessarily at the moment of speaking)
I’m reading a play by Shaw.
(= this week, temporary action, not now)
We are studying accountancy this semester.
She is staying with John to try and find out if his
place really is haunted.
Use: At a Specific Time

We can also use the present continuous to
speak about something that is happening at a
specific time we are thinking of, even if it is not
now:
He likes to be left alone when he is
working on a project.
Use: Trends

We also use the present continuous to describe things
which are changing:
British summers are getting hotter and winters are
getting wetter.
This town is developing all the time.

These changes, developments and trends can last a
long time:
Species are constantly evolving.
The polar ice caps are melting.
The universe is expanding, and has been since its
beginning.
Use: Repeated events

We can also use the present continuous to
speak about repeated actions, especially when
we find these actions irritating. In this case, we
usually use the present continuous with words
like always or constantly:
She is always interrupting when others are trying
to speak.
The neighbours are constantly slamming doors
and shouting during the night.
Use: Future Arrangements

We usually use the present continuous for future
events which involve other people and where we
have made some form of commitment (= a
promise or firm decision to do something):
I'm meeting Sue for a drink after work.
What are you doing next weekend?
We’re seeing a musical at the theatre next week.
(= It’s arranged, we’ve got the tickets.)
Verbs Not Used In The Continuous

There are a number of verbs in English which we rarely
use in a continuous tense.
They often describe states of being, thinking, possessing
or feeling:
Most people don’t believe in the existence of
UFOs.
I like this music.
We need to talk.
He is enjoying his holiday in the Arctic. He hates
touristy places and he doesn’t mind the cold.
Verbs Not Used In The Continuous
The most common of these verbs are:
 verbs of existing or being: be, consist of, contain, exist

verbs of appearance: appear, resemble, seem

verbs of feeling or wanting: adore, desire, despise (= to
dislike and have a low opinion of someone or something), detest
(= to hate something or someone very much), dislike, envy,
hate, like, love, need, pity, prefer, trust, want, wish
Verbs Not Used In The Continuous
The most common of these verbs are:
 verbs of thinking or believing: believe, doubt, expect,
feel (= think), forget, imagine, intend, know, realise,
recognise, remember, see (= understand), suppose,
think, understand

verbs of possessing: belong to, have (= own), include,
lack, own, possess

other verbs: concern, depend, deserve, fit, matter,
measure, mean, mind, weigh
Enjoy using
Present Continuous
Tense

Activity

come out of the sea
 listen to music
 make a sandcastle
 play football
 play volleyball
 read a book
 run along the beach

sell ice cream
 sleep on the beach
 steal someone’s bag
 swim in the sea
 talk on the mobile
 windsurf
 write a postcard
Activity
Talk to one person at the time.
Ask and answer questions.
A: What is Mary doing?
B: I don’t know.
A: What is James doing?
B: He is watching TV.
Activity
A: What does your company do?
B: We design computer games for
children.
A: What is it doing at the moment?
B: We are developing a new game for
adults.
At the Moulin Rouge
by Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse – Lautrec
opened: 1889
At the Moulin Rouge
by Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse – Lautrec
1
2
At the Moulin Rouge
by Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse – Lautrec
3 4
5
6
Activity
Student A:
Look at the painting and describe it for your
partner to draw it.
Student B:
Listen to your partner describing a painting. Try to
draw it. Ask questions to help you.
Compare your drawings with the original paintings!
The Peasant Dance
by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Activity
Change roles!
Student B:
Look at the painting and describe it for your partner to draw it.
Student A:
Listen to your partner describing a painting. Try to draw it. Ask
questions to help you.
Compare your drawings with the original paintings!
Luncheon of the Boating Party
by Pierre-Auguste Renoir