Present Continuous

We form the Present Simple like this:

be + -ing form

Look at these examples: You are working, they are dancing

The present continuous can be used with two forms:

Long form

Positive

I am working.

You are working.

He/She/It is working.

We are working.

You are working

They are working

Negative

I am not working.

You are not working.

He/She/It is not working.

We are not working.

You are not working.

They are not working.

Short Form

Positive

I'm working.

You're working.

He/She/It's working.

We're working.

You're working

They're working

Negative

I'm not working.

You're not working.

He/She/It's not working.

We're not working.

You're not working.

They're not working.

Let's study carefully some rules about-ing form:

For most verbs, we add "-ing":

go >>> going, play >>> playing, hurry >>> hurrying, call >>> calling

For verbs ending with a "-e":

For most verbs ending with a consonnant + e, we basically leave out -e and add -ing:

take >>> taking, make >>> making

However, we keep a double e before -ing:

see >>> seeing, agree >>> agreeing

When the verb ends in "-ie", it changes to "y" when we add "-ing":

die >>> dying, lie >>> lying

When the verb ends with "one vowel and one consonant", we double the final consonant when we add "-ing":

run >>> running, get >>> getting, travel >>> travelling

We do not double the consonant:

y, w or w

2- When the final syllable is not stressed: listen >>> listening, visit >>> visiting, wonder >>> wondering

Syllables: |cut|: 1 syllable, |vi|sit|: 2 syllables, |re|mem|ber|: 3 syllables

However, note that it is usually doubled l in British English: pedal >>> pedalling, cancel >>> cancelling

We use the Present Continuous:

to talk about actions or situations in progress at the time of speaking:

I am reading an english lesson now.

to talk about actions and situations in progress around now, but not exactly at the moment we speak:

Look at Tom and Mary's conversation:

Tom: What are you doing these days?

Mary: I'm preparing my final exam.

Present Continuous 1 (LESSON)

We form the Present Simple like this:

The present continuous can be used with two forms:

Let's study carefully some rules about-ing form:

We use the Present Continuous:

Practice