Present continuous tense rules and examples. Present Progressive Tense

Education Present Continuous
(am/is/are + … -ing)

Present Continuous (Present Progressive) is formed with the help to be in present time ( am, is, are) and the present participle form of the semantic verb: I am smiling. When adding endings to verbs - ing sometimes there are changes in their spelling, for example have/hav ing. More about .

Abbreviated forms:

‘m= am
‘re= are
's= is
aren't= are not
isn't= is not

Using the Present Continuous

1. A long-term action taking place at the moment of speech ( now - now, at the present moment - at the moment, at this moment - at this moment).

Examples: What are you doing? - What are you doing? (Now)
You are not listening to me. - You are not listening to me. (Now)
My mother is reading a book now. – My mother is reading a book now.

2. A long-term action taking place at the present time, but not necessarily at the moment of speech.

Examples: What are you doing here in Munich? – What are you doing here in Munich?
You 're working too much these days. – You work too much these days.

3. Planned future action, especially with verbs indicating movement ( to go - go/drive, to come - come, to leave - leave/leave, to arrive - arrive/arrive, to start - set off/set off on a journey), when the intention to perform an action is expressed, or we are talking about a pre-planned action. A sentence usually contains tense adverbs that indicate a future tense.

Examples: She is leaving for another city tonight. -She is leaving for another city this evening.
He is taking an exam on Monday. He takes the exam on Monday.

4. Expression of action in the future (instead of) in adverbial clauses and, which are introduced by conjunctions if, when, while etc.

Examples: If I am working when you come, don’t disturb me. “If I’m working when you come, don’t bother me.”

5. Present Continuous (Present Progressive), as a rule, is not used with:

• verbs of emotional state ( to wish - to wish, to desire - to wish, to love - to love),
• verbs of mental activity ( to agree - to agree, to believe - to believe, to remember - to remember, to think - to consider/believe * ),
• verbs of sensation ( to hear- hear * , to see – to see * , to taste – to have taste * , to smell - to smell * ),
• a group of verbs of possession, relationship ( to be * - to be, to consist - to consist, to belong - to belong.

Note.Verbs marked * can be used in the Continuous form, but only with a change in meaning. More about .

Examples: I know what I am doing. - I know what I'm doing.
I think she is beautiful. – I think she is beautiful. (my opinion)
Be quite! I 'm thinking. - Quiet! I think. (mental activity)

Note.To express an intended or planned action in the future, instead is often used. This construction means the intention to perform an action in the very near future or gives a connotation of obligation, the inevitability of performing the action indicated by the infinitive.

Examples: I 'm going to have dinner with Bob tomorrow. - I'm going to have lunch with Bob tomorrow.
He is going to be a surgeon. - He's going to be a surgeon.

For a long time. Forms sentences using the auxiliary verb to be (in English translated as “to be”) in the form of the present tense and the fourth form of the main semantic verb (with the suffix -ing characteristic of the long tense).

Let's consider the use of present continuous. Example sentences:

You are having dinner. - You are having dinner (right now).

I am waiting for you. - I'm waiting for you.

They are traveling in the west. - They travel to the west.

She is writing a letter right know. - She is writing a letter right now.

We are speaking English now. - We speak English now.

They are reading this boring book now. - They are reading this boring book now.

For reference:

• In colloquial English, the word "dinner" means dinner, and "supper" means a late dinner in a homely family setting.

Formation of question and negation

When forming an interrogative sentence in the present continuous tense, the words in it change places. As in any other case of English.

The verb to be moves to the first place - before the subject (pronoun, noun or proper name) in sentences with the present continuous. Example sentences:

Is she reading this boring book now? - Is she reading this boring book now?

Are we speaking English right now? -Are we speaking English right now?

Is she writing the letter now? - Is she writing this letter right now?

When forming a negative sentence between the form of the auxiliary and the semantic verb, not is added along with the semantic verb in the present continuous. Example sentences:

He is not writing. - He does not write.

I am not speaking. - I do not speak.

We are not waiting. - We're not waiting.

They are not studying. - They don't study.

She is not asking. - She doesn't ask.

However, such complete forms of denial are rarely used. In spoken language, abbreviations are used: isn't in the singular or aren't in the plural.

Important rules for using this time

Using Present continuous. Rules of use:

1. The specified tense is used to express a specific action occurring at the present moment or period, that is, right now. This is what the temporary additions to the sentences specifically indicate:

now - now;

at the moment - at this (this) moment.

But these words are not always present in the sentence. They can only be implied.

He is reading his diploma. - He is reading his diploma (that is, right now).

2. It is usually not used with verbs that denote the state of an object rather than its action:

to want - to want;

to feel - to feel;

to love - to love;

to think - to think;

to like - to like, love;

to be - to be;

to live - to live;

to hate - to hate;

to stay - to stay;

to hear - to hear;

to remember - remember;

to see - see and some other English verbs.

But sometimes these verbs of state are still used to emphasize the temporary state in the present continuous. Example sentences:

I know I am being a baby but I can't help it. - I know that I'm like a child, but I can't do anything about it (that is, I'm only acting like a child now).

She is wanting to stay at this house and I can't help it. - She wants to stay in this house and I can’t help (that is, she just wants to stay now).

3. When a sentence conveys the intention to perform an action, the present continuous is sometimes used to indicate the future tense. Example sentences:

We are going to the cinema tonight. - We are going to go to the cinema this evening.

She is leaving by seven-o"clock train. - She is leaving by seven o'clock train.

Present Perfect Continuous Forms

Or, as it is also called, progressive in English are peculiar derivatives of the present continuous tense.

You can get it using the verb to be (to be) in the form of the present perfect tense (have been or has been in the 3rd person singular) and an auxiliary verb in the continuous tense (with the ending -ing).

Present perfect continuous - example sentences:

1) Used to denote an action that began in the past at a certain point in time, continued for some time and continues at the present moment:

I have been walking since 8 o"clock in the morning. - I have been walking since 8 o'clock in the morning.

He has been living in Moscow for six years. - He has been living in Moscow for six years.

2) An ordinary and constantly occurring action, indicating the time period for the continuation of the action. Moreover, if it is not indicated how long (time period) the action lasts, then the present continuous tense is used.

It has been raining for three days. - It has been raining for two days.

It has raining. - It's raining.

He has been studying English for seven years. - He has been studying English for seven years.

He is studying English. - He is studying English (that is, right now).

3) Constructions of the present perfect continuous tense are also used to indicate the duration of an action. At the same time, if the fact of the completion of an action is indicated, then another tense is used - the present perfect.

I have been living here since 1956. - I have been living here since 1956 (that is, my residence here has continued all this time).

I have lived here since 1956. - I have lived here since 1956 (that is, an episode of action that has already occurred is emphasized).

4) The present perfect continuous tense, like the present continuous tense, is not used with English verbs that denote the state of an object, rather than its action. That is, verbs - to love - to love, to feel - to feel and others similar to them indicated above (present continuous rules).

5) This tense is also used in interrogative sentences to indicate the period that precedes the moment of speech (a given point in time). In this case, the use of appropriate question words and constructions is typical - how long - how long, how long; since when - since what time, since when.

How long have they been living here? - How long (how long) do they live here?

Since when has she been sitting there? - Since when (since when) has she been sitting there?

Present continuous passive

The passive voice of the present continuous tense shows the action in its development, that is, how it continues. This construction is formed as follows:

• verb to be (am, is, are) + being (that is, an indication of the continuous tense) + the second form of the semantic verb.

Let's look at the present continuous passive, example sentences:

New railway stations are being built. - New railway stations are being built (that is, they are being built right now).

Delicious supper is being cooked. - A delicious dinner is being prepared now.

If the present tense in such a voice changes to the past, then in the sentences, since there is no indication of the time frame, only the form of the verb to be changes. It is put in the past tense was - in the singular and were - in the plural.

Present Continuous Tense - Present Progressive is found quite often in English. In Russian it is pronounced [present progressive] - English transcription. After studying the article, you will be able to easily find the Present Continuous in the text, conjugate verbs, learn to use all three forms of sentences, and learn the various rules for using this tense.

At the end of the article there are exercises that will help you master your language skills. Beginners may be confused with the Present Progressive, since these two tenses are used in the present form. Here, we have provided a detailed explanation on the topic – Present Continuous Tense.

Read the story on Present Progressive. Be sure to pay attention to the underlined verbs.

Right now, it’s Friday evening. Sindy and Ron are at home. They are sitting on the sofa. They are eating dinner. At this moment, Sindy is drinking water. She is eating chocolate. She is sitting next to Ron. She is talking to Ron. Ron is Sindy's husband. He is sitting on the sofa with Sindy. He is also drinking water. Ron is listening to Sindy. After dinner, Ron and Sindy are visiting their friends.

Cases of using Present Progressive tense (Continuous)

There are several cases where only the Present Continuous is used and not some other tense. Below are example sentences to help you understand the topic.

• 1. Actions that are happening at the moment, right now:

Example:

— My boss is having dinner with his sister now - The boss is now having lunch with his sister.
— My brother is having a shower at the moment – ​​My brother is taking a shower at the moment.
— I'm practicing Italian grammar – I am practicing Italian grammar.

• 2. Actions are happening now, but it is not necessary that they are happening at this moment. That is, when the action has begun but has not yet ended:

Example:

— My friend is preparing for his exam - My friend is preparing for the exam. (This means that it is being prepared, but not at the moment).
— I'm reading a great book – I’m reading a great book. (Not necessarily at this point. I started reading but haven't finished yet).
— My mother is writing a book – My mother is writing a book.
— She is looking for a new apartment – ​​She is looking for a new apartment.

• 3. If you have a photograph or painting and you want to describe it to someone, then we also use the Present Continuous:

Example:

— They are sitting on the bench. The two women on the left are drinking water. Some of them are eating apples – They are sitting on a bench. The two women on the left are drinking water. Some of them eat apples.
It doesn't matter whether the photo was taken just recently or several years ago, we still use our long time.

• 4. When there are 2 actions, one of which is in process, and the other is a habitual action, the first is expressed by Present Count., the second:

Example:

— You never close your mouth while you are eating– You never close your mouth while eating. (close – stands in, since this is a person’s habit, and the second is a process, which is why Present Progressive is used).
— I never sleep while I' m working– I never sleep while I’m working.

• 5. Actions that occur only temporarily:

Compare two examples:

(Similar and Present Progressive)

— She lives
— She is living with her grandparents – She lives with her grandparents.

What do you think is the difference?

In the first sentence, she lives permanently with her grandparents. In the second, this is a temporary situation.

More examples:

—His father works in Amsterdam – His father works in Amsterdam.
—His father is working in Amsterdam this month – His father is working in Amsterdam this month.

• 6. Constant repetitive actions with ever, always, forever, constantly that express irritation and criticism:

Example:

— Terry is constantly touching my books! – Terry touches my books all the time!
— They are always causing trouble! – They always cause problems!
— He is such a boring man, who’s always making a fuss about nothing! “He’s such a boring person who always makes scandals about nothing!”

Pay attention to the following example:

— The earth is always moving– The earth is always moving.

In this sentence, the Earth literally moves and this is true. It's a continuous process. That's why we use the Present Continuous.

• 7. Planned actions, events in the near future:

Example:

-I' m visiting my family tonight – in the evening I will visit my family (everything is planned).
— They are gettingtin g married next week - They will get married next week.
— My husband is picking me up at 7 o’clock tonight - My husband will pick me up at seven o’clock.

• 8. Changing or developing situations:

Example:

— The climate is getting warmer – The climate is becoming warmer.
— The price of gold is increasing– The price of gold is rising.
—Your English and German are getting better – Your English and German are improving.

• 9. Physical condition:

We can use the Present Progressive (Continuous) to express a physical state.

Example:

— How are you feeling? - How do you feel?

But we can also say:

— How do you feel?

Using Present Indefinite the meaning is the same.

— My back is hurting- My back hurts.
— My back hurts

The two options in Present Continuous and (present simple) are absolutely correct.

• 10. Trends:

Example:

—More and more people are using their computers to watch films – More and more people are using computers to watch films.

• 11. Another time we use the Present Progressive is when you have the feeling that you are becoming aware of something:

Example:

— I find
— I'm finding it difficult to live with him - It’s difficult for me to live with him.

- In the first version, these feelings are not new for you.
- In the second option, when you use the present continuous tense, then these feelings are new to you. That is, you have only now begun to think about it.
A common mistake is to use this form to describe what the company sells or produces. In general, a company sells something on a regular basis, so you need to use the present simple rather than the present continuous.

Let's look at examples:

— Incorrect: We are producing plastic pipes.
- Correct: We produce plastic pipes - We produce plastic pipes.

Marker words (satellites) Present Progressive (Continuous)

The English language uses indicator words, they tell you what tense you should use. In the present continuous tense, these words are used in situations that occur during conversation or making plans for the near future.

Actions taking place at the moment of speech (now):

Look!
Listen!
At present
Now
Just now
At the moment
Right now

Events for the near future:

In the morning etc.
Tomorrow
Next/next week
Tonight
Today
This afternoon

Always
Still
Nowadays

Examples of sentences for clue words (markers):

Look! The sun is rising – Look! The sun is rising.

I'm looking after June's dog this week– I'm looking after June's dog this week.

She is staying with parents in Rome at present– He is currently with his parents in Rome.

Present Progressive (Continuous) sentence forms

Let's look at how sentence forms are used in the present continuous tense in English.

Positive Sentences

As always, an affirmative sentence begins with a subject, followed by an auxiliary verb to be, which is modified. Therefore, we need to repeat the conjugation of the verb to be (I am, They are, He is etc). The ending -ing is added to the semantic verb, and the particle to is not used.

The formula is very simple:
Subject + to be + main Verb + ing(Participle Participle I)
Subject + verb to be + semantic verb + -ing form.

Table of the affirmative form Present Continuous Tense:

Native speakers very often shorten the pronoun and to be:

I am – I’m having a good time in these woods.
You are – You’re holding my handbag.
You can also feel free to shorten pronouns for quick speech.

Negative form of sentences Present Progressive (Negative Sentences)

The construction of negative sentences is the same as in Russian. You need to add the particle ‘not’ after to be. Everything else is in place. To simplify, let's look at the table:

Short form of negative sentences:

They aren't jumping or They’re not...
He isn't phoning or He’s not...
And so on.

Interrogative or question sentences Present Progressive (Interrogative or question sentences)

To form an interrogative sentence, you will need:

Verb to be (verb to be) – takes 1st place
Subject (subject) – takes 2nd place
Main verb (semantic verb) – takes 3rd place

Table of the interrogative form of a sentence:

Do you know that there is also an interrogative-negative form? Let's look at an example:

-Is she not studying?

The shortened form can also be used without hesitation in the following sentences:

— Isn't she studying?

Learn more about question sentences:

Dividing questions - Tag questions
General questions - Yes/No questions
Alternative questions
Special or WH-questions

Rules for the formation of Present Continuous (Progressive) tense in English. Rules for adding -ing endings to verbs

When an -ing form is added to a verb, some of them change in spelling:

• 1. Verbs in - e, when adding -ing form, the letter is - e no longer required:

- Have - having

Verbs ending with a long sound - e, then add -ing from without changing the spelling:

- See - seeing
- Agree - agreeing

• 2. Verbs in - ie, when adding -ing form, the letter changes to - y:

• 3. Verbs in - y, when adding -ing form, the letter is preserved:

- Cry - crying

• 4. If the verb consists of one syllable and ends in (consonant + vowel + consonant), then the last consonant is doubled:

— Plan — planning
- Win - winning

• 5. When a verb ends in (S + G + S) and has two or more syllables, and if the final syllable is stressed, then the last consonant is doubled:

- Forget - forgetting
— Regret — regretting

Note:
Below are verbs ending in (C + G + C). However, the consonant is not doubled since they end in w, x or y:

- Row - rowing
- Stay - staying

The word Travel can be spelled in two ways:

Traveling – American version/American English

Traveling – British version/British English

General Table of Formation of the Present Continuous Tense - Present Progressive

Present Progressive (Continuous) - Present continuous tense: exercises with translation and answers

Do the exercises to help you understand the material.

Exercise 1(exercise). Put the verb into the Present Continuous and translate the sentences.

1. Tom (eat) an apple.

2. My granddad (wear) a nice coat.

3. Sarah and Rob (talk) to father.

4. Jim (do) the washing-up right now.

5. Peter (sit) on the bench.

6. My mum (prepare) brunch now.

7. Ben (pack) the picnic basket.

8. Listen! Stan (come) home.

9. We (collect) our son from school.

10. I (not wash) my hair.

Answers. Answers to the exercise:

1. Is eating
2.Are wearing
3. Are talking
4. Is doing
5. Is sitting
6. Is preparing
7. Is packing
8. Is coming
9. Are collecting
10. Am not washing

Exercise 2. Put the sentences into interrogative form using the Present Progressive.

1. __ I ___ (wear) a warm sweater?

2. __ he ___ (read) the magazine?

3. __ the President ___ (make) the right decision?

4. ___ we ___ (read) a lot of books?

5. __ my sisters ___ (come) to the concert with us?

Answers. Answers to the exercise:

1. Am I wearing…?
2. Is he reading...?
3. Is the President making...?
4. Are we reading...?
5. Are my sisters coming...?

Exercise 3. Put the verbs in -ing form and distribute them in a table.

Rob, listen, lie, use, die, cry, come, travel, put, bring, run, tie, dive, hope, go.

Answers. Answers to the exercise:

1. Robbing
2. Lying
3.Using
4.Bringing
5.Running
6. Tying
7.Hoping
8.Going
9. Crying
10.Coming
11.Putting

Exercise 4. Exercise on the differences between Present Simple and Present Progressive.

1. I (work) from 8 to 6 every day.

2. She (watch) TV right now.

3. My brother always (play) soccer on Saturday.

4. Can your father (speak) Chinese?

5. What do you (do)? I'm drinking a cup of tea.

6. He (write) a letter to his girlfriend now.

7. We need an umbrella because it (rain) outside.

8. Be quite because my baby (sleep).

9. John (visit) his parents twice a week.

10. They always (go) to university from Monday to Friday.

Answers. Answers to the exercise:

1.Work
2. Is watching
3.Plays
4. Speak
5. Are you doing
6. Is writing
7. Is raining
8. Is sleeping
9. Visits
10.Go

Continuous Tenses, "to continue"- continue, last. The very name of this group of tenses indicates that their main grammatical meaning is duration, the process of action.

Band times Continuous also called Progressive Tenses , and in Russian they are called continuous or long time. Verb used in the form Continuous means that an action is taking place at some specific moment. This point may be clear from the context or is often indicated by additional words - an exact indication of the time (hour), another action, etc. somehow concretizing this moment. Depending on the duration of the action, they are distinguished:

Present Continuous- present continuous (present continuous),

Past Continuous- past continuous (past continuous),

Future Continuous- future continuous (future continuous).

Scene 1 discusses examples of the use of tense The Present Continuous Tense.
Scene 5 contains examples of the use The Past Continuous Tense.
In scene 29 comparison in the use of tenses Future And Future Continuous.

Continuous Tense formed by an auxiliary verb "to be" and the fourth main form of the verb (present participle - Present Participle). The only part of the predicate that can be modified is the auxiliary verb. "to be".

Conventions used in the table:

Ving- The fourth form of the verb. Present participle ( Present Participle or Participle I) and gerund ( Gerund).

to be + Ving- “to be a doer”

In order to better understand the grammatical essence of continuous tenses, let's use the literal translation of each component:

I am working
I am working
I am working

Not working
He is working
It works

We are working
We are working
We are working

She was working
She was working
She worked

They were working
They were working
They worked

I shall be working
I'll be working
I will work

You will be working
You will be working
You will work

From these examples it is clear that the second component of continuous tenses - the present participle - gives the entire verb a sign of duration of action. It is on the basis of the duration of action that these times are contrasted to the times of the group Indefinite. Latest used to express ordinary, repeatedly repeated actions. Compare:

Where is Ivanov?
Where is Ivanov?

Not is working in his study now.
He is now working in his office.

Ivanov usually works in his study.
Ivanov usually works in his office.

Forms in Russian Continuous translated by verbs of the imperfect form of the present, past or future tense (according to the tense of the auxiliary verb).

The interrogative and negative forms of continuous tenses are formed according to the rule of the verb "to be":

I am working.
Am I working?

He was working.
Was he working?

He was not working.

Verbs that do not represent action as a process are not used in the form Continuous.

The main ones are: to accept, to belong, to contain, to consist, to depend on, to deserve, to hope, to hear, to know, to like, to mind, to please, to possess, to prefer, to resemble, to recognize, to result, to see, to understand:

I understand what you are saying.
I understand what you are saying.

I see your drawing and I like it.
I see your drawing and I like it.