Present Continuous Tense

424 Words2 Pages
PrePresent Continuous Tense I am singing | We often use the present continuous tense in English. It is very different from the simple present tense, both in structure and in use. How do we make the Present Continuous Tense? The structure of the present continuous tense is: subject | + | auxiliary verb | + | main verb | | | be | | base + ing | Look at these examples: | subject | auxiliary verb | | main verb | | + | I | am | | speaking | to you. | + | You | are | | reading | this. | - | She | is | not | staying | in London. | - | We | are | not | playing | football. | ? | Is | he | | watching | TV? | ? | Are | they | | waiting | for John? | How do we use the Present Continuous Tense? We use the present continuous tense to talk about: * action happening now * action in the future Present Continuous tense for action happening now a) for action happening exactly now I am eating my lunch. | past | present | future | | | | | | The action is happening now. | | Look at these examples. Right now you are looking at this screen and at the same time... | | | ...the pages are turning. | ...the candle is burning. | ...the numbers are spinning. | b) for action happening around now The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after now, and it is not permanent or habitual. John is going out with Mary. | past | present | future | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The action is happening around now. | | Look at these examples: * Muriel is learning to drive. * I am living with my sister until I find an apartment. How do we spell the Present Continuous Tense? We make the present continuous tense by adding -ing to the base verb. Normally it's simple - we just add -ing. But sometimes we have to change the word a little. Perhaps we double
Open Document