PRESENT CONTINUOUS.
It is very different from the Present Simple tense, both
in structure and in use.
How do we make the Present Continuous tense?
Subject + auxiliary be + main verb
Conjugated in Present Participle
simple present (ing)
Positive: Negative Questions
I am speaking to you. She is not staying in London. Is he watching TV?
You are Reading this. We are not playing football. Are they waiting for john?
We're going on holiday tomorrow. You are using the Internet. Are you still working for
the same company?
How do we use the Present Continuous tense?
action happening now.
action in the future.
Present Continuous for action happening now:
1. for action happening exactly now: 2. for action happening around now:
I am teaching an English lesson. John is looking for a new job.
Muriel is learning to drive.
The numbers are
I am living with my sister until I find an
The pages spinning.
apartment.
are turning.
The candle
is burning.
Present Continuous for the future:
Add a future Word = tomorrow, when we have planned to do
next year, in June, at Christmas etc. something before we speak.
I’m taking my exam next month
We're eating at Joe's Cafe tonight. We've already booked the table..
They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working.
When are you starting your new job?
Present Continuous for the future:
Add -ing to the base verb. - work = working
Basic Rule: -ing First Exception: Consonant + Second Exception:
Stressed Vowel + Consonant ie becomes Y
Play = Playing
Stop = Stopping Lie = Lying
Assist = Assisting
Run = Running Die = Dying
See = Seeing
Be = Being Begin = Beginning
Note: Open = Opening
Third Exception: Vowel + Consonant + e = omit the e
Come = coming
Mistake = Mistaking
Present Continuous participation activity
1. _____ they coming over for dinner? 7. We _____ at a fancy restaurant
Is Are Am tonight. Jason decided this yesterday.
Eat are eating eats
2. Maxwell _____ not sleeping on our sofa.
is are am 8. Why ________ playing football
tomorrow?
3. My mother-in-law is _____ at our house he not is he isn’t isn't he
this week.
Stay staying be staying 9. They are _____ a new shopping
mall downtown.
4. I _____ my dinner right now. Opening openning oppening
Eat eating am eating
10. Melissa is _____ down on her bed.
5. My sister _____ Spanish. lieing liying lying
Learn is learning learning
6. I _____ at the hair salon until September.
Work be working am working
PRESENT SIMPLE VS. PRESENT
CONTINUOUS.
I speak English.
I am speaking English.
When do we use the Present Simple and when do we use
the Present Continuous?
PRESENT SIMPLE: Time expressions
Facts or things that are always For regular habits or
always, often, generally,
true or generally true. repeated actions.
normally, usually,
Whales live in the ocean. I brush my teeth three times a day. sometimes, never …
every day, every week,
A dog has four legs. I read in bed every night. every year…
He walks to school every day. once a day, twice a week,
It rains a lot in winter. three times a month…
She goes to the gym after work. in the morning, in the
water freezes at 0º Celsius.
I study for two hours every evening. afternoon, in the evening,
at night
PRESENT CONTINUOUS.
To talk about something that is happening
Actions happening right now
AROUND the time of speaking.
I am teaching an English lesson. I am reading a great book.
You are watching a video.
They are staying at a local hotel because
Steve is washing his hair.
the roof of their house was damaged during
She is taking her dog for a walk.
Please be quiet, the baby is sleeping. the storm.
It is snowing right now.
Jack is learning Italian.
Time expressions
Now, right now, at the moment, still
PRESENT SIMPLE VS PRESENT
CONTINUOUS.
Here are the sentences from the beginning.
I speak English I live in England.
I am speaking English I am living in London at the moment.
He is biting his nails because he is nervous.
It rains a lot in winter.
He always bites his nails when he’s nervous.
It is raining right now.
He teaches at a local school.
He is teaching business at the local school this week.
AFFIRMATIVE, NEGATIVE,
QUESTIONS.
Negative
Affirmative
I do not eat cereal every day.
I eat cereal every day. I am not eating cereal right now.
I am eating cereal right now. Present Simple: DO NOT or DOES NOT
Present Continuous: To be + Not + M. Verb
Questions – Same verbs,
Questions different meanings
What do you do? = What is your job?
Do you eat cereal every day? What are you doing? = What (action) are
Are you eating cereal right now? you doing at the moment?
Present Simple: DO or DOES What do you read? = What type of books
Present Continuous: Change the order of do you like to read?
the subject (pronoun) and use am, is, are. What are you reading? = What is the name
of the book you are reading right now?
PRESENT SIMPLE VS PRESENT CONTINUOUS PARTICIPATION
ACTIVITY.
1. For actions happening regularly, often or never, we use:
Simple Present Present continuous
2. The signal word 'now' indicates that we have to use:
Simple Present Present continuous
3. Look! They ________ (leave) the house.
4. Brian _______ (cycle) 30 km every day.
5. Samantha (do) _________ her homework at the moment.
6. You (see / not) _________ her every day.
7. The baby (sleep / not) ______ at the moment.
8. I (read / not) ________ a book now.
PRESENT SIMPLE VS PRESENT CONTINUOUS PARTICIPATION
ACTIVITY.
1. (you / go) ________ on holiday by plane sometimes?
2. (they / play) ________ computer games every day?
3. (she / eat) __________ dinner at the moment?
4. What (they / do) _______ right now?
5. Look! Jenny (go) _________ to school.
6. On her back, Jenny (carry) _______ her school bag.
7. The school bag (be) _________ very heavy.
8. Normally, Jenny (wear) ________ black shoes, but today she (wear) ________ red
wellies.
