Affirmative form Present Continuous (present continuous tense) is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the present tense (am, is, are) and the infinitive without to with ending -ing(Participle I - participle I or present participle). This can be represented in the form of a formula:
to be (variable part am, is, are) + infinitive without to (speak) + -ing speak + ink = speaking
I am speaking now.
She is speaking now.
They are speaking now.
Observe:
Verbs expressing feelings of perception and mental activity, as well as some other verbs in the tenses of the Continuous group, are not used. This is: to want - to want, to like - like, to love - be in love, to wish - want, to see - see, to hear - hear, to feel - feel, to notice - notice, to remember - remember, to recognize - learn, to forget - forget, to seem - seem, to be - to be and etc.
negative form formed by adding negation not to the auxiliary verb to be.
I am not working. I do not work.
He is not working. He does not work.
We are not working. We do not work.
They are not working. They do not work.
a) the auxiliary verb to be (am, is, are) is shortened, the negation not remains unchanged.
I'm not working now. I am not working right now.
He's not working now. It doesn't work now.
You’re not working now. You are not working now.
b) the negative particle not merges with the auxiliary verb, the letter o drops out:
Not isn’t working now. It doesn't work now.
We aren’t writing now. We are not writing now.
Interrogative form formed by rearranging the auxiliary verb and the subject - auxiliary verb to be placed before the subject.
Is he writing now? Is he writing now?
Are they reading? They are reading?
If there is an interrogative word, it is placed before the auxiliary verb to be.
What are you doing now? What are you doing now?
Where is he working? Where he works?
Observe:
If two verbs in Present Continuous have one subject and are united by a union and, then the auxiliary verb before the second, main, verb in Continuous is omitted.
She is sitting on the bench now and talking with Mr. Brown.
She is now sitting on a bench talking to Mr. Brown.
Writing rules
- If a verb ends in one letter -e then before -ing this -e omitted: hat e-hat ing, tak e- tak ing.
- If the verb ends in -ee, then no change occurs. The ending -ing add to the main verb: see - see ing, agree - agree ing.
- If there is a short vowel in front of the final consonant, then when adding an ending -ing the final consonant is doubled: run - run n ing, swim - swim m ing.
- If the verb consists of two or more syllables and the stress falls on the last syllable, which consists of one vowel before the final consonant, then the final consonant is doubled: begin - begin n ing, admit - admit t ing.
Blur:
- enter - entering (the stress on the last syllable does not fall);
- last letter -l after the vowel (if there is only one vowel) in the British version it is always doubled, regardless of the stress: travel - traveling, signal - signaling.
Conjugation of the verbs to work, to write in Present Continuous
Use
Present Continuous is used:
- 1. To express an action that occurs at the present moment of speech, which is implied from the context or expressed by words such as now - now, at (the) present (moment) - at present, at this moment - At the moment etc.
What are you doing (now)? - What are you doing now)?
I am cooking. Come and have supper with us. Cooking (in the kitchen). Come and dine with us.
Observe:
In principle, the presence of words denoting the moment of speech in an English sentence is not necessary, since the very form of time shows that the action takes place at the moment of speech. In Russian, the coincidence of an action with a moment of speech is either clear from the context, or is specified in words now, at the moment, etc.
- 2. To express an ongoing action, which does not necessarily occur at the time of the conversation, but is permanent.
I am reading a novel by K. Simonov.
I am reading a novel by K. Simonov. (Action in progress, stretched out in time.)
They are learning two foreign languages at the new gymnazium.
In the new gymnasium, they study two foreign languages.
Not is teaching English and learning French. He teaches English and studies French.
- 3. To express a pre-planned, planned action that will take place in the future, often in the near future.
Are you doing anything tonight? Are you doing something tonight?
Yes, I am going to my judo class and (I’m) meeting my friends afterwards.
Yes, I go to judo classes, then meet my friends. (This is planned.)
She is leaving at the end of the week. She leaves at the end of the week. (So planned, decided.)
- 4.With adverb always to express a constantly repeated action that causes irritation, condemnation and even indignation in the speaker.
Is not always going away for weekends. He always goes away for the weekend.
Compare:
Not always goes away for weekends. He always leaves for the weekend.
The use of Simple Present / Present Indefinite instead of Present Continuous changes the speaker's emotional attitude to what is happening and is perceived by the latter as an ordinary normal phenomenon, as a fact of action.
Present Continuous, usually not used:
- 1.With verbs expressing feelings of perception: to see - see, to hear - hear, to notice - notice, to smell - smell, to feel - feel, to recognize - learn, to listen (to) - listen, to watch - observe.
But: Present Continuous is used:
a) with the verb to see in the meaning of "to meet on business", in the meaning of "to visit" some places related to tourism, as well as in the meaning of "to take care".
The director is seeing the applicants this morning. The principal is meeting with applicants this morning.
Not is seeing the sights. He’ll be back later. He's sightseeing. He'll be back later.
Not is seeing about tickets for tonight. He gets tickets for tonight.
b) with the verbs to listen, to look, to watch and sometimes to smell, if an intentional action is expressed.
Why are you looking at this furcoat? Why are you looking at this fur coat?
It's far too expensive. I see one in the corner that would suit you much better. She's too expensive. I see a fur coat in the corner that suits you better.
Don’t disturb him now, he is listening to the "radio-fact". Don't bother him, he is listening, "radio fact".
c) with the verb to hear meaning "to receive information about something or from someone."
I've been hearing all about this accident.
I heard (found out) all about this accident.
- 2.With verbs expressing emotions: to want - to want, to desire - want, to refuse - refuse, to forgive - forgive, to wish - want, to hate - hate, to like - like, to love - be in love.
BUT: Present Continuous is used with the verb to like in the meaning of "to like".
How are you liking this hot weather? How do you like this heat?
Are you liking this nice trip on the sea? Do you enjoy this magnificent sea trip?
Yes, I love it. Yes, I like it very much).
(No, I hate it). (No I do not like.)
Present continuous- this is the present for a long time in the English language, its main meaning is a long-term action taking place at the moment. Unlike, it expresses precisely a long-term action, that is, an action that was happening, but not occurred.
Present Continuous education scheme: rules and examples
Consider how a long present is formed in an affirmative, negative and interrogative sentence.
1. Affirmative: I am talking
In the affirmative form, Present Continuous is formed using a verb and a verb with an ending – ing, and only the verb is changed to be... Examples are given in the table:
Examples:
Are you talking to me? - Are you talking to me?
Is this device working properly? - Is this device working correctly?
Are you kidding? - Are you kidding?
Present Continuous Meaning: When is a long idle time used?
Present Continuous is used in the following cases.
- Long-term action takes place now, that is, at the time of speech.
Sample sentences:
I am going to a swimming pool. - I'm going to the pool (going now).
I am working... - I'm working (at the moment).
Compare how the meaning will change if the verb is in:
I go to a swimming pool. - I go to the pool (in general, regularly, and not at the moment).
I work... - I'm working (not at all at the moment).
- Long-term action takes place in the present time period.
That is, not literally now, at this second, but in a wider period of time, for example, during this day, this month.
I am reading the book "War and Peace" . – I am reading the book "War and Peace" (not currently, the book is in the process of reading).
He is writing a new song. - He is writing a new song (not right now, but at some real period of time).
- To express an action that will take place in the near future.
That is, to express the intention to take this action or the confidence that it will most likely happen.
You are going with me - you go with me (meaning: you go with me).
I am leaving the town in 24 hours - I leave the city in 24 hours (leave).
- A repetitive action with a negative connotation.
This case is rarely mentioned in educational literature, but it should be mentioned because it is typical for colloquial speech. Present Continuous with words like always, constantly(meaning “constantly”, “all the time”) expresses some unpleasant, annoying action that occurs regularly.
He is constantly talking... I hate it. - He talks constantly. I hate it.
I don’t like them because they are always complaining... - I don't like them because they constantly complain.
In essence, the meaning is obtained as y - a repetitive regular action, but here we are talking about an annoying, unpleasant action.
Verbs that are not used in Present Continuous
Some verbs expressing perception, feelings, emotional state are not used (as a rule) in Continuous tenses, because they cannot express a long-term action. These include verbs.
As the saying goes, more than one head was "broken" when it came to "Times in English". Why are they so difficult for our perception? Or are there simply too many of them and they shock newcomers? Let's take a brief look at the features of their use in speech and try to remove some of the difficulties.
The main fact that puzzles beginners to learn the state language of Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia and some other countries is the number of grammar tenses. So how many times are there in English? Only 16. Many wonder why so much; after all, in Russian there are only 3 of them, and we get along very well with them. In fact, each group has a logical explanation, and is used depending on the context, so you need to pay special attention to the environment of the sentence (with the verb of interest) and the meaning of the statement.
Times of the group Simple (Indefinite)
The so-called "simple" ("indefinite") forms are used to denote well-known facts or actions that occur at regular intervals.
Present Simple (Indefinite)
For the speaker, the action is important in itself: it is textbook, unique, or repeated several times.
I drink coffee every morning. - I drink coffee every morning.
The days are short in winter. - The days are short in winter.
Past Simple (Indefinite)
Here the action took place in the past and there is an indication of the time. For the speaker, this is what plays a big role.
My brother went to the theater last month. “Last month my brother went to the theater.
Yesterday the weather was wonderful. - Yesterday was wonderful weather.
Future Simple (Indefinite)
The speaker means an action that will take place in the future. The idea of an upcoming event comes to mind at the moment of speech. Here we propose to do something, agree with something, promise something.
There is no milk in the fridge. I shall (will) go and buy some. - There is no milk in the refrigerator. I'll go and buy some.
I think my mother will work next Saturday. - I think mom will work next Saturday.
How exactly verb forms and tenses are formed in English is clearly shown in the final table near the end of the article.
Times of the group Progressive (Continuous)
"Long-term" forms are used to indicate an action in a process.
Present Progressive (Continuous)
Present continuous tense denotes actions that occur at the moment of speech, or in parallel to it.
They are walking together now. - Now they are walking together.
(Talking over the phone) What are you doing now? - I am training to take part in the competition. - (Talking on the phone) What are you doing now? - I train for the competition.
Present Progressive is used to indicate a future action if it is planned in advance.
I am going to India in ten days. - In 10 days I will go to India. (I decided in advance, and not at the time of the speech).
Past Progressive (Continuous)
The action takes place at a certain moment in the past, its "procedurality" is important.
I was feeding my cat at 6 p.m. yesterday. - Yesterday at 6 pm I fed my cat.
Tommy was eating when my brother arrived. “Tommy was eating when my brother arrived.
Future Progressive (Continuous)
The action takes place at a certain moment in the future, its duration is also important here.
I shall (will) be watching TV from 9.00 till 9.30 tomorrow. Tomorrow I will watch TV from 9 am to 9.30 am.
NB! Remember that Progressive tenses in English necessarily involve a process. Verbs denoting sensations (to hear - to hear, to see - to see, to feel - to feel), relationships (to like - to like, to hate - to hate, to prefer - to prefer), etc. are used in these times quite rarely.
"Perfect" forms of the verb indicate actions that have ended at a certain moment. The result of such actions is important here.
Present perfect
Action in the past has a connection with the present moment. The exact time does not matter.
My breakfast has been rather saturated this morning. “I had a good breakfast this morning. (And at the moment of speech, for example, noon).
Past perfect
The action was completed at a certain point in the past.
I had finished my breakfast before my brother phoned me. “I finished breakfast before my brother called me.
Future perfect
The action will take place at a certain point in the future.
I shall (will) have already cooked breakfast by 8 a.m. tomorrow. - Tomorrow at 8 am I will have breakfast ready.
Jane will have eaten her breakfast by the moment her brother will arrive tomorrow. “Jane will have breakfast tomorrow by the time her brother arrives.
NB! We emphasize once again that when choosing the times of the Perfect group, it is the effectiveness that plays an important role.
Times of Perfect Progressive (Perfect Continuous)
This "perfectly long" group of tenses is the most difficult in terms of grammatical construction. Its meaning is in the process of action, which ultimately has an important result.
Present Perfect Progressive (Present Perfect Continuous)
The speaker implies an action that began in the past and has just ended, or is still ongoing.
I have been eating this porridge for half an hour. - I ate this porridge for half an hour. (The action has just ended.)
They have been painting the house since 11 o'clock. - They paint the house from 11 o'clock. (And they still continue to do so.)
Past Perfect Progressive (Past Perfect Continuous)
The action lasted for a certain period in the past and ended at a certain moment in the past.
My little daughter had been eating soup for about twenty minutes before her brother came into the kitchen. - My little daughter ate soup for about 20 minutes before her brother entered the kitchen.
How long had you been listening to the radio before I turned it off? - How long did you listen to the radio before I turned it off?
Future Perfect Progressive (Future Perfect Continuous)
The action, as a rule, has already begun or will begin a little later, but it will definitely end by a certain moment in the future, or it will last for some time significant for the speaker.
Tommy will have been eating the soup for 10 minutes by the time his brother returned from school. - Tommy will be eating soup for 10 minutes by the time his brother gets back from school.
NB! Both the duration of what is happening and the final result play an important role here.
Formation diagram of verb forms and tense markers in English
With the help of special words (markers), you can "calculate" what kind of time we are talking about. Once you have learned them, you can easily find the correct uses for the forms and determine the tenses of the verbs in exercises or dialogues in English.
Times of the Future-in-the-Past group
The last group of tenses is practically not used in colloquial speech. However, it should also be studied for recognition in writing. These forms mean considering future actions from the point of view of the past moment.
- I hoped I would win the game. - I was hoping I would win that game. (Future Simple-in-the-Past)
- She said that she would be watching a film at 7 p.m. yesterday. - She said she would be watching a movie tomorrow at 7pm. (Future Progressive-in-the-Past)
- My brother told me that he would have finished cleaning the room by the midday. “My brother told me he would finish cleaning his room by noon. (Future Perfect-in-the-Past)
- My mother said she would have been working at the factory for 25 years next July. - My mother said that next July she will be 25 years old as she works in the factory. (Future Perfect Progressive-in-the-Past)
Practice, and English will not seem ultra difficult, and the times will be well illustrated by another funny table with examples:
Some helpful tips:
- Pay particular attention to the context and environment of the verb form being discussed, marker words, and other clues.
- When answering a question, focus on the "given", determine the time, and then formulate the answer.
- Learn regular and irregular verbs so as not to make mistakes in the spelling of the verb form.
- In complex sentences, consider simple components in relation to the sequence of actions, and also take into account such a phenomenon as the alignment of times in English.
These are all the basic rules. We hope that now it will be easier for you to master the grammatical variety of foreign speech. And success in further learning English!
About 12 times in short:
Present continuous tense ( Present continuous) is formed according to the scheme: to be + present participle of a semantic verb
to be + verb ending with ing
Examples:
It is important to understand the difference between simple present and simple continued tenses.
Simple present describes habitual actions in the present tense. Present continuous tense describes actions that occur at the moment of speech or in the period to which this moment belongs.
Compare:
Questions with real continued tense in English.
1. Interrogative sentences requiring a simple yes / no answer.
In questions subject and verb to be swap places. Present participle (form in ing) costs after the verb to be and the subject.
Scheme:
to be + subject + verb ending with ing
Examples:
| Are you painting the house? | Do you paint the house? |
| Is he going to the hardware store? | Is he going to the hardware store? |
| Is it raining? | It's raining? |
Answers can be long and short.
2. The use of interrogative words.
The word order in these questions is the same as in the simple questions of the previous type. Question word put before auxiliary and main verbs:
Wh ... + to be + subject + verb ending ing
Examples:
If the question sounds why (why), in the answer use the word because (because).
Examples:
If the answer is short, then it includes only the second part of the sentence (starting with the words "because").
Examples:
Denial with present continued tense
Denial in the present continuous tense it is formed like this: add to the verb form to be particle not.
Here you need to remember short forms: am not = ain't; is not = isn’t; are not = aren’t.
Example:
She is not working at the moment. She's not working now.
Spelling of forms of the present tense.
Typically for education present participles at the end of the verb add ing.
Examples:
| work + ing = working |
| paint (paint) + ing = painting (paint) |
| I work in Chicago. | I "m working in Chicago this year. |
| I work in Chicago. | I'm working in Chicago this year. |
| I paint the house every summer. | I "m painting the house right now. |
| I paint my house every year. | I'm painting the house now. |
There are other cases of the formation of the present participle:
1. If the infinitive ends with "e" and the previous consonant, then when forming participles, "e" is replaced by "ing".
Examples:
imagine imagine imagining imagining
write write writing writing
Exception: verbs that end in ee.
For example:
free flee freeing fleeing
2. In single-syllable verbs that end in a consonant preceded by a vowel, double the consonant before the ending "ing".
Examples:
run run away running running
get receive getting receiving
Exception: consonants are not doubled: x, w, y.
Examples: to fix, to play
| I "m fixing the sink. | I'm fixing the kitchen sink. |
| The cats are playing. | The cats are playing. |
3. Verbs of two syllables, in which the stress falls on the last, double the final vowel before the ending "ing".
Examples:
begin start off beginning beginning
4. If the verb ends with "ie", that ending is replaced with "y", then "ing" is added.
die die dying dying
lie lie lying lying
Continuous use of the present.
1. The action that occurs at the time of speech.
Examples:
| I "m painting the kitchen. | I paint the kitchen. |
| My husband is helping me. | My husband helps me. |
2. An action that covers a certain period of time in the present.
Example:
Nelly is studying at University. Nelly is studying at the university.
3. Emotionally colored characteristics of the face. This is usually a negative rating.
Example:
She is constantly talking about money. She talks about money all the time.
4. A pre-planned action that will occur in the near future.
Used with the verbs of movement: move, come, go, leave, return, start.
Examples:
The show is starting soon. The show is starting soon.
Are you moving to the new flat? Are you moving to a new apartment?
5. An action in a process that occurs simultaneously with another action (in the simple past tense). This tense is used in time subordinate clauses and conditions after unions: when, while, aslong as, if, in case, unless.
Example:
David always talks when he is eating. David always speaks when he eats.
Education
formed with an auxiliary verb to be in the present tense and the present participle of the semantic verb:
Short Answers:
Are you learning English? - Yes, I am.
Use
1. The Present Continuous (Progressive) Tense used to express a continuing unfinished action that occurs at the time of speech. The moment of speech can be expressed in the following adverbs or phrases: now, at present, at the moment and so on, or it may be clear from the context:
What "s that smell? Something" s burning. - What is that smell? Something is burning.
Why are you wearing that funny hat? - Why are you wearing this funny hat?
2. This tense also expresses a long-term action taking place in the present period, not necessarily at the time of speech.
Please don "t take that book. Anna" s reading it. - Please don't take this book. Anya reads it.
Andrew "s spending a lot of time in the library these days, as he" s writing a book. - Andrew spends a lot of time in the library these days, because writes a book.
3. In addition, this time is used to express future long-term action (instead of Future continuous) in the adverbial clauses of the condition and time that are introduced by the unions if, when, while and others (see pp. 231-232):
I "ll be reading the newspaper while you are writing your exercises. - I will read the newspaper while you write the exercises.
4. Note that in emotionally colored statements, it can also be used with adverbs characterizing constant, habitual actions:
He "s always writing with a special pen just because he likes to be different (irritation.) - He always writes with a special pen just because he doesn't want to be like everyone else.
5. The Present Continuous (Progressive) Tense conveys a future event, which by the time of the speech has already been planned and will occur in the near future. In this meaning The present continuous used with verbs of motion or action (activity and motion): to see, to meet, to go, to come, to leave, to start and others, and usually with a time circumstance indicating the future:
They "re getting married in June. - They are getting married in June."
We "re leaving at 11.00 in the morning. - We leave at 11 am.
I "m seeing him tomorrow. - I'll see him tomorrow.
We "re having dinner together. - We will dine together.
I "m starting a new job next week. - I will start a new job next week.
To express the intention to take an action or confidence in its fulfillment in the future, along with Present Continuous (Progressive) often used Present Continuous (Progressive) from the verb to be in combination with the infinitive of the verb meaning "I intend, I intend, I intend":
He is going to spend his summer vacation in the Crimea. - He is going to spend summer holidays in Crimea.
If the sentence is about intention expressed by verbs to go or to com, construction to be going to do sth replaced Present Continuous (Progressive) corresponding verbs:
He is going (coming) there (here). - He's going to go (come) there (here).
The sky is clearing up; the rain is going to stop in a minute. - The sky is clearing up; the rain will stop in a minute.
Some verbs cannot have forms Continuous (Progressive):
I like Indian food. - I love Indian food.
Verbs not used in the form Continuous (Progressive)(see a more complete list in the Appendix, p. 271):
Cognitive verbs: to know, to mind, to understand, to believe, to forget, to remember, to mean, to doubt, recognize:
She knows a lot about astrology. “She knows a lot about astrology.
I believe his story. - I believe his story (story).
Do you understand what I "m saying? - Do you understand what I mean?
I think he is a kind man. - I think he's a kind person.
I don "t recognize him. - I dont recognize him.
I remember my first teacher. - I remember my first teacher.
I forget his name. - I forget his name.
I mean this book, not that one. “I mean this book, not that one.
Verbs expressing emotional states: to like, to dislike, to look, to prefer, to want, to care, to hate, to love, to need, to appreciate, to seem:
I like playing football. - I like to play football.
They love listening to music. - They love to listen to music.
I hate getting up early in the morning. - I hate getting up early in the morning.
I want to leave now. - Now I want to leave.
He prefers to stay here. - He prefers to stay here.
I need some help. - I need help.
I appreciate your help. - I appreciate your help.
He seems to be a nice person. - He seems like a good person.
Verbs of the five senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, sensation ( to see, fo smell, to taste, to hear, to touch). They are usually used with a modal verb. san: san see, can smell, can hear, can taste, can feel:
I can smell something burning. - I feel something is burning.
Can you see Peter? - Do you see Peter?
What "s that noise? Can you hear it? - What is this noise?
This food tastes good. - This food is delicious.
Possession verbs: to possess, to own, to belong, to have:
I have two sisters. - I have two sisters.
Don't owns a car. - He has a car.
This book belongs to me. - It is my book.
He possesses many fine qualities. - He has many good qualities.
Some other verbs: to cost, to need, to contain, to depend, to consist, to seem:
A newspaper costs about 20p. - The newspaper costs about 20 pence.
I need a bath. - I need to take a bath.
Be careful! That bottle contains poison. - Carefully! There is poison in this bottle.
Some of the above verbs can be used in the form Continuous (Progressive), but their meaning changes:
to think in the meaning of "have an opinion" in Continuous (Progressive) not used:
What do you think of classical music? - What do you think about classical music? I think it "s boring. - I think it's boring.
but to think in the meaning of "to have something in thoughts, to think" is used in Continuous (Progressive) since it is a mental activity, not a state:
You aren "t listening to me? What are you thinking about? - Can't you hear me? What are you thinking? I" m thinking about a letter I received this morning. “I’m thinking about the letter I received this morning.
to have Continuous (Progressive).
When designating an action in the form Continuous (Progressive) used by to have+ noun:
John "s having a bath. - John is taking a bath.
We "re having cheese for lunch. We have cheese for lunch.
to look at and listen to can be used in Continuous (Progressive):
She "s looking at my holiday photographs. - She is looking at my vacation photos.
Don "t turn the music off. I" m listening to it. - Don't turn off the music. I'm listening to.
to see used in the form Continuous (Progressive) in the meaning of "visit", "inspect", "watch a movie":
We are seeing a film. - We are watching a movie.
to hear used in Continuous (Progressive) in the meanings "listen", "attend (lectures)", etc.:
I "m hearing your voice. - I listen to your voice.
You will be hearing from me (meaning: I will write or phone you.) - I will contact you soon.
to mean in the meaning "intend" is used in the forms Continuous (Progressive):
I have been meaning to call you (intending) - I'm going to call you.
Typical mistakes
Are you learning English?
Yes, I "m.
Is Marianna reading now?
Yes, she "s.
Brief affirmative answers cannot be shortened.
Right answers:
Yes, I am; Yes, she is.
I "m liking Indian food.
Some verbs have no form Continuous, so it is correct to say:
I like Indian food.
I "m having black hair.
Verb to have in the meaning of "to have" has no form Continuous:
I have (have got) black hair.