In English we use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are happening right now or around now, for temporary situations and to describe changes. Another reason to use present continuous is for definite future arrangements. We usually know exactly when the arrangements are happening and they are often the type of arrangements we can write in a diary. There is a suggestion that more than one person is aware of the event, and that some preparation has already happened. In English we often use time phrases such as now, at the moment, at this time, currently, today and this week with the present continuous.
Notes for use of present continuous :
It is not possible to use state verbs in continuous forms. State verbs are generally those which relate to thoughts, senses, emotions, relationships, states of being and measurements such as like, love, hate, own, know, contain, believe and understand. Only action verbs can be used in the present continuous.
Generally, we take the infinitive of the verb and simply add '-ing' to make the continuous form. For example;
work --> working
go --> going
cook --> cooking
study --> studying
listen --> listening
If the verb ends in 'e', we drop the 'e' before adding '-ing'. For example;
come --> coming
take --> taking
phone --> phoning
If the verb ends in a vowel + consonant, we double the last consonant. For example;
swim --> swimming
sit --> sitting
plan --> planning
If the verb has more than one syllable, we double the consonant at the end only if the last syllable is stressed. For example;
prefer --> preferring
begin --> beginning
regret --> regretting
If the last syllable of a verb is not stressed, we do not double the last consonant. For example;
visit --> visiting
happen --> happening
develop --> developing
In British English, verbs ending in 'l' double the 'l' before '-ing' whether the last syllable is stressed or not. For example;
travel --> travelling
cancel --> cancelling
If the verb ends in a 'y' or a 'w', we do not double it when we add '-ing'. For example;
stay --> staying
play --> playing
sew --> sewing
We do not double the consonant if the verb has two vowels before the last consonant. For example;
boil --> boiling
explain --> explaining
In English we also do not double the consonant if the verb ends in two consonants. For example;
help --> helping
start --> starting
The table below shows the different forms of present continuous :
Example Verb : Go | I | You / We / They | He / She / It |
Positive | I'm going ... | ...'re going ... | ...'s going ... |
Negative | I'm not going ... | ... aren't going ... | ... isn't going ... |
Questions | Am I going ...? | Are ... going ...? | Is ... going ...? |
Short answers | Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. | Yes, ... are. / No, ... aren't. | Yes, ... is. / No, ... isn't. |
Present Continuous Example Sentences :
Positive Examples of Present Continuous:
Negative Examples of Present Continuous :
Question Examples of Present Continuous :
In English we also use the present continuous with 'always' to indicate the action we are describing is annoying for us because it is done too often.
Examples of Present Continuous with Always:
Present continuous example sentences | |
---|---|
Yeah, it looks good, but that's not what I'm talking about... | Ouais, il a l'air bien, mais ce n'est pas à propos de quoi je suis entrain de parler... |
We are meeting the boys at the Japanese restaurant. | Nous rencontrons les garçons au restaurant japonais. |
Your mum? What's happening there, dear? | Ta mère, qu'est-ce qu'il se passe ici chéri? |
I'm just wearing my ring upside down. | Je porte juste une bague à l'envers. |
He has Alzheimer's, and it's getting worse day by day. | Il a Alzheimer, et ça devient de pire en pire de jour en jour. |
Needless to say, I'm joking. | Pas besoin que je le dise, je rigole. |
And one Tsingtao, I'm not sure if I'm pronouncing it correctly. | Et un Tsingtao, je ne suis pas sûre si je le prononce correctement. |
Erm, are you running late for work? | Hum, êtes-vous en retard pour le travail ? |
It's almost 11 o'clock, the bar is closing. | Il est presque 11h, le bar va fermer. |
The best seafood restaurant in Brighton is near where we are going. | Le meilleur restaurant à crustacé à Brighton est près de là où nous allons. |
So you are coming! | Donc vous venez ! |
But for now, I'm just looking for places around 600-ish. | Mais pour l'instant, je cherche des endroits à environ 600. |
Okay, I'm following you. | Ok, je vous suis. |
Why are you tidying your room, is she coming back? | Pourquoi est-ce que tu ranges ta chambre, elle revient? |
Is your friend's sister definitely coming? | La sœur de ton ami vient-elle définitivement ? |
Yeah, but stupidly, you're wearing it on the wrong hand... | Ouais, mais stupidement, tu la portes sur la mauvaise main... |
My name is Mike, I'm calling about the house for rent... | Mon nom est Mike, j'appelle à propos du loyer... |
And one of them is asking for £5,000 deposit. | Et l'un d'entre eux nous demande 5000 £ en dépôt. |
I'm sitting at that corner cafe, having breakfast. | Je suis au café du coin, je déjeune. |
Are you going somewhere else or home? | Tu vas quelque part ou à la maison ? |