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 | |
---|---|
Sorry, are you asking to set up another meeting? | माफ करना, क्या आप दूसरी बैठक निर्धारित करने के लिए कह रहे हैं? |
You know who we are talking about. | तुम्हें पता है हम किसकी बात कर रहे हैं। |
Okay, are you calling the Camden ones? | ठीक है, क्या तुम कैमडेन वाले को कॉल कर रही हो? |
We are running late for our next appointment. | हमें अपनी अगली मुलाकात के लिए देर हो रही है। |
Girls, we are planning on getting something to eat from the shop. | लड़कियों, हम उस दुकान से कुछ खाने के लिए लेने के बारे में सोच रहे हैं। |
She's just bullsh*tting! | वो बस ब*वास कर रही थी! |
Everything is perfect, business is getting better day by day. | सब बढ़िया है, व्यवसाय दिन-प्रतिदिन बेहतर हो रहा है। |
We are planning to share it. | हम इसे आपस में बांटने के बारे में सोच रहे हैं। |
Fine, I've found the number, calling them now. | ठीक है, मुझे नंबर मिल गया है, मैं अब उन्हें कॉल कर रही हूँ। |
No, I'm living in a shared house, with the landlords. | नहीं, मैं किराये पर अपने मकान मालिकों के साथ रहती हूँ। |
I'm just calling about the house for rent in Angel. | मैंने बस एंजेल में किराये के घर के लिए कॉल किया है। |
Well, it depends on where you're going in Australia, actually. | वैसे, वास्तव में, यह इस बात पर निर्भर करता है कि आप ऑस्ट्रेलिया में कहा जा रहे हैं। |
Are you going really early in the morning? | क्या तुम सुबह बहुत जल्दी निकल रहे हो? |
Anyway, are you planning on living here with your girlfriend? | वैसे, क्या तुम यहाँ अपनी प्रेमिका के साथ रहने की योजना बना रहे हो? |
Umm, okay, but what are we betting? | उम्म, ठीक है, लेकिन हम क्या शर्त लगा रहे हैं? |
Yes, I can see you are not being aggressive in your eyes! | हाँ, मैं तुम्हारी आँखों में देख सकता हूँ कि तुम गुस्सा नहीं हो रही हो! |
We are meeting the boys at the Japanese restaurant. | हम लड़कों से जापानी रेस्टोरेंट में मिल रहे हैं। |
Why are you making me carry everything back and forth 500 times, then? | तो फिर, तुम क्यों मुझसे सभी चीजों को 500 बार इधर-उधर करवा रही हो? |
It's almost 11 o'clock, the bar is closing. | 11 बजने वाले हैं, बार बंद हो रहा है। |
I can keep the window open while I'm smoking... | मैं सिगरेट पीते समय खिड़की खुली रख सकता हूँ... |