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 | |
---|---|
Yes, that's okay, I am not planning on waking up early, either. | Sim, não há problema, eu também não estou planejando acordar cedo. |
The bus is coming! | O ônibus está chegando! |
Calm down, dude, I am just teasing you. | Se acalme, cara, eu só estou brincando com você. |
Okay, I'm following you. | Ok, eu estou te seguindo. |
I'm going to the room and taking the kids with me. | Eu vou para o quarto e vou levar os pequenos comigo. |
Why are you making me carry everything back and forth 500 times, then? | Então, por que você está me fazendo carregar tudo para trás e para a frente 500 vezes? |
Are you laughing or listening, dear? | Querido, você está se rindo ou ouvindo? |
Sorry? What was that? Who is calling, please? | Desculpe? Como assim? Quem fala, por favor? |
How is your rice going? | Como vai o seu arroz? |
I have no idea what they are talking about! | Não faço ideia do que eles estão falando! |
Needless to say, I'm joking. | Escusado será dizer que estou a brincar. |
Great! What are you doing tomorrow? | Ótimo! O que você vai fazer amanhã? |
Oh yes, how is her pregnancy going? | Ah sim, como vai a gravidez? |
Alright, sorry, my phone is ringing! | Muito bem, desculpe, meu telefone está tocando! |
Tiffany, how are you getting to Soho? | Tiffany, como vocês vão para Soho? |
Since you are not working tomorrow. | Uma vez que amanhã não trabalha. |
Are they asking for sh*tloads of money as a deposit, also? | Eles também estão pedindo carradas de dinheiro como depósito, não? |
Saying my father's illness is getting worse. | Dizendo que a doença de meu pai está piorando. |
Hello mate, are you still sleeping? | Oi parceiro, você ainda está dormindo? |
She said lots of things, which one are you talking about? | Ela disse muitas coisas, de qual está falando? |