Present Continuous
- When you can use Present Continuous
- Time markers in Present Continuous
- How to build Present Continuous
- Spelling of the verbs with ending -ing
When you can use Present Continuous
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You use Present Continuous for actions happening at or around the moment of speaking.
- He is looking for a better job.
- Why are you crying?
- Don’t disturb her! She is preparing for the exam.
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You use Present Continuous for temporary situations.
- We are staying at the Grand Hotel at present. /it’s our temporary place for living/
- He is working as a barman during the summer. /it’s his temporary job — only in summer/
- I am currently living with my sister. /it’s only for some period of time — temporary/
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You use Present Continuous for fixed arrangements in the near future (definite future plans).You use Present Continuous for fixed arrangements in the near future, especially with the verbs of movement such as: to come, to fly, to go, to leave, to arrive, etc.
- I am meeting my friends tonight. /I have the arrangement to meet with my friends tonight/
- They are flying to Madrid next week. /it’s fixed, they have tickets/
- When is she coming back? /with this question I want to find out her plans for the near future/
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You use Present Continuous with the word ALWAYS to express annoying habits.Annoying means something that makes you feel angry or impatient.Annoying habit — something that somebody often does without intending to or without realizing that what he/she is doing can annoy other people.
- She is always lying to her friends. /it’s her annoying habit — to lie/
- They are always getting late. /it’s their annoying habit — to get late/
- William is always trying to cheat on the exam. /it’s his annoying habit — to cheat/
Time markers in Present Continuous
- at the moment
- now
- at present
- tonight
- tomorrow
- always (with annoying habits)
How to build Present Continuous
+
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I + am + verb + ing
He/she/it + is + verb + ing
We/you/they + are + verb + ing
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−
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I + am + not + verb + ing
He/she/it + isn’t + verb + ing
We/you/they + aren’t + verb + ing
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?
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Am + I + verb + ing
Is + he/she/it + verb + ing
Are + we/you/they + verb + ing
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Wh-?
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Wh + am + I + verb + ing
Wh + is + he/she/it + verb + ing
Wh + are + we/you/they + verb + ing
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Practice!
- Present Continuous — Positive
- Present Continuous — Positive — Say what you are doing
- Present Continuous — Negative
- Present Continuous — Negative — Short forms
- Present Continuous — Yes/No question
- Present Continuous — Wh-question — Exercise 1
- Present Continuous — Put the Wh-question to the word/phrase in bold
- Present Continuous — Mixed
Spelling of the verbs with ending -ing
verbs ending with e ➔
e
+ ing
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verbs ending with ee ➔
+ ing
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verbs ending with ie ➔
ie
y + ing
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one-syllable verbs with a vowel + one consonant
in the end ➔ double the last consonant + ing
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work — working (don’t double “k”, because there are two consonants after the vowel)
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one-syllable verb with a vowel + x or w
in the end ➔ DO NOT double x/w.
Just add -ing.
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If two-syllable verb with a vowel + consonant
in the end has stress on the second syllable ➔
double the last consonant + ing
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These verbs have
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if the two-syllable verb with a vowel + consonant
in the end has stress on the
first syllable ➔
DO NOT double the last consonant.
Just add -ing
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These verbs have
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verbs ending with c ➔
add k + ing
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verbs ending with L
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all other verbs
(not mentioned above) ➔
just add -ing
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