Present Continuous

Introduction

How to use it? How to construct a sentence? What does it mean this grammatical construction?

Task

Study this example situation:

Sarah is in her car. She is on her way to work.

She is driving to work.

The means: she is driving  now, at the time of speaking.

The action is not finished.

Am/is/are + -ing is the present continuous:

I am (=I'm) driving
he/she/it is  (=he's etc.) working
we/you/they are (=we're etc.) doing etc.

I am doing  somethings = I'm in the middle of doing it; I've started doing it and I haven't finished yet:

  • Please don't make so much noise. I'm trying to work. (not I try)
  • 'Where's Mark?' 'He's having a shower'. (not He has a shower)
  • Let's go out now. It isn't raining any more. (not It doesn't rain)
  • (at a party) Hello, Jane. Are you enjoying  the party? (not Do you enjoy)
  • What's all that noise? What's going on? (=What's happening?)

The action is not necessary happening at the time of speaking. For example:

You can use the present continuous with today/this week/this year etc. (periods around now):

A: You're working hard today. (not You work hard today)

B: Yes, I have a lot to do.

The company I work for isn't doing so well this year.

We use present continuous when we talk about changes happening around now, especially with these verbs:

get change become increase rise fall grow improve begin start

Is your English getting better? (not Does your English get better)

The population of the world is increasing very fast. (not increases)

At first I didn't like my job, but I'm beginning to enjoy it now. (not I begin)

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDGcOBuHgYo width:791 height:660 align:center]

Process

 

Complete the sentences using the following verbs:

1. The dog ____ (play) with the ball.
2. Why _____ (the teacher / watch) us?
3. The children ____ (do) judo
5. ______ (you/do) your homework?
6.I _____(not chat) with friend,I ______ (use) Wikipedia for homework.
7._____(the players/wear) gloves?

Evaluation

  1. What did you like most about this training? 
  2. What aspects of the training could be improved?                            
  3. How do you hope to change your practice as a result of this training?


Please share other comments or expand on previous responses here.

Conclusion

Present Continuous (I am doing)

We use the continuous for thing happening at or around the time of speaking.

Learn more:

  1. Common problems
  2. Present Continuous
  3. Present Continuous Tense - Positive Sentences 

Credits

  1. Raymond Murphy. "English Grammar in Use" Third edition
  2. Youtube channale CBAMschool