1.5: Present Continuous Tense
- Page ID
- 349392
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Present Continuous (Progressive) Tense
Form and Meaning
The present continuous tense is formed by using the present tense of the verb To Be (am, is, and are) plus the present participle (-ing form) of the verb. Therefore, there must be subject/verb agreement when using the present continuous tense.
It emphasizes the action of the verb's being in progress as the speaker is speaking. It is often formed by using now, but now can mean:
- Right now as I speak
- Now meaning at all the time in the present
- Anything else where the action continues
Important: Native speakers use the present continuous tense most of the time when they are speaking about any action in progress. For actions that happen all the time or are general occurrences, native speakers use the simple present tense.
Structure Overview
| Subject | Be | Gerund (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| I | am | going, coming, studying, driving, enjoying |
| He/She/It | is | going, coming, studying, driving, enjoying |
| We/You/They | are | going, coming, studying, driving, enjoying |
Affirmative Form
| Subject | Be Verb | Main Verb (-ing) | Complete Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am | teaching | I am teaching you English this quarter. |
| You We They |
are | studying raising working |
You are studying English with me in Room CC 210. My wife and I are raising our sons in Seattle. My sons are working in good jobs. |
| He She It |
is | writing reading growing |
My son, James, is writing a report for his class. Fatemeh is reading a novel that she wants to finish this week. The plant is growing very quickly in the sunlight. |
Negative Form
| Subject | Be Verb + Not | Main Verb (-ing) | Complete Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am not | speaking | I am not speaking French to my students right now. |
| You We They |
are not (aren't) | playing helping studying |
My children aren't playing video games with my wife. As I write this exercise, my colleagues are not helping me. None of my students is studying in the library at this time.* |
| He It |
is not (isn't) | drinking raining |
My friend isn't drinking beer at home now. It is not raining today. |
*Note: When using "none of" + plural noun, the verb can be either singular or plural in modern English. In formal writing, "none" traditionally takes a singular verb (as shown: "None of my students is studying"), but plural usage ("None of my students are studying") is more commonly spoken in modern English.
Interrogative (Question) Form
| Be Verb | Subject | Main Verb (-ing) | Complete Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Am | I | teaching listening |
Am I teaching you to speak Chinese or English? Am I listening to the radio as I explain this exercise? |
| Are | you | coming | Are all of you from foreign countries? |
| Is | the sun it |
shining snowing |
Is the sun shining today? Is it snowing in the mountains now? |
Key Points to Remember
- Formula: Subject + be verb (am/is/are) + main verb + -ing
- Usage: Actions happening RIGHT NOW or currently in progress
- Subject-verb agreement: Must match the be verb with the subject
- Contractions: I'm, he's, she's, it's, we're, you're, they're (positive) | isn't, aren't (negative)
- Time indicators: now, right now, at this moment, currently, today