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1.3.2: Present Progressive-Negative Forms

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    272880
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    Negative Statements in the Present Progressive

    Negative Statements in the Present

    Progressive

    To make a sentence negative with the present progressive, add not between the auxiliary verb (BE) and the present participle (main verb + ing).

    subject + auxiliary BE + not + present participle

    Present Progressive Negative Form

    Subject

    Be + NOT / Contraction

    Verb + ing

    I

    am not

    listening to music at the moment.

    You

    are not

    playing soccer now.

    He

    is not

    studying this morning.

    She

    is not

    attending class right now.

    It

    is not

    working very well today.

    We

    are not

    writing essays this semester.

    They

    are not / aren't

    sitting in the front right now.


    Exercise 1

    Directions: Change the affirmative statements to the negative by adding not.

    1. Viktor is working.

    _____________________________________________________________________

    2. Tatiana is learning Japanese.

    _____________________________________________________________________

    3. It is raining.

    _____________________________________________________________________

    4. They are buying a TV.

    _____________________________________________________________________

    5. The sun is shining.

    _____________________________________________________________________

    6. Tatiana is paying with a debit card.

    _____________________________________________________________________

    Negative Contractions in the Present Progressive

    Subject+Auxiliary Verb "Be" Not Present Participle Time Expression
    I'm not working today.
    He's
    She's
    It's
    not working right now.
    You’re
    We’re
    They’re
    not working this week.
    Subject Auxiliary Verb "Be" + n't Present Participle Time Expression
    He
    She
    It

    isn't

    working at this moment.
    You
    We
    They
    aren't working this semester.

    Activity 2.16: Writing

    Directions: Answer the following questions in the negative. Use complete sentences. Use contractions.

    Example

    Is she shopping right now? No, she isn’t shopping right now.

    1. Are you riding the bus right now?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    2. Is he taking 5 classes this term?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    3. Are they waiting at the restaurant now?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    4. Is it snowing in Portland today?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    5. Are you biting an apple now?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    6. Is class beginning right now?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    7. Am I driving my car right now?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    8. Are we going to the movies today?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    9. Is Chela feeding her cats right now?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    10. Is the sun shining in Milwaukie today?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    Adapted/Source: “ESL for Beginning Students: The Way You Like It Basic Beginning Grammar/Writing (Part One of Two)” by Don Bissonnette is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0


    1.3.2: Present Progressive-Negative Forms is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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