The Present Continuous Tense

Active Form Questions Form Negative form Positive Form

Present Continuous Tense

Used to express a continued or ongoing action at present time. Expresses an action which is in progress at the time of speaking. For example, a person says, I am writing a letter. It means that he is in the process of writing a letter right now. Such actions which are happening at time of speaking are expressed by present continuous tense. Present Continuous Tense is also called Present Progressive Tense.

 Present continuous to talk about events which are temporary/ limited/ in the time and the present simple to talk about events which are habit/permanent.

To talk about actions which are happening at the present moment but will soon finish.

When to use the present continuous tense.

When we talk about something which is happening or in progress at the time of speaking.

Examples 1) Rahmat is reading a magazine. 2) What is Ali doing now? I He

Subject

Verb am reading

Time Words Now Still

She is reading At present Currently Presently

It
3) He is still washing The girl some dishes. They We You are reading

At the moment

Active Form

Passive Form

Something is being done by someone at the moment.

 Example : Active : The postman is delivering the mail. Passive : The mail is being delivered by the postman. Active : Harry Potter is measuring the room. Passive : The room is being measured by Harry Potter. Active : The coach is congratulating the team at the moment. Passive : The team is being congratulated by the coach. Active : Are they opening the gifts now? Passive : Are the gifts being opened by them? (*now) *optional

Negative form

LONG FORM

SHORT FORM
When shortening a form of be and negative, just remove the o in not and add an apostrophe () is not > isnt are not > arent
Subject + not Verb + ing

Forming a question

Question forms are made by changing the position of the words in the sentence. Yes/ No - question are formed by placing Am, Is or Are at the beginning of the sentences. Wh question are formed by adding a Wh question word before a Yes / No question.

Statement
I am eating You are lying He is going She is leaving It is sleeping They are crying

Yes / Noquestion
Am I eating? Are you lying? Is he going? Is she leaving? Is it sleeping? Are they crying?

Wh - question
What am I eating? Why are you lying? Where is he going? When is she leaving? Where is it sleeping? Why are they crying?

Quick Exercise
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)

The cat is tearing the new book.

The new book is being torn by the cat.

Is the agent chasing the criminal?

Is the criminal being chased by the agent?

We are collecting the donations at the moment.

The donations are being collected by us at the moment.

The tailor (still , make) uniforms Is still making for the fireman. What you (do) Din? I am doing are (wash) my clothes. Itwashing (not, rain) now. We can go outside and play Isnt football.