THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

This baby’s playing with his toy.

This baby’s playing with his toy. An activity in progress TO BE (am/are/is) + VERB + ing

An activity in progress

TO BE (am/are/is) + VERB + ing

This baby’s laughing.

Gestures, movement, etc. in progress (happening now). Laugh + ing This baby’s laughing.

Gestures, movement, etc. in progress (happening now).

Laugh + ing

The baby’s smiling.

The baby’s smiling. Basic Verb = SMILE (silent E) (verb − E) + ING. SMILING For Example: COME – coming GIVE – giving LEAVE – leaving TAKE – taking

Basic Verb = SMILE (silent E)

(verb − E) + ING.

SMILING

For Example:

COME – coming

GIVE – giving

LEAVE – leaving

TAKE – taking

The baby’s sleeping.

The baby’s sleeping. Is sleeping an activity in progress? No, it isn’t! However, we use the Present Continuous with certain verbs: sleep, lie, sit, stand, wear, etc. when we mean NOW, at the moment.

Is sleeping an activity in progress?

No, it isn’t! However, we use the Present Continuous with certain verbs: sleep, lie, sit, stand, wear, etc. when we mean NOW, at the moment.

She’s sitting in her highchair.

She’s sitting in her highchair. Basic Verb = SIT Consonant + Vowel + Consonant Double Consonant + ing. SITTING

Basic Verb = SIT Consonant + Vowel + Consonant

Double Consonant + ing.

SITTING

Beginning / Happening Double the consonant when the stress is on the final syllable . BE GIN . - She’s beginning to eat vegetables. BUT: HAPP EN. - What’s happening? Exception: Double the final letter L. TRAVEL. – She’s travelling in her car seat. (USA: traveling)

Double the consonant when the stress is on the final syllable . BE GIN . - She’s beginning to eat vegetables.

BUT: HAPP EN. - What’s happening?

Exception: Double the final letter L. TRAVEL. – She’s travelling in her car seat. (USA: traveling)

He’s lying down.

He’s lying down. Basic Verb = LIE We change IE to Y – LYING. DIE – dying / TIE – tying (!) Regular: BUY – buying / FLY – flying SKI – skiing / STUDY - studying

Basic Verb = LIE

We change IE to Y – LYING.

DIE – dying / TIE – tying

(!) Regular: BUY – buying / FLY – flying

SKI – skiing / STUDY - studying

She’s looking very pretty. She looks pretty. (= always) She’s looking very pretty in her pink dress today. (= especially now)

She looks pretty. (= always)

She’s looking very pretty in her pink dress today. (= especially now)

Sam’s going to the park with his grandmother.

Sam’s going to the park with his grandmother. This is happening now. It isn’t a habit. It’s something different.

This is happening now.

It isn’t a habit.

It’s something different.

Sam goes to playschool in the morning.

However, he’s staying at home this morning.

He’s staying at home because he’s got a cold.

He’s staying at home because he’s got a cold. Sam usually goes to playschool, but he’s staying at home this morning, because he’s got a cold. The Present Continuous is for a change in routine.

Sam usually goes to playschool, but he’s staying at home this morning, because he’s got a cold.

The Present Continuous is for a change in routine.

David’s eating yogurts now.

David’s eating yogurts now. The Present Continuous is for a change. It isn’t happening exactly at this time, but it happens frequently. This is a new routine. For Example: I’m reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo these days.

The Present Continuous is for a change.

It isn’t happening exactly at this time, but it happens frequently.

This is a new routine.

For Example: I’m reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo these days.

What’s she having to eat? She’s having vegetables for lunch.

She’s having vegetables for lunch.

What’s she having to eat? Compare: A- She’s having vegetables for lunch. B- She has short hair. (She’s got...) A = eat/drink => Present Continuous. B = possess => NOT continuous. For Example:  I’m thinking about Christmas already.  The baby’s crying. I think she’s hungry.

Compare: A- She’s having vegetables for lunch. B- She has short hair. (She’s got...) A = eat/drink => Present Continuous. B = possess => NOT continuous.

For Example:  I’m thinking about Christmas already.  The baby’s crying. I think she’s hungry.

I love my daddy.

I love my daddy. LOVE refers to a ‘state’. The Present Continuous isn’t for characteristics/states/opinions: be, believe, know, understand, like, hate, need, want, possess, mean, seem .. .

LOVE refers to a ‘state’.

The Present Continuous isn’t for characteristics/states/opinions:

be, believe, know, understand, like, hate, need, want, possess, mean, seem .. .