This document provides information about the present continuous tense in English. It discusses how the present continuous tense expresses actions that are happening now or near future. It lists the characteristics of the tense such as its other names of present continuous and present progressive. It explains how to form the -ing form of regular and irregular verbs. It provides formulas for affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences in the present continuous tense.

1. NOW PRESENT,
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
OR
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

2. NOW PRESENT
We use Now Present
to express the idea
that something is
happening at the
same moment we
are speaking.

3. CHARACTERISTICS
1. This tense has two other names:
Present Continuous and Present
Progressive.
2. Its main form verb is made by
verb to be + verbing.
*Verb to be = is – am – are.

4. 3. ­Ing means in Spanish ­ando or
­endo.
If the infinitive verb ends with a
final ­e, you have to take it out
and add it ­ing.
DRIVE (Drive – e) + ING =
Driv + ING =
Driving

5. 4. If the infinitive verb is shorter,
we have to duplicate the last
consonant and add ­ING.
CUT (Cut +t) + ING =
Cutt + ING =
Cutting
* This only happens when the verb
has a consonant­vowel­consonant.

6. 5. If the infinitive verb ends with
final ­IE, we have change ­ie into Y
before we add ­ING.
LIE ((Lie ­ ie) + Y) + ING =
Ly + ING =
Lying
* Remember... This only happens
when the infinitive verb ends with
a final ­ED.

7. 6. Finally, we have to add a final
­ING to the missing infinitive verbs.
EAT Eat + ING = Eating.
STUDY Study + ING = Studying.
*The verb eat has a consonant – vowel –
vowel, and every verb that ends with a
final ­y has to e added ­ING.

8. We also can use now present for a
near future
I am meeting some friends after work.
She is traveling to Toscana.
(She already has plane tickets)

9. FORMULAS
1. Affirmative Sentence
Person + to be + Verbing + Complement
The toad is jumping
right now.

10. 2. Negative Sentence
Person + (to be+not) + verbing + Compl.
am not
is not / isn't
are not / aren't
They aren’t eating hamburgers.
They are fighting, shouting and dancing.

11. 3. Interrogative Sentences
a) Yes / No questions
To be + person + verbing + complement?
Are you making your bed ?
Yes, I am

12. b) Wh­questions
Wh + to be + person+verbing +compl+?
What is the man doing?
He's watching television.

13. Material prepared
by
Danitza Lazcano Flores
Teacher of English
Master in Education and
Educational Counselor