This document provides information on the present continuous and past continuous tenses in English. It defines their uses, grammatical rules, and provides examples of affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences in both tenses. The present continuous is used to describe actions happening now or an arrangement for the future. The past continuous describes actions that were interrupted or happening simultaneously in the past. The document concludes with questions testing the use of these tenses and a section on verbs that are or are not used in the continuous form.

1. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Ministry of popular power for university education
University polytechnic institute
Santiago Mariño
Extension San Cristobal
Presete, past and continuous time
member:
Kelvic Eduardo Contreras Mendez
24.337.381
Engineering of industrial design
Fourth semester
Teacher: Astrid Uzcátegui
English 1

2. PRESENT AND PAST CONTINUOUS
Uses
The present continuous is used to talk about
something that is happening at the
moment in which we speak.
I’m studying now
We also use it to talk about something that is
happening today but not necessarily
when we speak. In this case, time expressions such as
"currently", "lately" or "these days" are used.
She’s currently looking for a job
We use the present continuous to talk about something that is
already decided that will be done
in the near future. Its use indicates that it is quite certain
that what is planned will happen.
I’m going to the party tonight.
Uses
The continuous past is used for a long action that was interrupted in
the past. The action that is interrupted is in continuous
past and the action that causes the interruption is in simple past. "When" and "while"
indicate the use of the simple and continuous past.
In general, we use the simple past directly after "when" and the past continuous after
"while".
Jose called while I was watching the news.
The continuous past is used to speak about actions at a specific time in the past.
Paula wasn’t living in Spain in 2005.
The continuous past is used for two actions that were occurring at the same time in the
past.
My son was reading while I was cooking.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS PAST CONTINUOUS

3. Grammatical Rules
Form
To form the present continuous one uses
the auxiliary verb "to be" and the gerundio
(infinitive + "-ing") of the verb.
Sujeto Auxiliar (to be) Gerund
I am talking, eating,
learning, doing,going
he, she, it is talking, eating,learning,
doing, going
you, we, they are talking , eating, learning,
doing, going
Structure
Affirmative Sentences
Subject + auxiliary verb (to be) + gerund.
I’m talking.
Negative Sentences
Subject + auxiliary verb (to be) + negative auxiliary (not) + gerund.
I’m not talking.
Interrogative Sentences
Auxiliary verb (to be) + subject + gerund?
Are you talking?
Grammatical Rules
Form
To form the continuous past is used
the auxiliary verb "to be" and the gerund (infinitivo + "-ing")
of the verb. The auxiliary verb "to be" is in the past simple,
but keep in mind that "to be" is an irregular verb.
Sujeto Auxiliar (to be) Gerund
I, he, she, it was talking, eating,
learning, doing,
going
you, we, they were talking, eating,
learning, doing,
going
Structure
Affirmative Sentences
Subject + auxiliary verb (to be) + gerund.
I was talking.
Negative Sentences
Subject + auxiliary verb (to be) + negative auxiliary (not) +
gerund.
I was not wasn’t talking.
Interrogative Sentences
Auxiliary verb (to be) + subject + gerund?
Were you talking?

4. Example
Interrogative
-Is she reading the newspaper in the living room?
-Are you working very hard?
-Are they playing in the park?
-Is she doing the work of two people?
Example
Negative
-She is not reading the newspaper in the living
room.
-You are not working very hard.
-They are not playing in the park.
-She is not doing the work of two people.
Example
Affirmative
- are playing videogames.
-lola is dancing with you.
-we are reading the newspaper.
-i am eating.
Example
Affirmative
-He wasn't sleeping yesterday!.
-They weren't at school.
-She wasn't tidy at 5th grade.
-My mom wasn't proud of me.
Example
Negative
-She was not reading the newspaper in the living
room when you arrived.
-You were not working very hard yesterday.
- They were not playing in the park.
-She was not doing the work of two people.
Example
Interrogative
-Was she reading the newspaper in
the living room when you arrived?
-Were you working very hard
yesterday?
-Were they playing in the park?
-Was she doing the work of two
people?

5. QUESTIONS
1.- is he watching tv?
yes, he is watching tv.
2.- is you helping to a sr.?
no, i am not helping to a sr.
3.- are they playing in the beach?
yes, they are playing in the beach.
4.- is she running in the afternoon?
yes, she is running in the afternoon.
5.- is martha working?
no, martha isn’t working.
QUESTIONS
1. -What was she doing when the telephone rang?
She was having lunch.
2. -What were you doing when you broke your leg?
I was playing soccer.
3. -Were you working in the Sales Department last month?
Yes, I was working in the Sales Department.
4. -What were you doing at 7 o'clock this morning?"
I was sleeping.
5. -Was it raining when you arrived home?
Yes, it was raining very hard.

6. CONTINUOUS TIMES
Involuntary:
-I can see you.
-It smells like you are cooking something.
Volunteer:
-I am seeing you later, right?
-I am tasting the soup to see if it is as good as it smells.
Emotive verbs:
-You're lying. I do not believe you!
-Do not worry, I understand you.
-You think there is something wrong?
State verbs or abstract verbs:
-I am ill.
-David needs a new car.
-Cigarettes cost 5 euros now. .
-I do not care if you do not like it, you're going to eat it!
Verbos de posesiOn:
-Ann owned a house when she lived in New York.
-That belongs to me!.
Verbs of communication:
-I disagree, I think it's a great idea.
-You surprised me!