The document describes the use of the present continuous tense in English. It discusses four main uses: (1) actions happening now, (2) longer actions in progress now, (3) planned events in the near future, and (4) repetition or irritation with words like "always." It provides examples for each use and notes some irregular verb forms. The document also covers adverb placement, non-continuous verbs that don't use the present continuous form, and rules for spelling verbs in the -ing form.

1. Present Continuous

2. FORMULA
(+) Subject + be + Verb-ing + Object +
Modifier
(-) Subject + be + Not + Verb-ing +
Object + Modifier
(?) Be + Subject + Verb-ing + Object +
Modifier

3. POSITIVE FORM

4. NEGATIVE & QUESTION FORM

5. USE 1 Now
•Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs
to express the idea that something is happening
now, at this very moment.
• It can also be used to show that something is
not happening now.

6. Example
• You are learning English now.
You are not swimming now.
• Are you sleeping?
• I am sitting.
I am not standing.
• Is he sitting or standing?
• They are reading their books.
They are not watching television.
• What are you doing?
• Why aren't you doing your homework?

7. USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now
In English, "now" can mean: this second, today,
this month, this year, this century, and so on.
Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to
say that we are in the process of doing a longer
action which is in progress; however, we might
not be doing it at this exact second.

8. Example
• I am studying to become a doctor.
I am not studying to become a dentist.
• I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
I am not reading any books right now.
• Are you working on any special projects at
work?
• Aren't you teaching at the university now?
(All of those sentences can be said while eating
dinner in a restaurant.)

9. USE 3 Near Future
Sometimes, speakers use the Present
Continuous to indicate that something will or
will not happen in the near future.
Examples:
•I am meeting some friends after work.
•I am not going to the party tonight.
•Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
•Isn't he coming with us tonight?

10. USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with
"Always"
•The Present Continuous with words such as
"always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that
something irritating or shocking often happens.
• Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present,
but with negative emotion. Remember to put
the words "always" or "constantly" between
"be" and "verb+ing."

11. Example
• She is always coming to class late.
• He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut
up.
• I don't like them because they are always
complaining.

12. REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed
Verbs
It is important to remember that NonContinuous Verbs cannot be used in any
continuous tenses. Also, certain noncontinuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot
be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using
Present Continuous with these verbs, you
must use Simple Present.

13. Examples:
• She is loving this chocolate ice cream. ( Not
Correct)
• She loves this chocolate ice cream. (Correct)

14. ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for
grammar adverbs such as: always, only,
never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
• You are still watching TV.
• Are you still watching TV?

15. How do we spell the Present Continuous
Tense?
• We make the present continuous tense by
adding -ing to the base verb.
• Normally it's simple - we just add -ing. But
sometimes we have to change the word a
little. Perhaps we double the last letter, or we
drop a letter.
• Here are the rules to help you know how to
spell the present continuous tense.

16. Just add -ing to the base verb:
work
Basic rule
>
working
play
>
playing
assist
>
assisting
see
>
seeing
be
>
being

17. If the base verb ends in consonant +
stressed vowel + consonant, double
the last letter:
s
o
consonant
Exception 1
t
stressed
vowel
stop
>
stopping
run
>
running
begin
>
beginning
Note that this exception does not
apply when the last syllable of the base
verb is not stressed:
open
>
opening
p
consonant
(vowels = a,
e, i, o, u)

18. Exception 2
If the base verb ends in ie, change
the ie to y:
>
lying
die
Exception 3
lie
>
dying
If the base verb ends in vowel +
consonant + e, omit the e:
come
>
coming
mistake
>
mistaking