Grammar: Present Continuous tense

In this lesson, we look at the form and use of present continuous. It’s important that we know when and how to use the present continuous tense.

Forms – Positive, Negative, and Question

Let’s look at the sentences below: 

You are revising English now for the exam.
You are not working now.
Why are you sleeping? It’s working time.
I am sitting now. I am not standing.
Is he talking on the phone?
They are reading their English books or French ones. They are not watching television.
What are you doing?
Why aren’t you doing your homework?

Making -ING form of verbs

For most verbs, we just add -ING after the verbs:

work – working
read – reading
sleep – sleeping

But with the verb ending with -e, we take away -e, then add -ING.

drive – driving
write – writing
ride – riding

With the verbs ending with 1 vowel + 1 consonant, we double the consonant and add -ING.

sit – sitting
swim – swimming
hop – hopping
cut – cutting

NOTE:
We don’t double consonants when adding -ING in the following cases.
1. when it is -y or -w
   play – playing
   bow – bowing
2. when the last syllable is not stressed.
   remember /rɪˈmembə(r)/ – remembering
   visit /ˈvɪzɪt/ – visiting

With the verbs ending with -ie, we change -ie into -y, then add -ING

tie – tying
die – dying
lie – lying

How to use Present Continuous tense

Present simple tense uses very often in spoken English. Let’s learn when it is used and how to use it in different situations.

1. When talking about something happening now at the time of speaking.
   – I’m cooking now. I can’t answer the phone.
   – He’s watching TV. He isn’t doing his homework.
2. We use present continuous to talk about something in progress.
   He’s reading a book. And he’s at chapter 5. And The book has 12 chapters. He’s reading it. He doesn’t finish the reading.
3. when making complaints about repeating actions, or irritating actions with ‘always”, ‘constantly’.
   – 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.

Common verbs that are usually non-continuous

Below is list of common verbs that are usually non-continuous.

know believe doubt recognise remember suppose understand like appreciate care about please prefer dislike fear hate mind

belong possess own desire need want wish consist of contain exist matter hear sound seem look like

resemble agree disagree mean promise amaze surprise

Học tiếng Anh qua kênh Youtube

Ben English Class thành lập kênh youtube tên “Học Tiếng Anh” và thường xuyên đăng các video clip dành cho việc học tiếng Anh. Hãy đăng ký kênh để không bỏ lỡ các video mới của chúng tôi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwstVeG-_ok