Mastering the Present Continuous Tense: Usage and Examples
Meaning One Example
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Example 1 |
John is on the plane. He is on his way to Hawaii. John is flying to Hawaii. |
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Meaning Explanation |
Note: The words in bold indicate the present continuous. This meaning shows that John is flying right now, at the time of speaking. The action is continuing and isn’t finished. |
Meaning Two Example
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Example 2 |
Sarah is talking on the phone. She says to her friend, “I’m reading on amazing book at the moment. I highly recommend it.” |
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Meaning Explanation |
Note: The words in bold indicate the present continuous. This meaning shows that Sarah is reading a book nowadays. She has started it, but she hasn't Finished it. She isn't reading it at the time of speaking. |
Meaning Three Example
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Example 3 |
Frank is talking to the CEO of the company. He says to the CEO, “The company is growing rapidly this year. We are having an amazing 12 months.” |
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Meaning Explanation |
Note: The words in bold indicate the present continuous. This meaning shows that the company is doing well around this time period (one year). It is changing over this time period. |
Positive and Question
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Positive |
Question |
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I |
am |
I'm |
working. |
Am |
I |
working? |
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He |
is
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He's |
Is
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he |
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She is |
She's |
she |
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It |
It's |
it |
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We |
are |
We're |
Are
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we |
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You |
You're |
you |
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They |
They're |
they |
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Negative with not and Negative with n't
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Negative with not |
Negative with n't |
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I |
am |
I'm |
not working. |
-- |
-- |
working? |
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He |
is
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He's |
He |
isn't |
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She is |
She's |
She |
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It |
It's |
It |
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We |
are |
We're |
We |
aren't |
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You |
You're |
You |
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They |
They're |
They |
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Another way to write
Affirmative, Negative and Question
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Affirmative |
Negative |
Question |
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I’m eating |
I’m not eating |
Am I eating? |
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you/we/they’re eating |
you/we/they aren’t eating |
Are you/we/they eating? |
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he/she/it’s eating |
he/she/it isn’t eating |
Is he/she/it eating? |
Short answers
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Short answers |
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Yes, I am. |
Yes, he/she/it is. |
Yes, we/you/they are. |
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No, I’m not. |
No, he/she/it isn’t. |
No, we/you/they aren’t. |
Positive Structure
Am/is/are + -ing verb
Examples:
I am eating dinner.
He is walking to the shop.
They are shouting very loudly.
Negative Structure
Am/is/are + not + -ing verb
Example:
I am not studying at the moment.
It is not working very weil.
They are not watching the football match.
Question Structure
Am/is/are + subject + -ing verb
Example:
Am I doing it properly?
Is he sleeping yet?
Are you looking in the right place?
Things to Note
Note that we often contract the subject and the verb:
I am going = I'm going
He/she/it is going = he's/she's/it's going
We/you/they are going = we're/you're/they're going
Things to Note
I am not doing = I'm not doing
He/she/it is not doing
= he's not or he isn’t
= she's not or she isn’t
= it's not or it isn't doing
We/you/they are not doing
= we're not or we aren’t
= you're not or you aren’t
= they're not or they aren't doing