Catholic University of Mozambique

Distance Education Institute

Topic:

Present Continuous Tense

Name of the student: Jeque Moreira José Cupenga

Students code: 708238179

Course: Degree in Physics Teaching

Subject: English

Class: A

Year of frequency: 1

Tutor: Lúcio Mucaisse

Beira, September 2023

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Contents

1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3

1.1. Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 3

1.1.1. General...................................................................................................................... 3

1.1.2. Specifics ................................................................................................................... 3

1.2. Methodology.................................................................................................................... 3

1. Theoretical framework ....................................................................................................... 5

1.1. Present continuous: Definition and use ....................................................................... 5

2.1.2. Formation of Present Continuous ............................................................................. 5

2.1.3. Negative Form of Present Continuous ..................................................................... 6

2.1.4. Interrogative Form of Present Continuous ............................................................... 6

2.2. The rules for using Present Continuous ....................................................................... 6

2.3. Present Simple x Present Continuous: differences between Simple Present and Present
Continuous tense. ................................................................................................................... 8

2.3.1. Simple Present ...................................................................................................... 8

2. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 9

References ................................................................................................................................ 10

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1. Introduction

This research work entitled present continuous, belongs to the English language module. The
aim is to present different concepts around the topic, we will also present the different forms of
the present continuous tense.

The Present Continuous or Present Progressive (in Portuguese, present continuous or

1.1. Objectives

1.1.1. General

• Know the structure of the present continuous tense

1.1.2. Specifics

• Define the concept of the present continuous tense;

1.2. Methodology

The present study is based on bibliographical research, with the aim of understanding the
functioning and grammatical structure of the present continuous tense.

The strategy chosen was bibliographical research, the study was carried out through a survey
information already processed through previous research. This search strategy isapplied in
academia with the purpose of improving and updating knowledge, throughscientific
investigations of already published works (Andrade, 2010). For Fonseca (2002), the

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Bibliographical research is carried out by surveying theoretical references that have already
been analyzed and published through written and electronic means, such as books, scientific
articles, web pages and websites.

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2. Theoretical framework
2.1. Present continuous: Definition and use

The present continuous should be used to express a situation that is in progress, that is, an action
that is still happening. All of our “ando”, “endo” and “indo” verbs in Portuguese should be
replaced in English by “ing”. She is studying English now. (She is studying English now)
(UCM, 2015)

According to Macauze (1990),iIt is used to talk about temporary situations, continuous actions
that are happening.

As sentences with Present Continuous refer to situations that occur at the time of speech, it is
common to observe the use of adverbs of time in sentences (Aarts et al.,2004).

Some commonly used adverbs of time are now, at the moment and at present.

Examples:

She is talking to her mom now. (She is talking to her mother now.);

Are they studying at the moment? (Are they studying at the moment?);

She is American, but she's living in Canada at present. (She is American but is currently living
in Canada.)

2.1.2. Formation of Present Continuous

The Present Continuous is made up of a main verb and an auxiliary verb.

The verb to be in Simple Present is used as an auxiliary and the ending –ing is added to the
main verb.

In other words, in phrasal construction this verb tense follows the following formation pattern:

“Subject + verb to be + verb with -ing + complement” ( Aarts et al.,2004, p.98)

Example:

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She is watching TV. (She's watching TV.)

2.1.3. Negative Form of Present Continuous

Macauze (1990, p.90), says in “the negative form, not is added after the verb to be, that is, the
construction of negative sentences is done as follows: Subject + verb to be + not + verb with -
ing + complement”

Example:

She is not watching TV. (She is not watching TV.)

2.1.4. Interrogative Form of Present Continuous

In the interrogative form, the auxiliary verb to be appears at the beginning of the sentence. The
structure pattern of interrogative sentences is as follows:

Verb to be + subject + verb with -ing + complement

Example:

Is she watching TV? (She's watching TV?)

Examples with Present Continuous

Affirmative form: They are studying for the test. (They are studying for the test.)

Negative form: They are not studying for the test. (They are not studying for the test.)

Interrogative form: Are they studying for the test? (Are they studying for the test?)

2.2. The rules for using Present Continuous

1. When the main verb ends in –e and is preceded by a consonant, the vowel is removed and –
ing is added (Macauze, 1990).

Examples:

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To dance (dancing) - dancing

To take (take, take) - taking

To make (do) - making

To come (come, arrive) - coming

Exception: verb to be - being

2. When the verb ends with –ie, change this ending to –y and add –ing.

Examples:

To die – dying

To lie – lying

3. When the verb is monosyllable or disyllable and follows the consonant+vowel+consonant

Examples:

To swim – swimming

To travel – traveling

To cut – cutting

To run – running

To sit – sitting

Exception 1: when the last consonant is w or x, it is not doubled.

Examples:

To snow – snowing

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To fix – fixing

Exception 2: if the stressed syllable is the first, the final letter is not doubled. Only the –ing is
added.

Examples:

To open – opening

To happen (happen) – happening

2.3. Present Simple x Present Continuous: differences between Simple Present and
Present Continuous tense.

2.3.1. Simple Present

The Simple Present, also called Present Simple, describes a habitual and current action that
occurred in the present.

• Used for general truths, habits, and routines.

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3. Conclusion

The present continuous (also called present progressive) is a verb tense which is used to show
that an ongoing action is happening now, either at the moment of speech or now in a larger
sense. The present continuous can also be used to show that an action is going to take place in
the near future. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and present continuous exercises

The choice of tense depends on the specific context and the intended meaning. The simple
present is used for general statements, while the present continuous focuses on actions in
progress.

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References

Aarts, Bas., Chalker, Sylvia & Weiner, Edmund (2004). The Little Oxford Dictionary of English
Grammar, 2ª ed. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press

Andrade, M. M. (2010). Introdução à metodologia do trabalho científico: elaboração de

Fonseca, J. J. S. (2002). Metodologia da Pesquisa Científica. Fortaleza, Brasil։ uec

Macauze, S (1990). Grammar for beginners. Lisboa, Portugal: Porto editor

UCM (2015). Inglês: Módulo de licenciatura-tronco comum. Beira, Mocambique:CED

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