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    Present Continuous Tense

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    Khi-khi-lou
    This document discusses the present continuous tense in English grammar. It covers the structure, use, and spelling of the present continuous tense. The structure uses a subject, auxiliary verb "be", and a main verb with "-ing". The present continuous is used for actions happening now or around now, as well as planned future actions. When forming the present continuous, the base verb is generally changed by adding "-ing", doubling letters in some cases, or dropping the "e" for verbs ending in a vowel-consonant-e.

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    Present Continuous Tense

    Uploaded by

    Khi-khi-lou
    305 views4 pages
    This document discusses the present continuous tense in English grammar. It covers the structure, use, and spelling of the present continuous tense. The structure uses a subject, auxiliary verb "be", and a main verb with "-ing". The present continuous is used for actions happening now or around now, as well as planned future actions. When forming the present continuous, the base verb is generally changed by adding "-ing", doubling letters in some cases, or dropping the "e" for verbs ending in a vowel-consonant-e.

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    This document discusses the present continuous tense in English grammar. It covers the structure, use, and spelling of the present continuous tense. The structure uses a subject, auxiliary verb "be", and a main verb with "-ing". The present continuous is used for actions happening now or around now, as well as planned future actions. When forming the present continuous, the base verb is generally changed by adding "-ing", doubling letters in some cases, or dropping the "e" for verbs ending in a vowel-consonant-e.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    305 views4 pages

    Present Continuous Tense

    Uploaded by

    Khi-khi-lou
    This document discusses the present continuous tense in English grammar. It covers the structure, use, and spelling of the present continuous tense. The structure uses a subject, auxiliary verb "be", and a main verb with "-ing". The present continuous is used for actions happening now or around now, as well as planned future actions. When forming the present continuous, the base verb is generally changed by adding "-ing", doubling letters in some cases, or dropping the "e" for verbs ending in a vowel-consonant-e.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES

    Present Continuous Tense


    I am singing

    We often use the present continuous tense in English. It is very different from the simple present tense,
    both in structure and in use.

    In this lesson we look the structure and use of the present continuous tense, follwed by a quiz to check
    your understanding:

    • Structure: how do we make the present continuous tense?


    • Use: when and why do we use the present continuous tense?
    • Spelling: how do we spell verbs with -ing for the present continuous tense?
    • Present Continuous Tense Quiz

    Continuous tenses are also called


    progressive tenses. So the present
    progressive tense is the same as the present
    continuous tense.

    How do we make the Present Continuous Tense?


    The structure of the present continuous tense is:

    subject + auxiliary verb + main verb


    be base + ing

    Look at these examples:

    subject auxiliary verb main verb

    + I am speaking to you.

    + You are reading this.

    - She is not staying in London.

    - We are not playing football.

    ? Is he watching TV?

    ? Are they waiting for John?

    Page 5 of 38

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    ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES

    How do we use the Present Continuous Tense?


    We use the present continuous tense to talk about:

    • action happening now


    • action in the future

    Present continuous tense for action happening now

    a) for action happening exactly now

    I am eating my lunch.
    past present future

    The action is happening now.

    Look at these examples. Right now you are looking at this screen and at the same time...

    ...the pages are turning. ...the candle is burning. ...the numbers are spinning.

    b) for action happening around now

    The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after now, and it
    is not permanent or habitual.

    John is going out with Mary.


    past present future

    The action is happening around now.

    Look at these examples:

    • Muriel is learning to drive.


    • I am living with my sister until I find an apartment.

    Page 6 of 38

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    ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES
    Present continuous tense for the future

    We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future—if we add a future word!! We
    must add (or understand from the context) a future word. "Future words" include, for example,
    tomorrow, next year, in June, at Christmas etc. We only use the present continuous tense to talk
    about the future when we have planned to do something before we speak. We have already made a
    decision and a plan before speaking.

    I am taking my exam next month.


    past present future

    !!!
    A firm plan or programme exists
    The action is in the future.
    now.

    Look at these examples:

    • We're eating in a restaurant tonight. We've already booked the table..


    • They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working.
    • When are you starting your new job?

    In these examples, we have a firm plan or programme before speaking. The decision and plan were
    made before speaking.

    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.

    Basic rule Just add -ing to the base verb:

    work > working

    play > playing

    assist > assisting

    see > seeing

    be > being

    Exception 1
    If the base verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the last letter:

    s t o p
    Page 7 of 38

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    ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES
    stressed
    consonant consonant
    vowel
    (vowels = a, e, i, o, u)

    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

    Exception 2 If the base verb ends in ie, change the ie to y:

    lie > lying

    die > dying

    Exception 3 If the base verb ends in vowel + consonant + e, omit the e:

    come > coming

    mistake > mistaking

    Page 8 of 38

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