Learning Present Continuous Tense

Tenses

The word ‘tense’ is derived from Latin word ‘tempus’ and it means time. Basically tense conveys the time of action.

Tenses are mainly divided into three parts – Present, Past and Future. They are further subdivided into four categories – Indefinite, Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous.

Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Tense describes an action which is continued, in progress and incomplete at the time when it is talked about or reported. That’s why it is also known as Present Progressive Tense.

Present Continuous Tense is used to - 

1.     describe an action that is going on and is incomplete at the moment :

·        You are using the Internet.

·        We are studying Tenses.

2.     describe an action that is going on during this period of time :

·        Are you still working for the same company?

·        The school is managing without an English teacher.

3.     describe an action or event in near future :

·        We're going on holiday tomorrow. 

·        Are they visiting you this winter?

4.     describe a temporary event or situation or shift from regular or routine action :

·        He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass guitar tonight.

·        The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment.

5.     describe a trend in contemporary society or during this period of time :

·        Now a days more and more people are becoming vegetarian.

·        Today, everyone is spending time on Social Media.

Adverbs used in the tense

now                                        just now

right now                               this year

in evening                             today

this time                                this evening

now a days                            at this time
this weekend                         these days

Verb form used in the tense

Present continuous verb form consists of two things –

1. Present tense form of the verb ‘Be’ – am, is and are
am, (exclusively used with I) 
is, (singular) 
are (plural)

2. Present particle form (V1+ing) of main verb

 e.g. talking, playing, smiling, swimming, writing, cutting

Examples :

I am going to attend a family function today.

The boys are playing football after school.

Verbs not used in Present Continuous Tense :

The verbs which convey sensory actions, perception, possession and state of mind are not used in present Continuous Tense.

For example – I am feeling bad. (incorrect)

I feel bad. (correct)

She is knowing you. (incorrect)

She knows you. (correct)

More such verbs are:

 feel                           hear                           have(to possess)

 smell                         measure                    assume

 believe                      consider                    seem            

 find                           suppose                    forget                      

 imagine                    know                          mean            

 recognise                  remember                understand

 fear                           hate                            hope 

 love                          mind                          prefer

 wish                            cost                            hold                            

Certain rules regarding change in spelling of Present Continuous form of verb

1. When a main verb ends with a consonant which is preceded by a vowel, the last consonant gets doubled after adding ‘ing’ to it. (The consonants W, X and y are an exception. E.g. drawing, playing, waxing)

e. g. swim + ing = swimming

            run   + ing = running

            cut    + ing = cutting

2. When there are two syllable in a verb and second syllable is stressed, the last consonant preceded by a vowel gets doubled after adding ‘ing’ to it.

 e.g.    refer   + ing = referring

            travel + ing = travelling

           begin  + ing = beginning

3. When a main verb ends with ‘e’, the last ‘e’ gets dropped after adding ‘ing to it.

 e.g.    Smile  + ing = smiling

            write    + ing = writing

            drive  + ing + driving

4. When ‘e’ at the end of main verb is pronounced, (not silent) it is not dropped and remains there after adding ‘ing’ to it.

e.g.     Agree + ing = agreeing

            be       + ing = being

            see      + ing =seeing

5.     ‘ie’ at the end of verb gets replaced with ‘y’ after adding ‘ing’ to it.

e.g.     die      + ing = dying

lie        + ing = lying

Note : All other verbs that don’t fall in category of above rules remain unchanged after adding ‘ing’ to them. Their spellings don’t change.  E. g. going, opening, watching, singing, hearing, smelling, laughing, etc. ) 

More examples:

The baby is sleeping in his crib.

            We are visiting the museum in the afternoon.

            Rose is reading a book, now.

            She is not going to the game tonight.

            He is meeting his friends after school.

            Are you visiting your cousin this weekend?

            Is John playing football today?

            Frank is talking on phone at the moment.

Video on Integrated grammar practice

Let’s practise.

1.     Sam _____________  his car. (wash)

2.     I ____________ to drive. (learn)

3.     Murli _____________ the pool, now. (swim)

4.     We ___________ to have dinner in Yuturn tonight. (go)

5.     The students ________  for Annual Function. (Practise)

6.     Where _____ you ________ in the coming holidays? (go)

7.     ____  you __________ to Paris, this weekend? (travel)

8.     It _____________ heavily at the moment. (rain)

9.     Which film _____________ in Ansal Plaza? (run)

10.           Father _____________ a shower. (take)

Answers :

1.     Is washing    2. Am learning        3. Is swimming        4. Are going             5. Are practising     6. Are going                  7. Are travelling      8. Is raining  9. Is running            10. Is taking

      Video on Present Continuous 
      https://youtu.be/K677u8JXHfI

    All Present Tenses in One Video