PRESENT CONTINUOUS
The Present Continuous Tense is formed with am/ is/ are plus the -ing form of the verbs:
Examples:
Affirmative Statements Negative Statements
I am writing I am not writing.
You are writing. You are not writing.
He is writing. He is not writing.
Affirmative Questions Negative Questions
Am I writing ? Am I not writing ?
Are you writing? Are you not writing?
Is he writing? Is he not writing?
Present Continuous Tense is Used:
i) To express actions going on at the time of speaking:
Example: We are learning English
She is watching T.V.
They are playing chess.
ii) We also use the Present Continuous to talk about something that is going on during this period of time but is not happening just at the moment.
Example: I am writing a novel.
He is reading that novel. Don't take it.
They are constructing a bridge.
The following verbs are usually not used in any Continuous Tense:
Verbs of the senses : Ex: see, hear, smell, taste.
Verbs of feeling : Ex: want, wish, desire, like, love, dislike, hate.
Verbs of thinking : Ex: think, suppose, know, understand, believe, agree, remember,
forget.
Verbs of possession : Ex: have, possess, own, belong to.
Verbs of appearing : Ex: appear, look, seen.
Incorrect Correct
He is hearing He hears
He is wanting money He wants money
I am thinking I think
It is belonging It belongs to me
She is looking at She looks sad
The Present Continuous Tense is formed with am/ is/ are plus the -ing form of the verbs:
Examples:
Affirmative Statements Negative Statements
I am writing I am not writing.
You are writing. You are not writing.
He is writing. He is not writing.
Affirmative Questions Negative Questions
Am I writing ? Am I not writing ?
Are you writing? Are you not writing?
Is he writing? Is he not writing?
Present Continuous Tense is Used:
i) To express actions going on at the time of speaking:
Example: We are learning English
She is watching T.V.
They are playing chess.
ii) We also use the Present Continuous to talk about something that is going on during this period of time but is not happening just at the moment.
Example: I am writing a novel.
He is reading that novel. Don't take it.
They are constructing a bridge.
The following verbs are usually not used in any Continuous Tense:
Verbs of the senses : Ex: see, hear, smell, taste.
Verbs of feeling : Ex: want, wish, desire, like, love, dislike, hate.
Verbs of thinking : Ex: think, suppose, know, understand, believe, agree, remember,
forget.
Verbs of possession : Ex: have, possess, own, belong to.
Verbs of appearing : Ex: appear, look, seen.
Incorrect Correct
He is hearing He hears
He is wanting money He wants money
I am thinking I think
It is belonging It belongs to me
She is looking at She looks sad
