Definition: The present continuous tense is used to show that the action is not complete.

The action (s) is/ are presently ongoing at the time of speaking.

It is also called the Present Progressive tense.

Example

The students are in class. They are writing the exam.

This tense focuses on the process of how the action is going on at the time the speaker is talking about it.

Present Continuous Statement

Subject	Auxiliary	Short form	Verb + present participle
I	am	I’m	Cook +ing = cooking
he/she/ it	is	She’s	Sleep+ing = sleeping
They/we/you	are	they’re	clean+ing= cleaning

Examples 

How’s the new school? Are you enjoying it?

Where’s the music coming from? Our neighbor is playing the music.

Let’s go out now to play. It isn’t snowing anymore. 

Where’s Peter? He is eating lunch.

Exception: Sometimes the action is not happening at the time of speaking

Examples

On a phone call, Paul tells his friend, that he is planning a vacation to the Caribean with his family.

Through an email, Sally informs her parents of her new plan to travel to Poland, so she has been studying Polish. 

Discussing with her sister, Elizabeth said her children have been learning how to bake cakes.

How to make questions on the present continuous tense

Question	Auxiliary	Subject	End of sentence
What	is	he	doing now?
Who	is	she	singing about?
Why	are	they	dancing very fast?
When	are	we	going to the park?

How to make negative sentences in the present continuous

Subject	Auxiliary (not)	Verb (the present participle)	End of sentence
We	aren’t	clapping	For this musician.
You	are not	wearing	those shorts today.
I	am not	preparing	breakfast this morning

1. We use the present continuous to talk about a change that has begun to happen. 

Common vocabulary includes: getting, beginning, increasing, rising, falling, growing, becoming changing, improving starting,

 Examples 

I am getting some sleep after work today.

They are beginning the conference at the hall.

The rate of unemployment is increasing drastically in my country.

As I am rising from the chair, I mistakenly dropped my phone.

The children are shouting as they are falling from the tree.

My new plant is growing up bigger as the days go by.

Their dog is becoming angrier every time we pass by their house.

Our country is changing the health care system.

My son’s English Language is improving compared to last year.

I am starting the lesson at 3 pm. Please be there on time.

2. We can use this tense to discuss periods that are around now

These include; today, this week, this year, etc 

Examples

My daughters aren’t feeling well today. 

This week, the traffic is increasing because of the football competition.

This year, the child adoption rates are decreasing due to COVID-19.

We are learning a new topic this month.

3. Use the present continuous tense with the appropriate “to be” verb and a dynamic verb.

Dynamic verbs show action and process

Examples

Grandma is arriving late because her flight was delayed.

Penti is shouting and cheering her team at the baseball competition

They are talking about the new radio station downtown.

Exception

Sentences should not be conjugated with stative verbs. Stative verb categories include emotion (to love), possession (to belong), and thoughts (to recognize).

Example

Aunty Pamela prefers to cook at home every Sunday.

Exercise

Change the sentences into negative or positive sentences.

• We are………..(watch) movies at the theatre now. Come join us. 
• Please turn off the radio, …………………(I/listening) to a podcast in the room.
• Boyle began morning classes with his friends. ……………….(they/learn) how to play basketball.
• I am taking the day off. So,…………… (I/work) at the office.
• Lilian and Elizebeth had a fight yesterday in school and now …………….(they/speak) to each other. 
• I wrote an email yesterday…………….. (i/wait) for the reply.
• My uncle was singing in the choir, but now……………. (he/cook) food at a new restaurant.
• We are …………………. (not/work) in Tokyo.
• The crowd is…………. (come) from the stadium.
• Why is she………….  (not/sleep)?
• Who is…………. (answer) the call on line 4?
• I am………….. (visit) the museum this weekend.
• My head is………… (ache) so bad, I have to go to the hospital.
• His father is always……………… (call) at 8 am.

Make sentences with the following words

1. Serve

2.Notice

3.Eat

4. Smile

5.Push

6. Scream

7. Hunt

8.Climb

9.Save

10.Promise

11. Skip

12.Perform

13. Prefer

14. match

15. Marry

16. Prepare

17. Sing

18.Please

19. Obtain

20.Sustain

21. Complete

22. Finish

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