A. Structure
Affirmative
I am singing / I'm singing
You are singing / You're singing
He is singing / He's singing
She is singing / She's singing
It is singing / It's singing
We are singing / We're singing
You are singing / You're singing
They are singing / They're singing
Negative
I am not singing / I'm not singing
You are not singing / You aren't singing / You're not singing
He is not singing / He isn't singing / He's not singing
She is not singing / She isn't singing / She's not singing
It is not singing / It isn't singing / It's not singing
We are not singing / We aren't singing / We're not singing
You are not singing / You aren't singing / You're not singing
They are not singing / They aren't singing / They're not singing
Interrogative
Am I singing?
Are you singing?
Is he singing?
Is she singing?
Is it singing?
Are we singing?
Are you singing?
Are they singing?
B. SpellingWe sometimes have to make some changes before adding -ing to the verb.
1. When a verb ends in one single -e, we drop -e and add -ing
- take-taking
- make-making
- have-having
- write-writing
2. When a verb ends in double -e, we just add -ing
- see-seeing
- agree-agreeing
- guarantee-guaranteeing
3. When a verb has one syllable (one vowel) and ends in consonant-vowel-consonant, then we double the last consonant and add -ing.
- stop - stoppining
- hit - hitting
- sit - sitting
4. When a verb ends in -ie, we drop -ie and add -ying
- lie - lying
- tie - tying
- die - dying
5. When a verb ends in -y, we never drop -y. We just add -ing
- tidy - tidying
- carry - carrying
- study - studying
- enjoy - enjoying
We often use the following time expressions with the present continuous:
- at the moment
- now
- right now
- today
- at present
- this morning / afternoon
- this week / month / year
Examples
- My sister is learning to drive.
- I'm not going to work today. I'm down with flu.
- Pete is playing the piano right now.
