The Present Continuous

A. StructurePresent Continuous = am / is / are  + verb-ing

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. Spelling

We 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

C. Time Expressions

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

The Present Continuous tells us about temporary actions - that is actions we don't do regularly.

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.