Present Continuous Tense । 1 of the important Tense । LovHind
Present Continuous Tense । 1 of the important Tense । LovHind

Present Continuous Tense । 1 of the important Tense

Present Continuous Tense

What is the present progressive tense? or what is present continuous tense?

We use the present continuous or present progressive tense to talk about an action that is happening now. (हम वर्तमान निरंतर या वर्तमान प्रगतिशील काल का उपयोग उस क्रिया के बारे में बात करने के लिए करते हैं जो अभी हो रही है।)

Uses of the Present continuous tense

We use the present continuous tense to talk about

  • action that is happening now (activities at the moment of speaking)
  • and action in the future (using the time words like next month, tomorrow, next year, etc.)

Present continuous tense for the action that is happening now

For action that is happening exactly now

For example:

  1. I am eating my breakfast.
  2. He is eating his lunch.
  3. She is cooking food.
  4. They are going home.
  5. Ram is bringing watermelon.

For action that is happening around now

The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after now, and it is not permanent or habitual.

For example:

  1. Ramesh is looking for a new job.
  2. Zainab is learning to drive a car.
  3. He is living with his brother until he finds an apartment.
  4. I am learning to speak English.

Present Continuous for the future

We can also use the Present Continuous tense to talk about the future – if we add a future word. We must add (or understand from the context) a future word. “Future words” include, for example, tomorrow, next month, next year, in May, at Eid, at Christmas, at Holy, etc. We only use the Present Continuous tense to talk about the future when we have planned to do something before, we speak. We have already made a decision and a plan before speaking.

For example:

  1. He is taking his exam next month.
  2. I am going to America at Christmas.
  3. They are eating at the Taj tonight.
  4. She is going to a dance competition next year.
  5. Where are you going tomorrow?
  6. When is Rahim starting his new job?
  7. Mary is going to a new school next term.
  8. What are you doing next week?

How do we spell the Present Continuous tense?

We make the Present Continuous tense by adding –ing to the base verb. Usually, we just add –ing. But sometimes we have to change the word a little. Perhaps we double the last letter, or we drop a letter. Here are the rules to help you know how to spell the Present Continuous tense.

Basic Rule

Just add –ing to the base verb form

  • play > playing
  • eat > eating
  • go > going
  • work > working
  • assist > assisting
  • see > seeing
  • look > looking
  • be > being

Exception – 1

If the base verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the last letter:

  • stop > Stopping
  • swim > swimming
  • step > stepping
  • run > running
  • begin > beginning

Note that this exception does not apply when the last syllable of the base verb is not stressed:

open > opening

Exception – 2

If the base verb ends in ie, change the ie to y:

  • lie > lying
  • die > dying

Exception – 3

If the base verb ends in vowel + consonant + e, omit the e:

  • come > coming
  • take > taking
  • mistake > mistaking
  • release > releasing

Stative verbs

We do not normally use the continuous with stative verbs. >> Stative verbs include:

  1. believe
  2. dislike
  3. know
  4. like
  5. love
  6. hate
  7. prefer
  8. realise
  9. recognise
  10. remember
  11. suppose
  12. think (= believe)
  13. understand
  14. want
  15. wish

>> verbs of the senses:

  1. appear
  2. feel
  3. look
  4. seem
  5. smell
  6. sound
  7. taste

>> others:

  1. agree
  2. be
  3. belong
  4. disagree
  5. need
  6. owe
  7. own
  8. possess

For example:

  • I understand you. (NOT I am understanding you.)
  • This cake tastes wonderful. (NOT This cake is tasting wonderful.)
  • She loves this chocolate ice cream. (NOT She is loving this chocolate ice cream.)

Rules for Affirmative Sentences in Present Continuous Tense

Subject + is/are/am + present participle (verb+ing) + rest of the sentence

Note:

  • With I use am
  • With They/We use are
  • With He/She/It use is

Example:

  1. I am writing that story now.
  2. They are making a vanilla cake right now.
  3. We are going to the fair tomorrow.
  4. He is shaking milk and almonds.
  5. She is kneading the flour.
  6. It is raining today.
  7. Anuradha is cleaning the table.
  8. Raju is studying English.
  9. Seema, Geeta, and Roshan are solving the math equations.
  10. My parents are coming to college.

Rules for Negative Sentences in Present Continuous Tense

Subject + is/are/am + not + present participle (verb+ing) + rest of the sentence

Example:

  1. I am not writing that story now.
  2. They are not making a vanilla cake right now.
  3. We are not going to the fair tomorrow.
  4. He is not shaking milk and almonds.
  5. She is not kneading the flour.
  6. It is not raining today.
  7. Anuradha is not cleaning the table.
  8. Raju is not studying English.
  9. Seema, Geeta, and Roshan are not solving the math equations.
  10. My parents are not coming to college.

Rules for Interrogative Sentences in Present Continuous Tense

There are two types of Interrogative sentences:

Yes/No type of question

The sentences that start with helping verbs or auxiliary verbs are called the Yes/No type of question.

Wh-word type of question

The sentences which start with question words are called the Wh-word type of questions.

Structure of Yes/No Type: Is/Are/Am + subject + present participle (verb+ing) + rest of the sentence?

Example:

  1. Am I writing that story now?
  2. Are they making a vanilla cake right now?
  3. Are we going to the fair tomorrow?
  4. Is he shaking milk and almonds?
  5. Is she kneading the flour?
  6. Is it raining today?
  7. Is Anuradha cleaning the table?
  8. Is Raju studying English?
  9. Are Seema, Geeta, and Roshan solving the math equations?
  10. Are my parents coming to college?

Structure for wh-word: Question word + is/are/am + subject + present participle (verb+ing) + rest of the sentence

  1. When am I writing that story?
  2. Where are they making a vanilla cake right now?
  3. Where are we going tomorrow?
  4. What is he shaking?
  5. How is she kneading the flour?
  6. Why is Anuradha cleaning the table?
  7. What is Raju studying?
  8. When are you going to Delhi?
  9. Why are my parents coming to college?
  10. Who is calling you?
  11. Which city are you coming from?
  12. Whom are you calling?

Rules for Interrogative Negative Sentences in Present Continuous Tense

Structure for Yes/No type of Negative sentences: Is/Are/Am + not + subject + present participle (verb+ing) + rest of the sentence

Example:

  1. Am I not writing that story now?
  2. Are they not making a vanilla cake right now?
  3. Are we not going to the fair tomorrow?
  4. Is he not shaking milk and almonds?
  5. Is she not kneading the flour?
  6. Is it not raining today?
  7. Is Anuradha not cleaning the table?
  8. Is Raju not studying English?
  9. Are Seema, Geeta, and Roshan not solving the math equations?
  10. Are my parents not coming to college?

Structure for Wh-word type of Negative sentences:Question word + is/are/am + not + subject + present participle (verb+ing) + rest of the sentence

  1. When am I not writing that story?
  2. Where are they not making a vanilla cake right now?
  3. Where are we not going tomorrow?
  4. What is he not shaking?
  5. How is she not kneading the flour?
  6. Why is Anuradha not cleaning the table?
  7. What is Raju not studying?
  8. When are you not going to Delhi?
  9. Why are my parents not coming to college?
  10. Who is not calling you?
  11. Which city are you not coming from?
  12. Whom are you not calling?

Some Useful Rules for Present Continuous Tense

We also use the present continuous to talk about:

  • something which is happening before and after a specific time:

At seven o’clock we are usually having breakfast.
When I get home the children are doing their homework.

  • something which we think is temporary:

Suresh is at university. He‘s studying history.
I‘m working in Padrauna for the next two weeks.

  • something which is new and contrasts with a previous state:

These days most people are using messaging apps instead of normal text messages.
What sort of clothes are teenagers wearing nowadays?
What sort of music are they listening to?

  • something which is changing, growing, or developing:

The children are growing up quickly.
The climate is changing rapidly.
Your English is improving.

  • something which happens again and again:

It‘s always raining in London.
They are always arguing.
Rahim is great. He‘s always laughing.

Note that we usually use always with this use.

Another way for Interrogative Negative Yes/No type sentences

  1. Isn’t he going to the market?
  2. Aren’t they cooking mutton?
  3. Aren’t we cooking paneer?
  4. Aren’t I wearing new clothes?
  5. Aren’t I writing a story?

Sample Questions and Answers

  • Question: Are you feeling sleepy?
  • Answer 1: Yes, I am feeling sleepy.
  • Answer 2: No, I am not feeling sleepy.
  • Question: Are you waiting for me?
  • Answer 1: Yes, I am waiting for you.
  • Answer 2: No, I am not waiting for you.
  • Answer 3: No, I am not waiting for you, but I am waiting for my friend Rahim.
  • Answer 4: I am waiting for Sonia.
  • Question: Am I always eating food?
  • Answer 1: Yes, you are always eating food.
  • Answer 2: No, you are not eating food always.
  • Question: Is he going to Delhi?
  • Answer 1: Yes, he is going to Delhi.
  • Answer 2: No, he is not going to Delhi.
  • Question: Are the birds flying in the sky?
  • Answer 1: Yes, the birds are flying in the sky.
  • Answer 2: No, the birds are not flying in the sky.
  • Answer 3: Some birds are flying in the sky and the remaining are sitting on trees.
  • Question: Is she singing a song?
  • Answer 1: Yes, she is singing a song.
  • Answer 2: No, she is not singing a song.
  • Question: Are you reading a book?
  • Answer 1: Yes, I am reading a book.
  • Answer 2: No, I am not reading a book.
  • Question: Am I going to school?
  • Answer 1: Yes, you are going to school.
  • Answer 2: No, you are not going to school today.
  • Question: Are we praying to God?
  • Answer 1: Yes, we are praying to God.
  • Answer 2: No, we are not praying to God.
  • Question: Are you exercising daily?
  • Answer 1: Yes, I am exercising daily.
  • Answer 2: No, I am not exercising these days.
  • Answer 3: No, I am not exercising daily.
  • Question: Are the birds chirping? 
  • Answer 1: The birds are chirping.
  • Answer 2: Yes, the birds are chirping.
  • Answer 3: No, the birds are not chirping.
  • Question: Is the postman delivering the mail?
  • Answer 1: Yes, the postman is delivering the mail.
  • Answer 2: No, the postman is not delivering the mail.
  • Question: Are you wasting your time?
  • Answer 1: I am not wasting my time.
  • Answer 2: Yes, I am wasting my time these days.
  • Question: Is the moon shining in the sky?
  • Answer 1: Yes, the moon is shining in the sky.
  • Answer 2: No, the moon is not shining in the sky now due to clouds.
  • Question: Are you looking after the children?
  • Answer 1: Yes, I am looking after the children.
  • Answer 2: No, I am not looking after the children, Seema is looking.
  • Question: Are you observing the situation?
  • Answer 1: Yes, I am observing the situation.
  • Answer 2: No, I am not observing the situation, but Rahul is observing.
  • Question: Are you learning a new language?
  • Answer 1: I am learning a new language.
  • Answer 2: No, I am not learning a new language now.
  • Question: Are you bringing a gift for me?
  • Answer 1: Yes, I am bringing a gift for you.
  • Answer 2: No, I am not bringing a gift for you this time.
  • Question: Are you feeling tired?
  • Answer 1: I am not feeling tired.
  • Answer 2: Yes, I am feeling tired.
  • Question: Are you planning for distance education?
  • Answer 1: Yes, I am planning for distance education. 
  • Answer 2: No, I am not planning for distance education now, but may be in the future. 

Read More

Tags
Share your love

Related Posts