Form

Positive and negative

Questions

Points to note

1. All continuous verbs forms are composed of the auxiliary verb 'be' plus the gerund (-ing) of the main verb.
2. We use the continuous only for verbs which describe actions.
3. Note that for questions is not necessary to use 'do' because there is already an auxiliary verb 'be'.

Spelling of verb+-ing

1. Most verbs add -ing to the base form of the verb.

e.g. drinking, shouting, going, loving

2. Verbs that end in one -e lose the -e.

e.g. coming, losing, realizing, supposing

3. Verbs that end in -ee don't drop an -e.

e.g. seeing, fleeing

N.B. lie becomes lying

4. Verbs of one syllable, with one vowel and one consonant, double the consonant.

e.g. getting, running, forgetting, stopping

N.B. if the final consonant is -y or -w, it is not doubled.

e.g. playing, showing

Use

The present continuous has three main uses.

1. An action happening now

• Pat is speaking to Richard.
• He is playing snooker.
• They are eating breakfast.
• Sssshh! I'm thinking.

2. A temporary action

• I'm living with a friend until my house is repaired.
• My daughter is learning the piano.

3. An action happening around now

• My father is reading a good book at the moment called Nineteen Eighty-Four.
• Is Mary working this week? No she is off ill.
• I'm thinking of going to Wales for my holiday.

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To study the present simple click here.
To study the difference between the present simple and continuous click here.
To study the past simple click here.
To study the past continuous click here.
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