1. Jim is listening to the speech.
2. Anna is talking on the phone. She's not listening.
3. A young man is taking notes.
4. Some attendees are paying attentions, but some aren't.
5. What am I doing? I am looking around and describing the scene.
II. Form: We form the present continuous tense with the present form of "to be" with a present participle.
(+): S + am/is/are + present participle
1. I am living with my parents until my apartment is renovated.
2. They are dancing with joy.
(-): S + am/is/are + not + present participle
1. I am not working today.
2. She's not listening to the lecture.
(?): Q.W + am/is/are + S + present participle?
1. What are you doing?
2. Where are they going?
3. Are you walking to work?
For the details of "Yes/No" questions, please check the previous lesson "To Be" by clicking the label above or on the end screen of this lesson.
III. Use
1. To describe an ongoing activity at the time of speaking. For instance, You are describing some continuous activities at a playground:
a. Three boys are sliding.
b. A girl is building a sand castle.
c. Four kids are swinging.
2. Sometimes, the action is not in progress at the time of speaking, but you are in the middle of doing it.
a. I am reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. (Maybe you are not reading it at the time of speaking. You are at a cafe meeting a friend, but you can say this because you are in the middle of doing it. Maybe you are on page 300.)
3. It can also be used to describe a temporary action occurring around now.
a. We are all working overtime to finish the project as per the manager's requirement.
b. I am taking a bus to work because my car is broken.
4. Use with "always" to express annoying repeated actions.
a. I don't understand why he is always gossiping about everyone.
b. My husband is always leaving the car keys at the wrong places.
5. To talk about your future arrangement. (Future arrangement refers to a plan which already decided and the arrangement for the plan is being done or is done.)
a. We are visiting our grandparents this weekend. (You already packed your luggage. If the trip is by plane, you already bought the ticket. Everything is in place. Just wait for the weekend)
b. A: What are you doing this weekend?
B: I'm going to the theater.
6. The present continuous of "to be" (S + am/is/are + being + adjective) expresses how someone is behaving differently at the moment.
a. He is being so generous. (Normally, he's not generous.)
b. Something strange about him. He's being talkative. (Usually, he's quiet)
7. To describe the changes happening now.
a. The world population is growing so fast.
b. The gas fee is going up day by day.
Do not use the present continuous:
1. with state verbs (like, love, hate, want, know, understand, need, prefer, mean, realize, suppose, believe, belong, seem, depend, consist, remember, have (=possess, own) etc.) With these non-action verbs, use the present simple tense. So, the following sentences are grammatically wrong:
a. I am knowing he is kind.
b. I am have three brothers.
2. with short action verbs
a.
I have cut my finger. (correct)
b.
I have lost my purse.
Related Lesson:
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