The present continuous: I am doing …

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The present continuous: I am doing …

Form: I am, You are, he/she/it is, We are, You are, They are + BV-ing

Example:
Verb TO DO:
I am doing
You are doing
He/She/It is doing
We are doing
You are doing
They are doing

Negative form: am + NOT + doing:
I am not doing, I am not sleeping, It is not raining, They are not woking,

Interrogative form:
Are you working? Are they joking? Is he serious?

Used to talk about:
1/ Present situations, now: the short-term or temporary situation.
Something is happening now, at this moment. (Or something is not happening now).
The action is not finished: the action is taking place now, at the time of speaking.
I am reading a book, I am learning English (now), I am not running.
You are running, You are not sleeping.
Quiet! He is sleeping. She is playing outside. The cat is playing with the mouse. It’s raining.
We are eating a cake. We are watching TV.
You are watching TV. You are not studying. Are you studying? No.
They are reading their books.
What are you doing? What are you reading?
Who are you talking to on the phone?
Why aren’t you doing your homework?

2/ Present situation: the long-term situation:
Now (at the time of speaking), the action is true, but it could change in a long-term situation.
With: now, today, this week, this month, this year … (periods around now)

Specially with : to live, to work, to teach:
It’s now, but it could change:
I’m looking for a new flat. I am studying hard today.
You are studying to become a doctor.
He’s thinking about leaving his job.
He is reading the book « Da Vinci Code ».
Are you teaching english at the university?

3/ Near Future:
Something will happen in the near future (or will not). It has been already arranged.
I ‘m meeting my friends tonight at 8.30.
My cousin is arriving this week-end.
Are you running with us next Sunday?

4/ Repetition, Irritation with « always » or « constantly »:
You can express the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens.
It’s like the Simple Present, but with negative emotion.
« always » or « constantly » are between « be » and « ing-form »

He is always coming late.
He is constantly talking.
They are always complaining.

Verbs about changing situations:
begin, become, change, fall, get, grow, improve, increase, rise, start, stop,

We use the present continuous if we talk about changes happening now.
I’m beginning my exercises, now.
The situation is changing, he is working hard.
The cat is falling from the window!
Your English is getting better, you’re working hard!
The population of United Kingdom is increasing slowly.
Oh, it’s starting to rain. Where is my umbrella?

Adverb placement:
adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
You are still studying?
Are you still studying?

 

PRESENT: