Use and Formation of the Present Continuous: Lesson and Exercise

The present continuous

1. Uses of the present continuous

    

2. Formation of the present continuous

   

 1. Uses of the present continuous 
In English, the Present Continuous tense is usually used to express continuing, ongoing actions which are taking place at the moment of speaking or writing. In the examples given below, the verbs in the Present Continuous tense are underlined.

e.g. Right now I am cooking supper.
      At the moment the plane is flying over the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The Present Continuous tense is often used in conversation.
e.g. "What are you doing?"
      "I am working on my English assignment."

Occasionally, the Present Continuous tense is used to refer to a future event.
e.g. We are leaving tomorrow.




2. Formation of the present continuous 
The Present Continuous tense of any verb is formed from the Simple Present of the auxiliary to be, followed by what is generally referred to as the present participle of the verb.

The present participle of a verb is formed by adding ing to the bare infinitive. For instance, the present participle of the verb to work is working.

Thus, the Present Continuous tense of the verb to work is conjugated as follows:

I am working

you are working

he is working

she is working

it is working

we are working

they are working

 Exercise 1
1. Using the Present Continuous tense, fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs shown in brackets. For example:
      He _________ hard. (to work)
      He is working hard.

      We ____________ anxious. (to feel)
      We are feeling anxious.