Present continuous explanations. Present Continuous - used in typical cases

Dear readers of the English Voyage blog! Today you will learn to use another English verb tense. In the grammar tables below we will look at the formation of the affirmative, interrogative and negative forms Present Continuous(Progressive). After the tables and useful video, you will be able to independently translate Russian sentences into English using the present continuous tense. If you do not confuse the forms and translate sentences with am, is, are without errors, then you will remember the formation of tense easily.

To get started, watch this video tutorial carefully. Here they calmly and in detail talk about the construction and use of the Present Continuous. At the end - an exercise (don’t be too lazy to do it:).

Time Present Continuous used:

    to describe the action taking place at the moment of speech. For example: She is singing a song now. She's singing the song now.

    to describe a temporary action that occurs not at the present moment of speech (at the same minute, second), but in the present period of time. For example: I am working on the project. I'm working on a project. (This does not mean at this moment, but over the course of a limited present period, which will soon end).

    to describe repeated actions that cause irritation or disapproval of the speaker. Especially with adverbs like always, constantly, repeatedly, which are translated, as a rule, into Russian with the word "forever." For example: You are always shouting at me! You're always yelling at me!

Marker words(read the article for more details about marker words) for the Present Continuous: now, at the moment, this week, today. For the future - tomorrow, next week.

Time Present Continuous NOT used with State verbs - verbs that describe the state of soul, body or consciousness, as well as permanent relationship. State verbs include the following English verbs: appear (in the meaning of “to seem”), assume - to believe, be - to be, believe - to believe, consider, belong - to belong, consider (in the meaning of "to consider"), consist - to consist, contain - to contain, cost - to cost, depend - depend, detest - to disgust, envy - to envy, equal - to be equal, exist - to exist, expect - to expect, feel (in the meaning of “to cause a sensation”, “to be touched” and “to count”), fit - to fit, forget - forget, hate - to hate, have (in the meaning of “possess”), hear - to hear, include - to include, know - to know, lack - not to be enough, like - to like, look (in the meaning of “look”), love - to love, matter - to have meaning, mean - to mean, need - to need, owe - to owe, own - to own, possess - to have, prefer - to prefer, realize - to realize, remember - to remember, see (in the meaning of “perceive with sight”, “understand” ), seem - to appear, smell (meaning “to smell”), taste (meaning “to have a taste”), tend - to have a tendency, think (meaning “to count”), understand - to understand, want - to want, wish - to desire , weigh (meaning “to weigh”). We will look at state verbs in more detail in future posts.

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS (PROGRESSIVE) TENSE

Affirmative form

Structure Examples
I am V+ing I am listening to music. I listen to music.
is

He is listening to music. He listens to music.

She is listening to music. She listens to music.

It is getting dark. It's getting dark.

are

We are reading. We are reading.

You are reading. You are reading.

They are reading. They are reading.

Pay attention to the preposition to after the word listen which should be consumed Always after this verb. The omission of to after listen is

Question form

(yes/no questions – general questions) ?

Structure Examples
Am I V+ing?

— Am I reading? Am I reading?

- Yes, I am./No, I’m not.

Is

— Is he reading? Does he read?

- Yes, he is./No, he isn’t.

— Is she reading? Does she read?

- Yes, she is./No, she isn’t.

— Is it getting dark? Is it getting dark?

- Yes, it is./No, it isn’t.

Are

—Are we coming back? Are we going back?

- Yes, we are./No, we aren’t.

-Are you coming back? Are you going back?

- Yes, you are./No, you aren’t.

—Are they coming back? Are they coming back?

- Yes, they are./No, they aren’t.

Question form

(WH-? – special questions) ?

Negative form

Structure Examples
I am not V+ing I am not dancing. (= I’m not) I don’t dance.
is not

He is not singing. (= He isn’t) He doesn’t sing.

She is not having dinner. (= She isn’t) She doesn’t have dinner.

It is not raining now. (= It isn’t) It’s not raining now.

are not

We are not working. (= We aren't) We don't work.

You are not laughing. (= You aren't) You are not laughing.

They are not looking at me. (= They aren't) They don't look at me.

Before you say a sentence, think about the verb. If this is a state verb, then instead of the Present Continuous you need to use the Present Simple. For example, “I love pizza” - “I love (like) pizza.”

So, today we looked at the formation of the Present Continuous. If you have any questions on the topic or need additional explanations, write in the comments. I will be happy to answer all questions. Expect new articles in the section.

Present Continuous Tense(or Present Progressive Tense) is translated from English as “present continuous tense”. IN English speech it is used on a par with the Present Simple, with the same frequency, and occupies important place in grammar.

When the Present Continuous is used - when it is necessary to emphasize the duration of an action in the present. The limits of “duration” can be different: an action can last indefinitely or occupy a certain period of time - all these are cases of using the Present Continuous.

Present Continuous - formation of sentences of different types

Statement

According to the rules of the English language, any sentence is constructed in a certain order. In affirmative sentences, the subject takes first place, the predicate - second. In the Present Continuous the predicate is auxiliary verb to be and the main (semantic) verb that expresses action. To be takes the desired form (am, is, are) depending on the subject, and the main verb takes on the ending -ing.

  1. Formula: I am + ing verb Example: I am singing - I sing.
  2. Formula: He/She/It is + ing verb Examples: He is smiling - He smiles. She is dancing - She is dancing. It is shining - It shines.
  3. Formula: We/You/They are + verb-ing Examples: We are listening - We are listening. You are reading - You are reading. They are swimming - They are swimming.

Adding the ending -ing to a verb is a general rule. However, adding an ending can transform the stem of some verbs when education Present Continuous.

  1. Verb ends in -e Rule: the last letter is discarded Example: make - making (to do)
  2. The verb ends in -ie Rule: -ie is replaced by -y Example: lie - lying (lie down)
  3. Monosyllabic verb ending in a vowel and a consonant Rule: last consonant is doubled Example: get - getting

Negation

When the Present Continuous is used in negative sentences, the auxiliary and main verb are separated by the particle not.

  1. Formula: I am not + ing verb Example: I am not singing - I don’t sing.
  2. Formula: He/She/It is not + ing verb Examples: He is not smiling - He does not smile. She is not dancing - She doesn’t dance. It is not shining - It does not shine.
  3. Formula: We/You/They are not + verb-ing Examples: We are not listening - We are not listening. You are not reading - You are not reading. They are not swimming - They do not swim.

Question

When the Present Continuous is used in interrogative sentences, the auxiliary verb takes first place, followed by the subject and then the main verb.

  1. Formula: Am I + verb-ing Example: Am I singing? - Am I singing?
  2. Formula: Is He/She/It + verb-ing Examples: Is he smiling? - Is he smiling? She is dancing? -Is she dancing? Is it shining? - Is it shining?
  3. Formula: Are We/You/They + verb-ing Examples: Are we listening? - Are we listening? Are you reading? - Are you reading? Are they swimming? - Do they swim?

Present Continuous - used in typical cases

1. The action is happening right now, at the time of speech. You can also use the Present construction

Continuous for several actions occurring simultaneously in the present. Marker words: now (now), at the moment (at the moment).

Example: She is eating apple while I am drinking juice - She eats an apple while I drink juice. (two actions are performed simultaneously)

2. The action is extended in time and occurs in the present, but is not limited to the present second. It started a while ago and will continue for some time. During this period of time, the designated action is performed.

Marker words: now (now), currently (now, now), these days (In these days, the other day).

Example: We are moving into a new house - We are moving to a new house. (We are busy with the process of moving and will continue it, but at the time of speaking we are not specifically engaged in this, we are simply in a state of moving)

3. The situation is temporary.

Marker words: until (not yet), for (during), during (during).

Example: He is staying in New York for three months - He lives in New York for three months. (in three months, for some reason, he will leave New York, his period of stay in this city will end; this situation is temporary, he permanently resides, for example, in Moscow, and is in New York for work or in connection with studies)

4. The action is developing or constantly changing, the sentence often contains specific verbs to indicate it. Describing the process of change is a case of using the Present Continuous. Marker words: get (become), change (change), rise (rise), fall (fall), grow (grow), become (become), start (begin), improve (improve), begin (begin). Example: Your English is getting better - Your English is getting better. (there is a gradual increase in your level of English)

Special cases of using the Present Continuous construction

1. The deed is planned and will definitely be done in the near future, often with a date, place or some other details indicated.

Marker words: this/next week (this/next week), tonight (in the evening), today (today), tomorrow (tomorrow), this/next year (this/next year), this/next weekend (in these /next weekend).

Example: Next week we are buying a new car - Next week we are buying a new car. (we have not just decided, but have already chosen the brand of car and the car dealership where the purchase will be made)

2. We are talking about action in the present, influencing the near future, using verbs denoting movement.

Marker words: go (go), move (move), leave (leave), start (start), come (come), return (return).

Example: I'm tired. I am going to bed. - I'm tired. I am going to sleep. (right now I feel tired and will go to sleep right after I report this)

3. The speech is emotionally charged, the speaker is dissatisfied, annoyed or outraged by something that constantly happens.

Marker words: all the time (all the time), always (always), constantly (constantly)

Example: You are always interrupting me! - You constantly interrupt me! (you do this all the time and it annoys me)

4. Present Continuous - cases of use with state verbs.

Such verbs in English according to the rules, they are not used in the present tense, since they denote feelings and mental processes that have no time limits - these verbs express a state rather than an action.

However, if the meaning of such a verb you need is a specific action that has a beginning and an end, then the phrase can be constructed using the Present Continuous formula.

Marker words: to love, to feel, to wish, to think, to see, to look, to smell, to have ) and others

Examples: The steak tastes good. - This steak tastes great. (steak prepared according to this recipe is always delicious) The chef is tasting the steak. - The cook tastes the steak. (he's doing it right now)

Using the Present Continuous in difficult cases

1. We are talking about something new with a contrast to the old.

Example: He has left university, now he is working with his friend - He left the university and is now working with his friend.

2. We are talking about the unusual behavior of a certain person, he suddenly began to behave differently than before.

Example: She is eating too much - She eats too much. (before this she did not have such a good appetite)

3. Present Continuous is used in subordinate clauses time after unions. The sentence speaks of two actions, one of which is single or “short” (Present Simple), the second long (Present Continuous). For an action that occurs “in the background,” the Present Continuous is used, and for an event that interrupts it, the Present Simple is used.

Marker words: as long as (yet), when (when), in case (if), if (if), while (while), unless (not yet).

Example: I try not to make noise in case my daughter is reading her book - I try not to make noise when my daughter reads.

Meaning of Continuous time and translation:

Continuous tenses denote actions that are taking place (have taken place, will take place) at a precisely specified time - present, past and future. Additional characteristics of such actions are their incompleteness, dynamism, and visibility. This can be seen from the comparison of infinitives:
To work - to work (Indefinite)
To be working – literally to be working (Continuous), i.e. it shows the process as unfinished, ongoing.

For example, you can say. Our children read and Our children are reading. Both sentences translate as: Our children read.
But in the first case, Present Indefinite, you give only the most general idea: Our children read in the sense that they know how and love to read. At the moment of pronouncing these words, children may not dance, but learn lessons, play, dance.
But the sentence Our children are reading shows a specific picture of children reading: They are reading now.

The Continuous form is formed using the auxiliary verb to be.

Present Continuous

Present Continuous is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the present tense and the 4th main form of the verb.

Present Continuous Verb Conjugation Table
Affirmative form Question form Negative form
I am reading

Am I reading? Am I reading?

I am not reading

He, she, it is reading He, she, it reads

Is he, she, it reading? Does he, she, it read?

He, she, it is not reading

We are reading

Are we reading? Are we reading?

We are not reading

You are reading

Are you reading? Are you reading?

You are not reading

They are working

Are they reading? They are reading

They are not working

Note 1:

It is worth noting that the singular and plural forms are the same.
You are asking. You ask.
You ask.

Note 2:

In spoken English, instead of full forms usually used abbreviations: isn’t, aren’t

Present Continuous is used in the following cases:

1. To express an action, an event occurring at the present moment in time or at the moment of speech. Shows that the action taking place at the present moment began before this moment and will continue after it.
An indication of time such as now (now), at the moment (at the moment) can be either expressed or implied.

She is answering (at this moment). She answers (currently)
She is studying at school (now). She is currently studying at school.
He is writing a letter. He is writing a letter now.
I'm sitting in the park. I'm sitting in the park.
Young woman is reading a book. Young woman reading a book.

2. To express a future action (similarly in Russian), when there is an intention to perform an action or confidence in its completion.
In this case, the future is indicated by the adverb: soon (soon), tomorrow (tomorrow), next week (next week).

Liza is arriving in Moscow soon. Lisa will soon arrive in Moscow.
They are leaving London tonight. They are leaving London today.

Note:

With state verbs:

To love (to love);
- to think (think);
- to want (to want);
- to live (to live);
- to be (life, to be);
- to feel (feel);
- to see (see);
- to know (to know);
- to remember (remember);
- to hear (hear);
- to stay (stay);

Present Continuous is not used.

The exception is the case when they want to show that a given condition is temporary.

How are you feeling? – Great. How do you feel? - Fabulous.
I know I'm being a stupid. But I don't know to do. I know I'm being stupid. But I don't know what to do.

Past Continuous

Past Continuous is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the past tense and the 4th main form of the verb.

Past Continuous conjugation table
Affirmative form Question form Negative form
I was asking

Was I asking? Did I ask?

I was not asking

He, she, it was asking

Was he, she, it asking? Did he, she ask?

He, she, it was not asking

We were asking

Were we asking? Did we ask?

We were not asking

You were asking

Were you asking? Did you ask?

You were not asking

They were asking

Were they asking? Did they ask?

They were not asking

Past Continuous is used in the following cases:

1. To express an action that occurred (lasted) at a certain moment in the past, which is indicated either by a circumstance of time or by another action in the past. However, neither the beginning nor the end of the long-term action is known.

You were reading a book at 5 o’clock. You were reading a book at five o'clock.
You were reading a book when they came. I was reading a book when they arrived.
At weekend I was preparing for my exams. Over the weekend I studied for my exams.

2. To express a long-term action that took place during a certain period of time in the past (from five to six, all day long, the whole day yesterday)

I was writing letters the whole day yesterday. I wrote letters all day yesterday.

Important!
In this case, the beginning and end of the action are unknown, all that matters is that it lasted the entire specified period of time.
In both cases, 1 and 2 Past Continuous is used when it is necessary to emphasize the process of action itself, its duration.
If only the fact of the action is important, then Past Indefinite is used.

In addition, the Past Continuous can be used to express simultaneous actions that took place in the past at the same moment.

The children were playing in the yard while their mother was watching TV. The children were playing in the garden while the mother was watching TV.

As I was taking a shower, my girlfriend was cooking breakfast. While I was taking a shower, my girlfriend was preparing breakfast.

3. Past Continuous is used with verbs of motion to express a future action that is planned in the past and viewed from the point of view of the past.

My mom was glad that I was leaving for Moscow. My mother was glad that I was going to Moscow.
They said that I was returning the next week. They said I was coming back next week.
She wrote she was arriving on Sunday. She wrote that she was coming on Sunday.

Note 1:

The Past Continuous, like the Present Continuous, is usually not used with state verbs. State verbs are used in the Past Continuous only in cases where it is emphasized that this state is temporary.

Note 2:

The Past Continuous sometimes expresses a constant characteristic of someone in the past. In this case, the sentence contains the adverbs always, constantly.

He was always coming and staying for hours giving pointless advice and asking endless questions.
He always came and sat for hours, giving useless advice and asking endless questions.

Future Continuous

Future Continuous (Future Continuous) expresses a future action in the process of its completion, i.e. an unfinished long-term action. Formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the future tense and the 4th main form of the verb.

Conjugation table for the Future Continuous
Affirmative form Question form Negative form
I shall be speaking. I will speak.

Shall I be speaking. Will I speak?

I shall not be speaking. I won't talk.

He, she, it will be speaking. She, she, it will speak.

Will he, she, it be speaking? She, she, will it speak?

He, she, it will not be speaking. She, she, it won't speak.

You will be speaking. You will talk.

Will you be speaking? Will you speak?

You will not be speaking. You won't speak.

We shall be speaking. We will talk.

Shall we be speaking? Are we going to talk?

We shall not be speaking. We won't talk.

They will be speaking. They will talk.

Will they be speaking? Will they talk?

They will not be speaking. They won't talk.

Future Continuous is used:

1. To express a continuous action that will begin before a certain moment in the future and will still continue, last at that moment. This may be indicated by the circumstance of time (at that moment, at six o’clock, at midnight)

At seven o'clock tomorrow she will be having exam. Tomorrow at seven o'clock she will take the exam.
If you ring him up at midnight, she won’t answer. She will be sleeping. If you call her at midnight, she won't answer. She will sleep.

2. To express a long-term action that will be performed at a certain period of time in the future.

Don’t call my friend tonight between 7 and 11. She will be wring a letter. Don't call my friend between 7 and 11 o'clock. She will write a letter.
I shall be reading the whole day tomorrow. Tomorrow I will read all day.

3. To express the intention to perform an action in the future or confidence in its completion.

I shall be reading tonight. I'm going to read this evening.
She will be visiting me tomorrow. She's going to visit me tomorrow.

It turns out that the British have their own favorite times. Present Continuous tense or Present Continuous tense is one of them. Today we are talking about how the Present Continuous is formed and when it is used.

General information

In Russian you can find sentences of the following type:

  • There's no need to rush! The store is still open!
  • She is now choosing a new dress.
  • They are currently discussing new issues.

As can be seen from the examples, we are talking about long-term actions, about processes that occur at the very moment when they are spoken about. In Russian, this is indicated by words such as “now”, “at the moment”, “yet”. Verbs are used in the present tense. The situation is different in English. To express duration, only adverbs of time are not enough. The main expression of duration in the language of Foggy Albion is the temporary form Present Continuous:

  • Don't hurry! The shop is still working!
  • Now she is choosing a new dress.
  • At this moment they are discussing new questions.

Education

Sentences in English are constructed according to direct word order. The subjects come first, the predicate comes second. Affirmative sentences in the Present Continuous are no exception. Only the predicate is expressed by two verbs: auxiliary to be and the main one with the addition of an ending to its basis - ing. The following table shows how the formula works in practice “subjects + to be + main verb + -ing”:

When adding the ending -ing to the stem of a semantic verb, you must pay attention to the final vowel or consonant:

  • if the verb ends with a silent vowel -e, then it is omitted ( to bake - baking, to blame - blaming);
  • if the verb ends in -ie, then this combination is replaced with -y ( to die - dying);
  • if the verb consists of one syllable and ends in a vowel + consonant, then the final consonant is doubled ( to cut - cutting, to put - putting).

Negative sentences

Negation in English is constructed using the negative particle not (not). In the Present Continuous form, it stands between the auxiliary and main verbs: subjects + to be + not + main verb + -ing.

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Question

A characteristic feature of English interrogative sentences is the reverse word order, when the auxiliary verb comes first. In the Present Continuous, questions are constructed according to the following formula: to be + subjects + main verb + -ing?

Cases of use

The answer to the question of when the Present Continuous is used lies on the surface - in the very name of the time. The word Present indicates that the action is taking place in the present, and Continuous emphasizes the duration of the ongoing event. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Hidden under the dark water are other nuances of using this tense:

  • To illustrate an action that is happening at the moment of speech. In this case, it is possible to use such time markers as at this moment (at the moment), now (now):

My father is not smoking now. He is speaking to our neighbor - My father doesn’t smoke now. He's talking to our neighbor.

  • To describe an action that extends over time: it is happening now and will continue for some time. In order to emphasize this “extension”, the time indicators these days (the other day), currently (now) are used:

My grandmother is currently sewing a new shirt for me - My grandmother is now sewing a new shirt for me (she started sewing even before now and will continue to do this for some time)

  • To illustrate temporary situations, events. In these sentences you can find words such as until (not yet), for (during), during (during):

Ann is working as a teacher until she moves to another city - Anna works as a teacher until she moves to another city (her job is not permanent, but temporary).

  • To describe events that do not “stand in one place,” they develop and change. As a rule, in these cases the verbs to change (change), to get (become), to begin (begin), to improve (improve), to become (become) are used:

His skills are getting better – His skills are getting better.

  • To describe planned actions, as well as events that are expected to happen in the near future:

Tonight they are organizing New Year party - Tonight they are preparing a New Year's party.

The stable expression to be going to (get together) is used to mean the future (We are going to visit a doctor - We are going to visit a doctor).

What have we learned?

The discussed rules and examples of Present Continuous for children explain in detail how this temporary form is formed, when a consonant is doubled and what exceptions there are when adding the ending -ing to the main verb. Complex cases of using time were also explained for beginners.

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Present Continuous Tense is one of the tense forms of the English language, which has no analogues in Russian. Its exact name is translated as present continuous (continuous), and this already contains the essence of this time: it is used to describe the situation occurring at a given moment in time.

The present continuous tense in English has many features of use, and due to the fact that in the Russian language there is no division of tenses into long or regular ones, it can cause some difficulties for those who study English.

So, we can give two examples that reflect this situation:

· I’m speaking English - I speak English (meaning the fact that I speak English right now)
· I speak English - I speak English (meaning that I always speak English).

In the second example we used present time Indefinite (Simple) to show regularity and constancy of action. In the first case, the Present Continuous is used to emphasize that the situation is happening in a given specific time period.

Education Present Continuous

It is important to understand not only how the Present Continuous is formed, but also why it happens this way. The basis of this tense is the auxiliary verb to be, the three forms of which in the present tense, as is known, are am (for the pronoun “I”), is (“he”, “she”, “it”) and are (“we” , “you”, “they”). In addition, the tense construction includes a verb form called Present Participle, or Participle I, which ends in –ing. Thus, the present continuous tense in English, or rather, the Present Continuous formula is as follows:

Am
Is + V-ing
Are

Questions and denials

Interrogative sentences

This temporary form differs in that no auxiliary words like do and does are used here, as is the case with Present Indefinite. In this case, the scheme is simple: the verb to be is placed first in in the required form, followed by the subject, and then the rest of the construction:

· Are you going to school now? – Are you going to school now?
· Is he watching a new film at the moment? – Is he watching a new film now?

But here you should also pay attention to the fact that, like any other tense, the Present Continuous has different types of questions. And if the above-described sentences relate to general questions, then, for example, special questions in the Present Continuous (the question does not apply to the subject here) are formed using a special question word, which comes first, and the further order is exactly the same:

· Where is he going? -Where is he going?
· Why are they running so fast? -Why do they run so fast?

Question to the subject

in present, the continuum has a certain peculiarity: in the first place is the interrogative pronoun who, asking a question about an animate object, or what (about an inanimate object). In Russian, a question to the subject begins with the words who or what.

Examples of what a question to a subject looks like in the Present Continuous:

· Who is making such a strange noise? – Who makes such a strange noise?
· What is flying over that house? -What is flying over that house?

Negative sentences

They do not carry any complexity at all: the particle not is simply added to the verb to be in the required form. Here are some example sentences that illustrate negation in the Present Continuous:

· I’m not walking with my friend now – I’m not walking with a friend now
· They are not talking to their chief at the moment - At the moment they are not talking to their boss.

Rules for writing verb forms in the Present Continuous

Present continuous grammar requires compliance with certain rules for writing certain verbs used in the continuous form:

1. If the last vowel of the verb is an unpronounceable –e, then it will not be written:

to drive – driving
to describe – describing
to dance – dancing

2. There are also situations where consonant doubling occurs:

· if the last consonant of the verb is preceded by a short stressed vowel sound, then this consonant will be doubled:

to stop – stopping
to cut – cutting
to forget – forgetting

· in the event that the last consonant is –l, preceded by a vowel, then this –l will also be doubled:

to tell – telling
to travel – travelling
to spell – spelling

Note: The doubling rule –l is not typical for American English.

3. In the case when the verb ends in the letter combination –ie, then it is replaced with –y:

to die – dying
to lie – lying

Note: if the verb ends in –y, then in this case the ending –ing is simply added to it:

to fly – flying
to cry – crying

Cases of using the Present Continuous

The use of the Present Continuous is typical for the following situations:

1. In order to show long lasting effect,

happening at a specific moment in time. The present tense tense, also called the Present Progressive Tense, often has some so-called markers, the presence of which in the text, as a rule, indicates that the tense will be just that. Such indicator words and constructions are usually now, at the moment. But at the same time, it is important to remember that when talking about the present moment, you should not focus on the fact that the action is performed at one specific moment and only now. If in Russian we use words like now or now, in English we use the Present Continuous in a broader sense:

· John, you are talking nonsense - John, you are talking nonsense
· Jack and Mary are in London now. Mary is studying English – Jack and Mary are now in London. Mary is studying English.

At the same time, there are also examples of the Present Continuous, when this tense is used to show a certain state or quality characteristic of a person at a particular moment in time:

· You are being a nuisance - you are in the way;
· You are being bitter - you are sorry.

Note: if we are talking about actions taking place in the present tense, but describing not the process, but the fact of the action itself, then it is customary to use the Present Indefinite tense:

· Why don’t you answer, Emily? – Why don’t you answer, Emily?
· Your defend him despite all his misdeeds - You protect him, despite all his misdeeds

2. In a situation where there are two actions in one sentence,

and one of them shows regularity, and the other - a process, then in the first case the Present Indefinite Tense should be used, and in the second - the Present Continuous Tense:

· You never talk while you are working – You never talk when you work
· She always dreams while she is walking – She always dreams while she walks

3. To express the future

In English, the Present Continuous can express not only the present, but also. This is typical for situations when we are talking about actions that were decided and planned in advance, and the chance of their implementation is close to one hundred percent:

· I am leaving tomorrow at sunset - I’m leaving tomorrow at sunset
· They are coming to us on Sunday - They will come to us on Sunday

The construction to be going to deserves special attention, which is translated into English as going to do something and is also used to express intentions for the future. Its difference from the Present Continuous is that, as a rule, the exact time is not indicated here:

· I am going to visit you - I’m going to visit you
· She is going to come - She is going to come

Note: the Present Continuous rule provides for the use of this tense exclusively in such situations, and not the Future Indefinite, where decisions aimed at the future are usually spontaneous and only probable.

4. With “constantly, always, ever”

With the Present Continuous, those sentences are usually used, situations in which are aimed at demonstrating those actions that are always continuous and never stand still. In this case, special hints often appear in the form of adverbs constantly, always, ever:

· The population of the Earth is always increasing – The population of the Earth is constantly increasing
· The Sun is ever shining – The sun always shines

5. Irritation

Often there are such sentences in the Present Continuous, in which the speaker expresses the idea of ​​irritation and negative emotions towards another. Here the same satellites are also usually used - the adverbs always, constantly:

· You are always grumbling! -You're always grumbling!
· She is constantly complaining! “She’s always complaining!”

Verbs not used in Continuous

English, like, perhaps, any other language, has its own strict laws. If we are talking about Present Continuous Active, then it is extremely important to remember that not all verbs can form the Present Participle form and be used to indicate a process. Below are categories of verbs that are not used in the Continuous and cannot form the –ing or so-called form:

· verbs of sensory perception (see, hear, smell, etc.);
· verbs, the essence of which is to express desire and intention (wish, intend, want, etc.);
· verbs illustrating mental activity (think, suppose, believe, etc.);
· verbs showing feelings and emotions (love, hate, like, etc.);
· verbs displaying abstract relationships (have, belong, possess, etc.).

But even in these cases there are exceptions: for example, the verb of sensory perception to see in its direct meaning see has no right to stand in Continuous. But, acting, for example, as a phrasal verb (to see off) or being part of some construction (to see the sights of), it has every right to form the –ing form. This means that all verbs that are not used in the Continuous can be used in one way or another for a long time, and such situations with them are formed and sound quite natural:

· I’m thinking of tomorrow’s meeting – I’m thinking about tomorrow’s meeting
· What are you doing? – I am having breakfast – What are you doing? I'm having breakfast

Thus, even such a relatively simple time has many nuances that must be taken into account. The Present Continuous has simple rules of use, but each of them has its own characteristics, and once you understand them, it will be much easier to use this tense in speech.