UCE ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS " PRESENT PROGRESSIVE" KEVIN QUEVEDO

1. FACULTAD DE FILOSOFIA LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA
EDUCACION
ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS
KEVIN QUEVEDO DEL CORRAL

2. PRESENT
CONTINUOS OR
PRESENT
PROGRESSIVE

3. THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS IS MAINLY USED
TO EXPRESS THE IDEA THAT SOMETHING IS
HAPPENING AT THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING.
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS ALSO DESCRIBES
ACTIVITIES GENERALLY IN PROGRESS (NOT AT
THE MOMENT). ANOTHER USE OF THE TENSE
IS TO TALK ABOUT TEMPORARY ACTIONS OR
FUTURE PLANS.

4. USE
Present actions
Temporary actions
Longer actions in progress
Future (personal)
arrangements and plans
Tendencies and trends
Irritation

5. USE 1: PRESENT ACTIONS
MOST OFTEN, WE USE THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
TENSE TO TALK ABOUT ACTIONS HAPPENING AT THE
MOMENT OF SPEAKING.
EXAMPLES:
*HE IS EATING A DINNER.
*MARY IS TALKING WITH HER FRIENDS.
*THEY ARE SWIMMING IN THE POOL.

6. STATIVE (STATE) VERBS IN THE CONTINUOUS FORM
Some verbs used in the simple form can also be used in the continuous form.
That's typically when they have an active meaning or emphasize change. Very
often these sentences have a completely different meaning:
Keep in mind there is a group of verbs that can be used in both the continuous and
simple forms with no difference. These are, for example, the verbs "to hurt" and "to
feel":
•How is Maryfeeling after the accident?
•How does she feelafter the accident?

7. Verb Form Verb Example Meaning
Simple to think I think you should see a doctor opinion
trying to reach a
Continuous to be thinking I'm thinking of changing my flat
decision
Simple to love I love going to the cinema feeling
You look great in this hat. I'm loving it,
emphasis or
Continuous to be loving man!
gradual process
Simple to smell I smell something burning sense
to be
Continuous smelling
My baby was smelling a flower activity
Simple to have He's really rich — he has 3 cars possession
When you called me, I was having a
Continuous to be having activity
bath
Simple to see I can see you have a big garden sense
Continuous to be seeing I'm seeing him later appointment
Simple to taste I could taste a lot of sugar in the wine sense
He was tasting the cake and said it was
Continuous to be tasting activity
OK

8. USE 2: TEMPORARY ACTIONS
THIS TENSE IS ALSO USED FOR ACTIVITIES CONTINUING ONLY
FOR A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME.
EXAMPLES:
*I'M RIDING A BIKE TO GET TO WORK BECAUSE MY CAR IS
BROKEN. TEMPORARY ACTION (HIS CAR WILL SOON BE
REPAIRED)
*THEY ARE NOT TALKING WITH EACH OTHER AFTER THE LAST
ARGUMENT. TEMPORARY ACTION (THEY WILL SOON MAKE UP)
*MARY IS WORKING AT MCDONALD'S. TEMPORARY ACTION
(SHE IS WORKING THERE ONLY DURING THE SUMMER
HOLIDAYS)

9. USE 3: LONGER ACTIONS IN PROGRESS
WE ALSO USE THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS WHEN WE ARE
IN THE MIDDLE OF DOING SOMETHING TIME-CONSUMING
(I.E. SOMETHING THAT TAKES TIME TO COMPLETE). AN
EXAMPLE OF SUCH AN ACTIVITY IS WRITING A BOOK,
SAVING MONEY OR STUDYING FOR AN EXAM.
EXAMPLES:
*THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO EARN MONEY.
*I AM TRAINING TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL
FOOTBALLER.
*MIKE IS STUDYING HARD TO BECOME A DOCTOR.
*ELIZABETH IS CURRENTLY WRITING A CHILDREN'S BOOK
TITLED I AM THE WORLD.

10. TO UNDERSTAND THIS USE BETTER, WATCH
THIS SECUENCE
Explanation
In this cartoon, you can a man who says: "I'm writing an adventure book".
Why is the Present Continuous tense used in this example? Click on
the buttons located on the Timeline to see the other scenes. You will find out
that Alex (the writer) was writing the book a month ago, two months ago and
four months ago. Clearly, it's a longer action in progress.

11. USE 4: Future (Personal) Arrangements
and Plans
Sometimes we use the Present Continuous to show
that something is planned and will be done in the near
future.
Examples:
*I'm meeting Katie in the evening.
*He's flying to Rome in September.
*We're not going anywhere tomorrow.

12. USE 5: Tendencies and Trends
This tense is also used for expressing tendencies or trends.
Examples:
*Our country is getting richer.
*The Internet is becoming less of a novelty.
*The Universe is expanding .

13. USE 6: Irritation or Anger
And the last use of this tense is to express irritation
or anger over somebody or something in the
present with adverbs such as: always, continually
or contantly.
Examples:
*She is continually complaining about everything!
*Johny is always asking stupid questions!
*My boss is contantly critising me!

14. Form
To form a sentence in the Present Continuous, you
have to:
•know the proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb .
•add the ing suffix to the verb (to form the present
participle of the verb)
Examples:
•try + ing = trying
•go + ing = going
Person Singular Plural
First I am We are
Second You are You are
Third He/she/it is They are

15. Declarative Sentences
Subject Auxiliary verb Verb + ing
+ + e.g.
e.g. I/a dog etc. is / are
work/go/make
Examples Use
I am reading a book. (Use 1)
They are swimming in the sea. (Use 1)
I'm having my first driving lesson this week. (Use 4)
I'm studying to become lawyer one day. (Use 3)
She is always asking me stupid questions. (Use 5)

16. Questions
Auxiliary verb Subject Verb + ing
+ + e.g.
is / are e.g. I/a dog etc.
work/go/make
Examples Use
Is she eating my cake now? (Use 1)
Are they having the party on Friday or
(Use 2)
Saturday?
Are you meeting David today? (Use 2)
Is Mary having breakfast now? (Use 1)

17. Negative Sentences
Auxiliary verb
Subject Verb + ing
+ not
+ + e.g.
e.g. I/a dog
is not / are not working/going/
etc.
making
Examples Use
He is not joking Use 1)
We aren't waiting for my uncle Use 1)
He is not going to school tomorrow Use 2)