2.  Present Continuous ("I am choosing")
 Past Continuous ("I was choosing")
 Future Continuous ("I will be choosing")
 They are formed with the progressive
(continuous) aspect.
 This aspect indicates that an action or state,
past, present, or future, was, is or will be
unfinished at the time referred to.

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.
 It is formed by means of the present form of
auxiliary verb “to be” and participle 1(-ing
form) of the notional verb.

4.  In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is
placed before the subject.
 E.g. Is she eating my cake now?
 In the negative form the negative particle not
is placed after the auxiliary verb.
 E.g. We aren't waiting for my uncle.

5.  Present actions
 Temporary actions
 Longer actions in progress
 Future (personal) arrangements and plans
 Tendencies and trends
 Irritation

6.  Most often, we use the Present Continuous
tense to talk about actions happening at the
moment of speaking.
 He is eating a dinner.
 Mary is talking with her friends.
 They are swimming in the pool.

7.  There is a certain group of verbs that usually
does not appear in the Continuous form.
They are called Stative (State) Verbs, and if
used in the Continuous form, they have a
different meaning.
 Examples:
 I think you look pretty today. meaning:
Opinion
 I'm thinking of moving to San Francisco.
meaning: Act of thinking

8.  We can use present continuous with some
state verbs(e.g. attract, like, look, love,
sound) when we want to emphasise that a
situation is temporary or for a period of time
around the present.
 E.g. Jean is with us at the moment. The
children are loving having her here.

9.  This tense is also used for activities
continuing only for a limited period of time.
 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

10.  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.
 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.

11.  Sometimes we use the Present Continuous to
show that something is planned and will be
done in the near future.
 I'm meeting Katie in the evening.
 He's flying to Rome in September.
 We're not going anywhere tomorrow.

12.  This tense is also used for expressing
tendencies or trends.
 Our country is getting richer.
 The Internet is becoming less of a novelty.
 The Universe is expanding.

13.  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 constantly.
 Also we can use this tense with adverbs to
emphasize that something is done so often that
is characteristic of a person, group or thing.
 She is continually complaining about everything!
 Johny is always asking stupid questions!
 My boss is contantly critising me!
 E.g. You are constantly changing your mind

14.  I + am = I'm
 is + not = isn't
 are + not = aren't
 he + is = he's
 she + is = she's
 it + is= it's
 Contractions are mainly used in speech and
informal writing. They should not be used in
formal writing.

15.  We usually use the Past Continuous to talk
about activities that lasted for some time in
the past. The actions can be interruped by
something or can be happening at the same
time.
 It is formed by means of the past form of the
auxiliary verb to be and the Participle 1 of the
notional verb.

16.  In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is
placed before the subject.
 E.g. Were you painting your house yesterday
at 5 p.m?
 In the negative form the negative particle not
is placed after the auxiliary verb.
 E.g. He asked me why I wasn't having dinner
at the hotel.

17.  Duration in the past
 Interrupted actions in progress
 Actions in progress at the same time in the
past
 Irritation
 Polite question

18.  We use the Past Continuous to talk about
actions or situations that lasted for some
time in the past, and whose duration time is
unknown or unimportant.
 I was watching TV yesterday in the evening.
 She was sleeping on the couch.
 The dog was barking.

19.  The Past Continuous is often used when one
action in progress is interruped by another action
in the past. The Past simple is used in such
sentences. We usually use when or while to link
these two sentences.
 Sentence in Past Continuous + WHEN + Sentence
in Past Simple
 WHEN/WHILE + Sentence in Past Continuous +
Sentence in Past Simple
 I was talking with James when the telephone
rang.
 While Angelica was playing tennis, the plane
crashed.

20.  We also use this tense to talk about two or more
activities happening at the same. We usually use
when or while to link the two sentences.
 Sentence in Past Continuous + WHEN/WHILE +
Sentence in Past
 WHEN/WHILE + Sentence in Past Continuous +
Sentence in Past Continuous
 I was watching TV and Barbara was reading a
book.
 When Bob was painting windows, Mary was
working in the kitchen.

21.  If we want to ask a polite question, we can
use the Past Continuous.
 I was wondering if you could open the
window.
 I was thinking you might help me with this
problem.
 Even though the sentences have a Past
Continuous form, they refer to the present
moment. Their meaning is similar to the
"could you" sentences, but they are more
polite.

22.  We mainly use the Future Continuous to
indicate that we will be in the middle of doing
something in a specified time in the future.
 It is formed by the means of future form of
the auxiliary verb to be and Participle 1 of the
notional verb.

23.  In the interrogative form the first auxiliary
verb is put before the subject.
 E.g. Will Mark be playing football at 6 p.m.?
 In the negative form the negative particle not
is placed after the first auxiliary verb.
 E.g. John won't be sleeping now.

24.  Future actions in progress
 Guesses about the present or the future
 Polite questions about somebody's intention

25.  The first use of the Future Continuous is to
express future action in progress.
 In an hour, I will be sitting in front of my TV.
 In the evening, I will be baking a birthday
cake.

26.  Use this tense also to make guesses about
something in the present or future.
 He won't be coming any time soon. He is still
at the office.
 Beatrice will be getting married very soon.

27.  And the last use of the tense is to make polite
questions about something or somebody.
 Will you be coming home before or after 10
PM?
 Will you be goingto the supermarket? I have
something to buy.

28.  Sometimes the present participle is irregular.
 1. doubled letter
In these examples we can see that one of the
letters is doubled.
 swim + ing = swimming
 run + ing = running
 get + ing = getting
 grab + ing = grabbing
 2. "e" removed
 write + ing = writing
 move + ing = moving
 take + ing = taking