Present continuous present continuous. Present Continuous Sentence Examples

II. Test sentences for translation

III. Additional grammar material

Types of Interrogative Sentences

1. General question- to the entire sentence, has reverse word order, i.e. the predicate (auxiliary verb, if required) comes before the subject.

Are you a student?
Do you love her?

Pronounced in a rising tone.

2. Alternative question(with union or – or) is built on the basis of the general, repeating it until or, and then or there is an alternative with a falling tone:

Are you a pupil or a student?

3. Special issues to the secondary members of the sentence - built on the basis of the general, a question word is placed before the verb (auxiliary, if any) (what, when, where, why, how many, how much etc.). Pronounced with a falling tone.

Where do you live?
What are you doing?

4. Question to the subject– is built on the basis of an affirmative sentence, but in it the subject is replaced by a question word (who, what):

Who is a student?
Who are the students?
What is beautiful?

5. Dividing question(with a tail) consists of 2 parts. Its first part is an affirmative or negative sentence, its second part consists of an auxiliary verb in the opposite form of the main sentence and a subject expressed by a pronoun. The intonation of the “tail” is rising or falling.

Pete lives in Sumy, doesn’t he?

Questions like:

What is he?
What are you?
Who is he?
Who are you?

When we are interested in a name, we ask the question: Who are you? and we get the answer: I am Pete Brown.
When we are interested in the occupation of the interlocutor, we ask: What are you? and find out: I am a student.

VOCABULARY FOR LESSON 2

a flat – – apartment
can - – be able to, be able to
may – – be able, have the opportunity
to help – – to help
to come in – – enter
to cook dinner – – To cook dinner
to try – – try, try
to learn – – study)
heart – heart
to learn by heart – – learn by heart
to lay (on) – – put
to lay the table – – set the table
to listen to –["lisn tu] – listen
library -["laɪbr(ə)rɪ] – library
early –["ɜːlɪ] – early
to wash – – wash)
to wash up – – wash the dishes
such– [sʌʧ] – such
weather["weðə] – weather
rain - – rain
rainy -["reini] – rainy
to go to bed – – go to bed
to be tired – – to be tired
still – – still
to sleep – – sleep
to think –[θɪŋk] – think
to talk (to, with) – – Talk with)
to watch TV – – watch TV
radio["reidiou] – radio
some– [sʌm] – some
too – – too much
much - – many (for uncountable nouns)

Present Continuous - the present continuous tense of the English language, means
action taking place at the present moment; an action that is a continuous process taking place at the moment of speech; future planned action. When we talk about such an event, we usually use the words now(Now), at the moment(At the moment), currently, presently(currently), etc. The action is incomplete.

Affirmative form

Affirmative form present tense is formed from the auxiliary verb " to be" in the corresponding person of the present tense ( am, is, are) and the semantic verb in the ing form ( V-ing), which follow the subject.

I am watching TV now -
I'm watching TV now

I am(=I"m) eat ing. -
I eat.

She is reading at the moment -
She is reading at the moment

Not reading a book. -
He is reading a book (now).

We are working now -
We are working now.

We/you/they are(=we"re/you"re/they"re) sing ing. -
We/you/they sing.

The water is boiling. Can you turn it off? -
The water is boiling at the moment. Turn it off.

Currently I am working on a very exciting project. -
Currently I'm working on a very interesting project.

We can't come right now because we are watching TV. -
We can't come right now because we watch TV.

Interrogative form

To ask a question in the present continuous tense, you need to use a verb "to be" before subject, a semantic verb in the form " -ing" should after the subject.

Am I reading now? -
I am reading now?

Is he reading a new book? -
Is he reading a new book?

Are we waiting for a bus? -
Are we waiting for the bus?

Are we playing basketball? -
Are we playing basketball now?

Are children enjoying the party? -
Do the children enjoy the holiday?

Is she speaking to her mother? -
Is she talking to her mother?

Is Mary sleeping?
Yes, she is. (She's sleeppin.)
No, she is not. (No, she is not sleeping)
No, she"s not. (She"s not sleeping)
No, she isn't (She isn't sleeping)

Special questions in the Present Continuous

Where is Mary sleeping?
On the sofa. (She's sleeping on the sofa)

Why are you watching TV?
Because I like this program. (I"m watching TV because I like this program)

Negative form

The negative form is formed by posing the negation " not" after the auxiliary verb.

They are not playing football now.
They don't play football now.

They are very busy.
They are very busy.

Compare with the present indefinite:

They don't play football at all. - They don't play football at all.

Interrogative-negative form

In interrogative-negative form the particle not is placed immediately after the subject or before the subject, forming a shortened form of the auxiliary verb and particle:

Am I not working?
Is he not working? (Isn't he working?)
Are we not working? (Aren't we working?)

+ She is standing.
- She is not standing.
? Is she standing?
Yes, she is. No, she is not. (No, she isn't.)

Present Continuous to express actions taking place at the moment of speech

- What are you writing? - I am writing a letter to a friend of mine.
- What are you (now) writing? - I am writing (now) a letter to my friend.

They are not working. They are on their holidays. - They don't work (now). They are on vacation.

If at the moment the fact of the action itself is more important for the speaker than the process, then Present Indefinite is used rather than Present Continuous:

Why don't you answer? - Why don’t you answer?

Stop talking! Why don't you listen? - Stop talking! Why aren't you listening?

If at the moment of speech two simultaneous processes occur, then all three options for transmitting these actions are possible: both in Indefinite, one in Indefinite - the other in Continuous, both in Continuous:

Do you hear what he says? = Do you hear what he’s saying? = Are you listening to what he’s saying?
Do you hear (listen) what he says

Present Continuous tense markers

English verbs in the Present Continuous used c
temporary markers:
still- still,
now- Now,
at present- currently,
at the moment- At the moment,
meanwhile- Meanwhile,
while- Bye

Moreover, the presence of words denoting the moment of speech: now, at this moment, etc. is possible, but not at all necessary.

I am sitting at my table and writing. -
I'm sitting at the table and writing. (Now)

The bus is coming. -
The bus is coming.

It is raining. -
It's raining. (At the moment)

Mary, what are you doing? -
Mary, what are you (now) doing?

You are not listening to me. -
You don't listen to me.

Verbs that are not used in the Continuous:

(verbs of feelings)verbs of senses:
feel - feel,
hear - to hear,
notice - to notice
see - to see,
smell - smell,
sound - to sound,
taste - try.

I hear a siren. Do you here it too

(verbs of need and need) needs and wants:
need - to need,
wish - to wish,
want - want.

I want an apple

(tastes and dislikes) likes and dislikes:
dislike - not to love,
hate - to hate,
like - like,
love - to love,
prefer - to prefer.

(knowledge) knowledge:
forget - to forget,
know - to know
realize - realize
understand - to understand.

The Present Continuous is formed using the verb to be and the -ing form of the verb

To express a long-term action taking place in the present period of time, although not necessarily at the moment of speech, for example:

I am learning to drive. -
I'm learning to drive a car. (currently)

He is studying at school. -
He goes to school. (currently)

My husband is working on an invention. -
My husband is (currently) working on an invention.

Not writing a new play. -
He is writing a new play. (not right now, but at this point in life)

That firm is carrying on negotiations for the purchase of ore. -
This company is negotiating the purchase of ore.

to express future action

The Present Continuous is also used to express future action:

To express a planned future action (the actor expresses both the intention to perform the action and the confidence in its completion, since there is an agreement, plan, tickets, etc.), especially with verbs denoting movement or action. In this case, time adverbials are almost always used. This form is typical of the colloquial style, while Present Indefinite is typical of the formal style.

Such constructions often contain the words today, this week and even tomorrow

We are leaving tomorrow at 6.

I"m going to visit my aunt this evening -
I decided to go to my uncle this evening.

1) To express a planned future action (the actor expresses both the intention to perform the action and the confidence in its completion, since there is an agreement, plan, tickets, etc.), especially with verbs denoting movement or action. In this case, time adverbials are almost always used. This form is typical of the colloquial style, while Present Indefinite is typical of the formal style.

I'm leaving tomorrow. -
I leave tomorrow.

We're flying to Paris in the morning. -
We fly to Paris in the morning.

We are dining out on Saturday. -
We dine out on Saturday.

He is taking his examination on Friday. -
He is taking an exam on Friday.

2 To express a future action in adverbial subordinate clauses of condition and time introduced by conjunctions of condition (if if, in case in case, etc.) or time (before before, until (till) until... not, while in while, while, when when, etc.), for example:

If I am sleeping when he comes, wake me up, please. -
If I'm sleeping when he comes, please wake me up.

colloquial abbreviations:

Abbreviations used in colloquial speech:

I am= I"m
He (she, it) is = He"s (she"s, it"s)
We (you, they) are=we"re (you"re, they"re)
am not="m not
is not= isn"t="s not
are not=aren"t="re not

He's working.
He isn't working. = He's not working.
Aren't they working?

All the information we absorb not only finds a place in our head and memory, but is also transformed into images. To make this process faster and more efficient, you can use tables and diagrams.

The Present Continuous tense helps to pay attention to what is happening now, at the time of conversation or not far from it. You can perceive information both in text and in tables. Which method is right for you, decide for yourself. Let's structure all the information about the present continuous tense and try to “push” it into a table.

Education

A clearly presented table will help you understand and compare the features education this time. In order not to clutter up the space and not to scatter attention, let’s consider construction of various proposals in the present continuous table using the example of to swim. Denial and questions at this time are quite easy to understand and remember.

Use

How and when to use these forms poses the greatest challenge. Everything can be structured and understood. Table present continuous according to application cases time in speech.

But not everything is so rosy and simple, many Verbs in the Present Continuous go beyond the usual ones. Exceptions are:

Some of these verbs have special uses, which you can read about in more detail in our other page.

Having studied all this material and done a bunch of exercises, you can move on to understanding the passive voice. Present Continuous Passive is built according to the following scheme:

Passive voice requires additional, more careful study. And this table will be a support, a cheat sheet for the formation of the passive voice in the present continuous tense.

The easy, concise and accessible material presented in the table will help you quickly master all the material.

In this article we will not only tell youhow to write a question in the Present Continuous,but we’ll also delve a little deeper into the nuances of using this useful time, and also consider many living examples Present Continuous Questions.

Before you askquestions in present continuum, let's talk about where this time is used.

Present Continuous(aka Present Progressive) is the present continuous tense.

There are three main cases of its use:

1) Events that are happening right now:

I’m driving, that’s why I can’t talk.
I'm driving the car, so I can't talk.

That girl is playing tennis.
That girl is playing tennis now.

2) Events that occur in the present, but not necessarily at the moment.

They can drag on for weeks (like a session) or even years (for example, you are planning a move, but it has been delayed).

Now I’m living in New York but it’s temporary.
I live in New York now, but this is temporary.

I"m working hard on my English to get into university.
I'm working hard on English to get into university. 3) Events in the future that are planned.

As a rule, these are plans in the implementation of which a person is one hundred percent confident. If you have an appointment with the dentist, called a friend to meet at five o'clock sharp, are going to take exams, and you know the schedule - feel free to use the Present Continuous.

In order for the interlocutor to understand that we are talking about the future, marker words are added:tomorrow, next Tuesday, tonight etc.

I’m visiting my dentist tomorrow.
I'm going to the dentist tomorrow.

Are you meeting Sam tonight?
Are you meeting Sam today?

I’m having my exam at 11.
I have an exam at 11.

As you can see, the Present Continuous can refer to more than just the present moment.

After all, when you say "Please, be quiet, I'm reading "(Please be quiet, I'm reading), then you imply that you read the book before you said so and are going to continue this activity.

And when you announce "I’m reading my new book next Tuesday at the book club ", (I'm reading my new book next Tuesday at book club) then it's clear that you mean the future.

Scheme of affirmative sentences:

Subject + to be + Ving

Some rules for adding the -ing ending:

• If the verb in the infinitive ends in an unpronounceablee, it falls out:

love- loving

• The final consonant after a short stressed vowel is doubled:

sit- sitting

• Letter lat the end of the word, the one following the vowel is doubled:

(This rule only applies to British English.)

travel- traveling

• ieat the end of the word it turns intoy:

lie- lying

Finally, let's get to the questions.

1. General questions in the Present Continuous

They are also called "Yes/No questions».

They are characterized byinversion- changing places of parts of speech.

If in an affirmative sentence the word order is direct (the subject comes first),

I am working (I am working)

then in an interrogative question the verb comes firstto be (of course, in the appropriate person) :

Am Am I working? (Am I working?)

So,How to ask a question in Present Continuus?

If this is a general question, you just need to put the verbto befirst place in the sentence.

How do you know if it's shared?

Try to answer it. If the first thing you say is "yes" or "no", it is a Yes/No question.

- Am I studying? (I'm studying?)
- Yes , I am. (Yes).

Or:

- No , I’m not studying, I’m checking my newsfeed on Facebook. (No, I'm not studying, I'm checking my Facebook feed).

Schematically it looks like this:

To be + subject + Ving

General questions about the current moment:

Are you telling the truth?
You are telling the truth?

Is she actually doing this?
Is she really doing this?

Am I thinking what you’re thinking?
Am I thinking the same as you?

General questions about the present in general:

Are they seeing each other?
They meet?

Is Victor still working in Singapore?
Is Victor still working in Singapore?

Is yoga helping you to lose weight?
Does yoga help you lose weight?

General questions about plans for the future:

Are you visiting your grandmother tomorrow?
Will you visit your grandmother tomorrow?

Are we coming to the party at 6?
Are we going to the party at 6?

Is she seeing a doctor next week?
Will she go to the doctor next week?

Difference betweento be going to and Present Continuous

What is the difference between these phrases:

"I'm seeing a doctor"

"I'mgoing to see a doctor"?

It would seem that both versions talk about plans for the future. And the structure is the same: verbto be+ verb ending-ing.

It turns out that it all depends on what kind of plans they are. If the plans are clear, a schedule has been drawn up, there is an agreement with someone, then you need to use the Present Continuous:

I’m seeing a doctor tomorrow at 3
(I will visit the doctor tomorrow at 3)

If the plans are vague, there are no time frames or agreements, but only the intention of the speaker, then you can say usinggoing to:

I'm going to see a doctor.
(I'm going to visit the doctor).

2. Special questions in the Present Continuous

These are questions that begin with question words. In English they are called "Wh questions" because most of these words begin with the lettersWh:

Who - who
When - when
Why - why
What - what
Where - where

Even the word How, although it does not begin withWh, but contains both of these letters.

Formation of special questions in the Present Continuous

There are no difficulties here: the structure is the same as that of a general question, only there is a question word at the beginning.

Question word + to be + subject + Ving

Special questions about the current moment:

Why are you looking at me?
Why are you looking at me?

Who are you talking to?
Who are you talking to?

How are they doing it?
How do they do it?

What are you talking about?
What are you talking about?

Special questions about the present in general:

How are you doing?
How are you doing?

Where is he living now?
Where does he live now?

What am I doing with my life?
What am I doing with my life?

Specific questions about future plans:

What time are you visiting your dad today?
What time will you visit your father today?

What are you doing tomorrow evening?
What are you doing tomorrow evening?

3. Questions to the subject

We ask such questions when we don’t know who is doing the action and want to find out.

Unlike special questions, there is no inversion in subject questions, or questions to the subject. That is, their structure is like that of affirmative sentences, only a question word is added at the beginning:

Who is talking to me? (Who's talking to me?)

IN present continuus questions often begin with a question word. How do you know if this is a special question or a subject question?

We must ask ourselves: “Is it known who is doing the action?” If the answer is no, then this is a subject question. We put the question word in place of the subject and don’t change anything else.

Who is making this noise?(Who's making noise?)

We don't know who is making the noise. Therefore, the word order here is straight.

Who is Helen talking to? (Who is Helen talking to?)

We know who performs the action (speaks) - it is Helen. We just don't know who she's talking to. This is a special question.

Examples of Subject Questions:

What is going on here? (What's going on here?)

Who is always calling you? (Who calls you all the time?)

What is bothering you? (What's bothering you?)

4. Alternative questions

- Will you eat soup or cutlets first?
- Do you play piano or guitar?
- Do you study English or German?

If, as in the examples above, you have options to choose from, this is an alternative question. In it, as in the general question, there is an inversion. The auxiliary verb comes before the subject.

- Are you coming or are you going to stay?
-Are you going or staying?

- Is he staying at a hotel or at a hostel?
- Was he staying at a hotel or a hostel?

How to recognize this type?

It is enough to see the unionor(or) to understand that this is an alternative question.

5. Separation issues

Separation questions, or Tag Questions, have perhaps the most interesting structure. The affirmative sentence is said first. Then, as if refuting this statement, there follows a “tail”, in which there is both inversion and negation.

Scheme:

Affirmative sentence + to be + not + subject

We are getting married this Saturday, aren’t we?
We're getting married this Saturday, aren't we?

You are getting cold feet, aren’t you?
You're panicking, aren't you?

Everything is going well, isn’t it?
Everything is going well, isn't it?

Five interrogative sentences in the Present Continuous that will be useful to you

Any grammatical phenomenon that is new to you must be used. Moreover, the more it fits into the situation, the better.

Present Continuous is ideal for everyday communication; its use makes speech more dynamic and natural.

Take a look at these questions that English speakers ask each other every day. Think about under what circumstances and to whom could you ask them? Also note the structure of each one and tell what type of questions it is inpresent continuus - general question, special or something else?

1. Are you kidding? (Are you kidding?)

This can be said when you do not believe that the interlocutor’s statement is true, you are shocked by it, or you doubt the appropriateness of the proposal. This is a colloquial expression and can be used in informal settings.

- I'm buying it.
- Are you kidding? Have you seen the price?

- I will buy it.
- Are you kidding? Have you seen the price?

1. What are you doing? (What are you doing?)

- What are you doing, darling?
- I'm working. Don't touch anything.

- What are you doing, dear?
- Working. Don't touch anything.

1. How is it going? (How are you?)

An excellent alternative to the already slightly outdated “How are you?” Feel free to use this question to start a conversation with your friends.

- Oh, hey, Alex, how's it going? What's up?

- Oh, hi, Alex, how are you? What's new?

1. Are you being serious? (Are you serious?)

Same as “Are you kidding?”, but more neutral in terms of style.

- Mom and dad are getting divorced.
- Are you being serious?

- Mom and Dad are getting divorced.
- Are you serious?

1. What is going on? (How are you/What's going on?)

“What’s going on” is the same as “What’s up?” (what's new?). Can be used instead of greetings and "how are you".

- What’s going on, guys?
- Nothing, just chilling.

- What are you doing, guys?
- Nothing, just relaxing.

For a long time. Forms sentences using the auxiliary verb to be (in English translated as “to be”) in the form of the present tense and the fourth form of the main semantic verb (with the suffix -ing characteristic of the long tense).

Let's consider the use of present continuous. Example sentences:

You are having dinner. - You are having dinner (right now).

I am waiting for you. - I'm waiting for you.

They are traveling in the west. - They travel to the west.

She is writing a letter right know. - She is writing a letter right now.

We are speaking English now. - We speak English now.

They are reading this boring book now. - They are reading this boring book now.

For reference:

• In colloquial English, the word "dinner" means dinner, and "supper" means a late dinner in a homely family setting.

Formation of question and negation

When forming an interrogative sentence in the present continuous tense, the words in it change places. As in any other case of English.

The verb to be moves to the first place - before the subject (pronoun, noun or proper name) in sentences with the present continuous. Example sentences:

Is she reading this boring book now? - Is she reading this boring book now?

Are we speaking English right now? -Are we speaking English right now?

Is she writing the letter now? - Is she writing this letter right now?

When forming a negative sentence between the form of the auxiliary and the semantic verb, not is added along with the semantic verb in the present continuous. Example sentences:

He is not writing. - He does not write.

I am not speaking. - I do not speak.

We are not waiting. - We're not waiting.

They are not studying. - They don't study.

She is not asking. - She doesn't ask.

However, such complete forms of denial are rarely used. In spoken language, abbreviations are used: isn't in the singular or aren't in the plural.

Important rules for using this time

Using Present continuous. Rules of use:

1. The specified tense is used to express a specific action occurring at the present moment or period, that is, right now. This is what the temporary additions to the sentences specifically indicate:

now - now;

at the moment - at this (this) moment.

But these words are not always present in the sentence. They can only be implied.

He is reading his diploma. - He is reading his diploma (that is, right now).

2. It is usually not used with verbs that denote the state of an object rather than its action:

to want - to want;

to feel - to feel;

to love - to love;

to think - to think;

to like - to like, love;

to be - to be;

to live - to live;

to hate - to hate;

to stay - to stay;

to hear - to hear;

to remember - remember;

to see - see and some other English verbs.

But sometimes these verbs of state are still used to emphasize the temporary state in the present continuous. Example sentences:

I know I am being a baby but I can't help it. - I know that I'm like a child, but I can't do anything about it (that is, I'm only acting like a child now).

She is wanting to stay at this house and I can't help it. - She wants to stay in this house and I can’t help (that is, she just wants to stay now).

3. When a sentence conveys the intention to perform an action, the present continuous is sometimes used to indicate the future tense. Example sentences:

We are going to the cinema tonight. - We are going to go to the cinema this evening.

She is leaving by seven-o"clock train. - She is leaving by seven o'clock train.

Present Perfect Continuous Forms

Or, as it is also called, progressive in English are peculiar derivatives of the present continuous tense.

You can get it using the verb to be (to be) in the form of the present perfect tense (have been or has been in the 3rd person singular) and an auxiliary verb in the continuous tense (with the ending -ing).

Present perfect continuous - example sentences:

1) Used to denote an action that began in the past at a certain point in time, continued for some time and continues at the present moment:

I have been walking since 8 o"clock in the morning. - I have been walking since 8 o'clock in the morning.

He has been living in Moscow for six years. - He has been living in Moscow for six years.

2) An ordinary and constantly occurring action, indicating the time period for the continuation of the action. Moreover, if it is not indicated how long (time period) the action lasts, then the present continuous tense is used.

It has been raining for three days. - It has been raining for two days.

It has raining. - It's raining.

He has been studying English for seven years. - He has been studying English for seven years.

He is studying English. - He is studying English (that is, right now).

3) Constructions of the present perfect continuous tense are also used to indicate the duration of an action. At the same time, if the fact of the completion of an action is indicated, then another tense is used - the present perfect.

I have been living here since 1956. - I have been living here since 1956 (that is, my residence here has continued all this time).

I have lived here since 1956. - I have lived here since 1956 (that is, an episode of action that has already occurred is emphasized).

4) The present perfect continuous tense, like the present continuous tense, is not used with English verbs that denote the state of an object, rather than its action. That is, verbs - to love - to love, to feel - to feel and others similar to them indicated above (present continuous rules).

5) This tense is also used in interrogative sentences to indicate the period that precedes the moment of speech (a given point in time). In this case, the use of appropriate question words and constructions is typical - how long - how long, how long; since when - since what time, since when.

How long have they been living here? - How long (how long) do they live here?

Since when has she been sitting there? - Since when (since when) has she been sitting there?

Present continuous passive

The passive voice of the present continuous tense shows the action in its development, that is, how it continues. This construction is formed as follows:

• verb to be (am, is, are) + being (that is, an indication of the continuous tense) + the second form of the semantic verb.

Let's look at the present continuous passive, example sentences:

New railway stations are being built. - New railway stations are being built (that is, they are being built right now).

Delicious supper is being cooked. - A delicious dinner is being prepared now.

If the present tense in such a voice changes to the past, then in the sentences, since there is no indication of the time frame, only the form of the verb to be changes. It is put in the past tense was - in the singular and were - in the plural.