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Saturday, 7 November 2009
What are they doing?
Look at the picture in pairs and describe :what are they doing?.
Use questions:
Use questions:
- What is he/she doing?
- What are they doing?
- Is he/she ...ing?
- Are they ...ing?
Present Continuous
FORM
[am/is/are + present participle]
Examples:
- You are watching TV.
- Are you watching TV?
- You are not watching TV.
USE 1 Now
past________present__________futureUse the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.
Examples:
- You are learning English now.
- You are not swimming now.
- Are you sleeping?
- I am sitting.
- I am not standing.
- Is he sitting or standing?
- They are reading their books.
- They are not watching television.
- What are you doing?
- Why aren't you doing your homework?
USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now
past_____________present________________future
In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.
Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)
- I am studying to become a doctor.
- I am not studying to become a dentist.
- I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
- I am not reading any books right now.
- Are you working on any special projects at work?
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non continuous verbs (Abstract Verbs:to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist...Possession Verbs:to possess, to own, to belong...Emotion Verbs:to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind...)
Examples:
- He is needing help now. Not Correct
- He needs help now. Correct
cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Present.
Examples:
- She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct
- She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct
USE 3 For Future use
Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.
Examples:
- I am meeting some friends after work.
- I am not going to the party tonight.
- Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
- Isn't he coming with us tonight?
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