Present Continuous Tense
Uses of Present Continuous Tense
NOTE: We CANNOT use stative verbs in continuous tenses.
USE 1: NOW - Something is happening or not happening.
e.g. I am playing football.
She is going to school.
USE 2: Longer action in progress now. i.e. action started in past, still going on, and will end up in future.
e.g. I am studying to become a doctor.
I am reading the book of social policy.
USE 3: Near future - something will happen or not.
e.g. I am meeting my friends after work.
USE 4: Repetition and irritation with the words 'Always' and 'Constantly'
e.g. She is always coming late to the class.
She is constantly talking.
NOTE: This sentence gives the meaning of present simple tense but in negative emotion.
Structure of Present Continuous Tense
Exceptional case of subject 'I'
Note: First forms of verb with 'ing' e.g. going, coming, etc. is called present participles.
| Nature of Sentence | Structure of tense with example. |
|---|---|
| Positive | Subject(I) + am + present participle + Object. I am playing football. |
| Negative | Subject(I) + am + not + present participle + Object. I am not playing football. |
| Interogative | Am + Subject(I) + present participle + Object? Am I playing football? |
| Interogative negative | Am + Subject(I) + not + present participle + Object? Am I not playing football? |
Singular subject He, She, It, Any Name
| Nature of Sentence | Structure of tense with example. |
|---|---|
| Positive | Subject + is + present participle + Object. He/She/It is playing football. |
| Negative | Subject + is + not + present participle + Object. He/She/It is not playing football. |
| Interogative | Is + subject + present participle + Object? Is He/She/It playing football? |
| Interogative negative | Is + Subject + not + present participle + Object? Is He/She/It not playing football? |
Plural Subject We, You, They
| Nature of Sentence | Structure of tense with example. |
|---|---|
| Positive | Subject + are + present participle + Object. We/you/they are playing football. |
| Negative | Subject + are + not + present participle + Object. We/you/they are not playing football. |
| Interogative | Are + subject + present participle + Object? Are we/you/they playing football? |
| Interogative negative | Are subject + not + present participle + Object? Are we/you/they not playing football? |
List of Tenses
Present Tenses
- Present Indefinite/simple Tense
- Present Continuous Tense
- Present Perfect Tense
- Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Past Tense
Future Tense