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Sunday, April 17, 2011

Present Continuous Tense!

Hye!


Present Continuous Tense

am singing
We often use the present continuous tense in English. It is very different from the simple present tense, both in structure and in use.

How do we make the Present Continuous Tense?

The structure of the present continuous tense is:
subject+auxiliary verb+main verb
  be base + ing
Look at these examples:
 subjectauxiliary verb main verb 
+Iam speakingto you.
+Youare readingthis.
-Sheisnotstayingin London.
-Wearenotplayingfootball.
?Ishe watchingTV?
?Arethey waitingfor John?


How do we use the Present Continuous Tense?

We use the present continuous tense to talk about:
  • action happening now
  • action in the future

Present continuous tense for action happening now

a) for action happening exactly now
I am eating my lunch.
pastpresentfuture

The action is happening now. 
Look at these examples. Right now you are looking at this screen and at the same time...
...the pages are turning....the candle is burning....the numbers are spinning.


b) for action happening around now

The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after now, and it is not permanent or habitual.

Present continuous tense for the future

Look at these examples:
  • We're eating in a restaurant tonight. We've already booked the table..
  • They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working.
  • When are you starting your new job?
In these examples, we have a firm plan or programme before speaking. The decision and plan were made before speaking.


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