Present continuous: form
We useam, are, is+ the -ingform of the verb. We use the short form more often than the full form, especially when speaking.
+ | I, you, we, they she, he, it | (full form) am are, is | working. | |
I, you, we, they she, he, it | (short form) ’m ’re ’s | |||
− | I, you, we, they she, he, it | (full form) am not are not is not | working. | |
I, you, we, they she, he, it | (short form) ’m not ’re notoraren’ t’s notorisn’t | |||
? + | Am Are, Is | I you, we, they she, he, it | working? | |
? − | (full form) Am Are Is | I you, we, they she, he, it | not | working? |
(short form) Aren’t Isn’t | I, you, we, they she, he, it | |||
Present continuous:-ingform spelling
For most verbs we add-ingto the base form to make the -ingform:
be→being | eat→eating | order→ordering |
cry→crying | fix→fixing | play→playing |
do→doing | go→going |
For other verbs the spelling changes are (note the underlined syllables are stressed):
verb | -ingform | |
When the verb ends in-e, we take off the -eand add -ing. | move | moving |
face | facing | |
come | coming | |
When the verb ends in a vowel followed by a single consonant and if the last syllable is stressed, then the consonant is doubled. | commit | committing |
prefer | preferring | |
rub | rubbing | |
BUT: cover | covering | |
remember | remembering | |
When the verb ends in a vowel +l, we double the consonant. | travel | travelling* |
control | controlling |
* American English spelling istraveling.
See also:
Regular verbs
Irregular verbs
Spelling
Present continuous: uses
Events at the time of speaking
We use the present continuous to talk about events which are in progress at the moment of speaking:
A:What time’s dinner?
B:I’mcookingnow so it’ll be ready in about half an hour.
She’spressingthe button but nothingishappening.
Temporary states
We use the present continuous to talk about temporary states which are true around the moment of speaking:
Her mother’slivingwith her at the moment. She’s just come out of hospital.
Who’slookingafter the children while you’re here?
Repeated temporary events
We use the present continuous to describe actions which are repeated or regular, but which we believe to be temporary:
I’m not drinkingmuch coffee these days. I’mtryingto cut down.
She’sworkinga lot in London at the moment.(She doesn’t usually work in London.)
Change
We use the present continuous to talk about a gradual change:
They’rebuildinga new stand at the football ground.
Maria, 37,is gettingbetter and doctors are optimistic she will make a full recovery.
Recent evidence suggests that the economic situationis improving.
Regular unplanned events
We often use the present continuous with words likealways,constantly,continuallyandforever(adverbs of indefinite frequency) to describe events which are regular but not planned, and often not wanted:
My wife, she’salwaysthrowingthings out. I like to keep everything.
I’mconstantlyspillingthings.
Plans and arrangements
We use the present continuous to refer to the future when we talk about plans and arrangements that have already been made:
We’removingto Cambridge in July.
Sarahisn’ttakingRory to football training later. She hasn’t got the car tonight.
Aren’tyouplayingtennis on Saturday?
See also:
Future: present continuous to talk about the future (I’m working tomorrow)