Present Continuous Tense

How Do We Create The Present Continuous Tense?

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	main verb
		be		base + ing

Look at these examples:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	am		helping	them.
+	They	are		eating	sushi.
–	She	is	not	leaving	the hotel.
–	I	am	not	sleeping	on the couch.
?	Is(auxiliary verb)	she(subject)		playing	games?
?	Are(auxiliary verb)	we(subject)		working	tomorrow?

How Do We Use The Present Continuous Tense?

We use the present continuous tense to discuss:

• Action happening now or around the current time.
• Action which will take place in the future.

Action Happening Now

1. For an action happening now.

I am playing a video  game.
past	present	future
	__________________
	The action is happening now.

2. For any action happening around the current time. The action must happen shortly before or shortly after now. It is not a habit or something that will happen constantly.

Richard is going out with Jane.
past	present	future
_________________	_________________	_________________
	The action is happening around now.

Look at these examples:

• She is programming a new website.
• I am leaving for Paris with my sister.

For An Action In The Future

If we add a future word, we can use the present continuous tense to discuss the future. This word must be understood from the context of the situation. Tomorrow, next week, in August, and on Halloween, are all examples of future present continuous words. We need to have had prior plans for the event as well.

I am taking the TOEFL next year.
past	present	future
	___________	___________
	There is a prior plan for the future.	The action will take place in the future.

Look at these examples:

• We are singing in a concert tonight.
• We have already been practicing. They are coming tomorrow since they are not busy.
• When are you going to the club?

In these examples, there is already prior planning to do something, which was made before the person spoke, and is not spontaneous.

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