Simple present and present continuous in English - comparison and examples. Present Continuous tense in English

Life moves on, and sometimes we don’t notice the events happening around us. The English, in order to draw a little attention to the beautiful seconds of the present, use the Present Continuous Tense.

What is the present continuous tense and why use it? Maybe many will be surprised, but in the Russian language there are also long tenses, it’s just that the grammar does not distinguish them, because we already understand the difference between “goes” and “goes,” “came” and “went.” Changing suffixes, prefixes, and even the root itself seems natural to us, just like the English use of auxiliary verbs. Present Progressive (Continuous) helps convey the duration of the process, that it is happening at the moment.

Comparison of present tenses

To make it easier to understand, let's look at some examples:

The main difference between these times is the display of action. If the first simply states a fact, says what is, then the continuous or Continuous reveals in detail how this action proceeds.

Education

The rules of the Present Continuous are quite easy to remember. To do this, you will need to remember the conjugation of the verb to be in the present tense and form the form of the first participle (Participle 1) or, in other words, a verb ending in -ing. This may sound a little confusing, but in reality it is easy. Let's look at the example of the verb to work:

TO BE (AM, IS, ARE) + Ving

What does this diagram mean? Thus, with the pronoun “I” the form “am” is used. For “she, he, it” we substitute “is”, but for all the others (you, we, they) we use “are”. After auxiliary verbs we put a predicate ending in ing.

I am working now. - I am working now.

She (He, It) is working now. - She's working now.

They (You, We) are working now. - They are working now.

English grammar Present Continuous (Progressive) tense says that this tense can be used in various sentences not only in meaning, but also in type: narrative, negative and interrogative. Of all tenses, the rules for the Present Continuous in this case are the easiest: either add the particle “not”, or swap the subject and auxiliary verb.

Subject + to be + Ving + minor members (affirmative sentence).
Subject + to be + not + Ving + minor members (negative sentence).
To be + subject + Ving + minor members (interrogative sentence)?

I am writing a letter right now.
I am not reading a book now.
Are you cooking dinner now?

Of course, despite the simplicity of the formation of forms, the grammar of present continuum is complicated by some nuances: writing features with the ending -ing.

1. If the verb ends in "e", and there is a consonant before it, then this letter disappears: use-using, manage - managing. But: dye - dyeing.
2. Letter "l" at the end of the word it is doubled: travel - travelling.
3. And here "y", despite previous consonants or vowels, is preserved (in some English rules it changes, but not in the verb): stay - remaining, study - studying.
4. The consonant after a short stressed syllable is doubled: stop - stopping, sit - sitting. And, if at the end of the word there is a stressed syllable “ -er,- ur": occur - occurring, prefer - preferring. That's why it's so important to first get to know stressed and unstressed syllables.
5. "ie" changes to "y"at the end of a verb: die - dying.

Another difficulty is caused by verbs that are not used in the continuous form. In the article you will find out all the details.

Use

There are several uses of this tense in sentences and speech. How and why to use Continuous, you will learn from the following rules.

• To express an action that is happening right now, at the moment of conversation. Such sentences are often accompanied by the indicators now, at (the) present moment, at this moment, Look! Listen! right now, just now.

What are you doing? — I am cooking now. Come and have supper with us. - What are you doing? I'm cooking now. Come and have dinner with us.

• Some sentences emphasizing action in the present moment can be expressed parallel. So, to tell that the action is happening now, it lasts, conjunctions such as while, when, as help:

I am reading a book while children are playing in their room. — I read a book while the children play in the room.

• Present Continuous is used to express actions that take a slightly longer period, but emphasizes that the action does not occur constantly, but rather lasts some period. The following hints can be used here: still, the whole morning (evening, night), all day.

I am reading the novel by K. Smirnov. — I’m reading a novel by K. Smirnov (the action is extended over time).
She is cooking the whole day. — She cooks all day.
It is raining all day. — It’s been raining all day.
Don't bother him! He is still sleeping. - Don't bother him! He's still sleeping.

• If we are something planned for the near future, then it is better to express your plans in the present continuous. Here there must be hints in the sentence so as not to confuse Present and Future. These can be either tonight, tommorow, or verbs of motion. But most often the construction is used to be going to, which translates as “I’m going, intending”:

Are you doing anything tonight? —Are you doing anything this evening?
I am going to buy a new TV set. — I'm going to buy a new TV.

• Well, the proposals are especially difficult reproach, irritation, condemnation and indignation. Usually everything is accompanied by emotional overtones and the adverbs always, too often, constantly, never again. All these are indicators of the Present Simple (speaks about an ordinary event, fact), so look inside the sentence, text, meaning, so as not to get confused. Let's compare:

He is always going away for weekends. “He’s always going away for the weekend.”
He always goes away for weekends. — He always leaves for the weekend.

• If the action constantly changes, develops, wears dynamic character, then select Present Continuous:

His handwriting is improving. — He writes better and better.
Fitness is becoming a generally accepted principle of life. — Fitness is becoming a generally accepted principle of life.

Of course, at first you need to often look at the rules for presentation continuum or at the table. But nothing, over time everything will be simpler, clearer and easier.

Present Continuous- present continuous tense of English. Used to indicate a process that is happening right now. Below are the rules and formula for forming the Present Continuous tense in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences, auxiliary words and examples of using tense.

Education Present Continuous

In an affirmative sentence, the Present Continuous is formed by adding the auxiliary verb am / is / are (one of the forms of the verb to be) and adding an ing ending (-ing) to the verb in the first form.

It should be remembered that:

1) the auxiliary verb am is used with the 1st person singular (I); it can merge with the pronoun to form I’m.
2) the auxiliary verb is is used with the 3rd person singular (he / she / it)
3) the auxiliary verb are is used with the 2nd person singular, 1st and 3rd person plural (you, we, they)

Present Continuous formation formula:

Noun + am / is / are + verb in 1st form with the ending -ing added to it

Examples of affirmative sentences:

I am playing football right now. — I'm playing football now.

Sally is doing her homework at the moment. — Sally (she) is doing her homework now.

They are fishing now. - They are fishing now.

A negative sentence in the Present Continuous is formed by adding not to the auxiliary verb am / is / are, and verbs in the ing ending (-ing). Formula:

Noun + am / is / are + not + verb in 1st form with the ending -ing added to it

The auxiliary verb and the particle not can merge at the request of the one who writes or speaks. Examples of using negative sentences in the Present Continuous:

I'm not watching TV at the moment. — I don't watch TV now.

He is not working on his project right now. — He is not working on his project now

They are not going to the school now. — They don’t go to school now.

To form an interrogative sentence in the Present Continuous, the auxiliary verb must be placed at the beginning of the sentence. rule:

AM / is / are + noun + verb in 1st form with the ending -ing added to it

Examples of interrogative sentences:

Are you doing your homework? - You are doing your homework?

Is she walking on the street right now? — Is she walking outside now?

Are they playing in the club at the moment? — Are they playing in the club now?

Auxiliary words Present Continuous

Typically, when the Present Continuous tense is used, the following marker words are used:

Cases, V which usedPresent Continuous

It is not enough to know the rules of tense formation; you need to know where it is appropriate to use the Present Continuous. Below are examples of using the present continuous tense in everyday life.
Use case I: the action is happening now

Most often, the Present Continuous is used to describe an action that is not happening right at this moment in time. In this case, auxiliary words are also often used - right now, now, at the moment and others. examples:

You are learning English now. — You are learning English now.

They are not watching television. — They are not watching TV (at the moment).

Are you sleeping? — You are sleeping (at the moment).

Use case II: long-term actions in the present tense

Longer Actions in Progress Now

The word now in English can also have a figurative meaning: this week, this month, etc., as in Ukrainian. Therefore, the Present Continuous can be used to denote long-term actions that have already been taking place for some period and have not yet been completed. examples:

I am studying to become a doctor. — I'm studying to become a doctor.

I am not studying to become a dentist. — I’m not studying to be a dentist.

Are you working on any special projects at work? —Are you working on some project at work?

Use case III: near future

Sometimes the Present Continuous is used to denote agreements or actions that may or may not take place in the near future. In this case, it is necessary to indicate the time of the event. examples:

I am meeting some friends after work. — I meet with friends after work.

I am not going to the party tonight. — I'm not going to today's party.

Is he visiting his parents next weekend? — Or will he visit his parents next week?

IV use case: repeating actions that have a negative connotation

Repetition and Irritation

Like the Past Continuous, the Present Continuous can be used by the interlocutor in cases where he wants to express his negative attitude towards those repeating in the present tense. In this case, it is typical to use the words always and constantly between the auxiliary verb and the verb with an ing (-ing) ending. examples:

She is always coming to class late. — She is always late.

He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up. — He talks constantly. I wish he would shut up.

I do not like them because they are always complaining. — I don’t like them because they constantly complain.

Present Progressive (Present Continuous) tense- present continuous tense. In most cases, this tense indicates that the action is happening right now. For us Russians, Present Continuous may seem too difficult to understand at first. This is not surprising, because in Russian there are no such verb tenses. For example, the sentence “I play the balalaika” in Russian can mean that I am playing now or that I am playing at all (I know how to play). In English these are two different sentences. However, we also use some verbs differently in different situations.

In general terms: if we want to say that the action is happening right now, then we use the Present Continuous (Present Progressive) form. But this is not the only case of using this temporary form. But more on this later. First, let's answer the question - How is Present Progressive (Continuous) formed?

Formation of Present Continuous: elementary rules and examples

The Present Progressive is formed quite simply: we take the verb to be, put it in the appropriate form for the subject (we change it in accordance with the subject - I am, he is, my mother is and so on) and add the corresponding verb with the ending ing, which is “attached” to its base.

Too difficult? Let's look at a diagram illustrating this process.

Still not clear? Okay, let's look at examples. To do this, let's take the verb to think- think. Since it ends in a consonant, when adding ing nothing will be discarded, that is, we get - thinking. If we want to say “I am thinking” (about something at the moment), then we will succeed - I am thinking. Now with other people:

Negative and interrogative forms are formed very simply:

Rules for using the Present Continuous and examples

Forming the Present Continuous form is quite simple. The most difficult thing is the correct use of this form. The point is that there are several cases when it is necessary to use the Present Continuous tense and not some other tense. Briefly, all these cases are indicated using a diagram:

This scheme is not yet entirely clear to us, but it will be useful in order to quickly remember the main cases of using the present progressive.

So, Present Continuous is used:

1. Designation of what is happening or not happening now, at the moment (now, at the moment).

• I’m studying the present continuous . - I have been studying the present for a long time.
• I'm not watching TV at the moment. — I’m not watching TV at the moment.
• I'm sitting now.- I'm sitting now.
• I'm using the Internet. — I use the Internet.
• We're talking about life. — We talk about life.
• She's not listening to me. — She doesn’t listen to me (now).

2. Designation of what is happening now in the broad sense of the word - today, this month, this year, and so on. Temporary situations that we feel or know will not last.

• I am studying to become a teacher. — I am studying to become a teacher (for example, 5 years).
• Are you working on any special projects at work? — Are you (now) working on some kind of work project?
• I’m living in Moscow for a few months. — I’ve been living in Moscow for several months.
• I'm reading a great book. — I am reading a wonderful book (Now, these days. Reading a book is a long process).
• He’s living with his mother until he finds an apartment. — He lives with his mother until he finds an apartment.

3. New or temporary habits that have not always existed.

• My father is smoking too much . (He used to smoke less or not at all).
• My cat’s eating a lot these days . (She never ate so much before).

4. Repetitive, annoying actions, habits using always, constantly, forever:

• I don’t like him because he is always complaining.
• They're forever being late.
• My sister is always losing her keys.

5. Plans for the near future

• I’m leaving at 5 am. — I leave at 5 am.
• Are you visiting your parents next weekend? — Will you visit your parents next weekend?
• I am not going to the party tonight. — I won't go to the party today.

6. Situation change (usually slow) - little by little, gradually etc.

• My son is getting better at playing the guitar.
• The weather is improving.

These were all the rules for the formation and use of the present continuous (the present progressive).

When we talk on the phone, we are often asked “What are you doing now?”, and we usually answer, for example, “I am chilling / drinking coffee / cooking / reading a book.” In the answer we use “Present Continuous” or “present continuous tense”.

This tense helps to describe the action that is taking place at the moment of speech being spoken. This is our first rule for using “Present Progressive Tense”. But let's find out more, shall we?

Using the Present Continuous Tense

So, we use “Present Continuous” in the following cases:

• when we talk about an action that is happening (or not happening) right now, at the moment of speech. Marker words can be used here: “ now" (Now), " at the moment" (At the moment). Also, we can use this tense for two actions that occur simultaneously in the present.

She"s drinking tea now.- She is drinking tea now.
He"s not playing computer games now because he"s sleeping.- Now he doesn’t play computer games because he’s sleeping.

• when the action occurs in the present, but not at a specific moment of speech.

Something is happening around now. In this case " now" matters not only this second, but also today, as well as this week, this month or even this year.

I am reading an interesting book.- I’m reading an interesting book (I started reading it before the moment of the speech and will continue to read it for some time, but right now I’m not busy reading).
I usually drink tea, but today I’m drinking coffee. - I usually drink tea, but today I drink coffee.

• when we talk about an action that develops and changes. Such action may be indicated by the words “ change"(change), " get/become"(become), " rise" (get up), " fall" (fall), " grow"(grow), " improve"(to improve), " begin/start"(begin).

Your English is getting better.- Your English is getting better.
Our country is developing.- Our country is developing.

• when we talk about the near future, planned actions and plans. We use “Present Continuous” only with those actions that we have already firmly decided to perform. Marker words: " this/next week"(this/next week), " this/next weekend"(this/next weekend), " this/next year"(this/next year), " tonight" (In the evening), " today" (Today), " tomorrow"(Tomorrow).

I am having a lesson tomorrow at 4.10 p.m.- I have a lesson tomorrow at 16:00 (I have already planned the action and know all the details).
We are going to the theater next Monday.- We are going to the theater next Monday (we know the name of the play, which theater, time, bought tickets, etc.).

• when we want to show dissatisfaction, indignation, irritation. In these cases we use the words always(Always), constantly(constantly), all the time(all the time), forever(forever) to show that a person regularly does something that we don’t like and that it annoys us.

They are always complaining.- They always complain.
He's constantly biting his nails.- He constantly bites his nails.

As you may have noticed, the form of "Present Continuous Tense" is as follows:

• Affirmative: Subject + verb "to be" + V-ing
• Interrogative: Verb "to be" + subject + V-ing ?
• Negative: No + subject + verb "to be" + not + V-ing

Nota Bene: different subjects have different forms of the verb “to be”: “I am", “he/she/it is", "you/we/they are».

Present Continuous Forms

Let's look at all forms of “Present Progressive Tense” using the example of the verb “work” - to work.

The main verb or semantic verb in "Present Continuous" has the ending "- ing" Usually we just need to add this ending to the verb, but as always there are exceptions.

Also, do not forget about “insidious verbs” ( state verbs), which are not used in Present Continuous Tense. They can be divided into 6 groups:

• Senses and perception: to feel, to hear, to see, to smell, to taste.
• Opinion: to assume, to believe, to consider, to doubt, to feel (= to think), to find (= to consider), to suppose, to think.
• Emotions and desires: to envy, to fear, to dislike, to hate, to hope, to like, to love, to mind, to prefer, to regret, to want, to wish.
• Mental states: to forget, to imagine, to know, to mean, to notice, to recognize, to remember, to understand.
• Measurement: to contain, to cost, to hold, to measure, to weigh.
• Others: to look (= resemble), to seem, to be (in most cases), to have (= to possess).

But as always, there are several cases where state verbs are used with "Present Continuous". This happens when a verb has several meanings and one of them shows an action, and also when we want to show that the situation is temporary.

The steak tastes good.- This steak tastes great (steak always tastes so good).
The chef is tasting the steak.- The cook tastes the steak (he is tasting it now).

Conclusion

So, we have looked at the main features of using “Present Continuous”. It is used quite often in situations, for example, when we talk about the present, the future, our plans, and temporary events.

We hope that the article will help you understand all the nuances. Don't stop evolving!

We invite you to familiarize yourself with other tenses of the English language

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

Present continuous tense ( Present Continuous) is formed according to the scheme: to be+present participle of the semantic verb

to be+verb ending ing

Examples:

It is important to understand the difference between the simple present and simple continuous tenses.

Simple present tense describes habitual actions in the present tense. Present continuous tense describes actions that occur at the moment of speech or during the period to which this moment relates.

Compare:

Questions with the present continuous tense in English.

1. Interrogative sentences requiring a simple yes/no answer.

In questions subject and verb to be change places. Present participle (ing form) costs after the verb to be and the subject.

Scheme:

to be+subject+verb ending ing

Examples:

Answers can be detailed or short.

2. Use of question words.

The word order in such questions is the same as in simple questions of the previous type. Question word is put before auxiliary and main verbs:

Wh...+to be+subject+verb ending ing

Examples:

If the question says why (why), the answer uses the word because (because).

Examples:

If the answer is short, then it includes only the second part of the sentence (starting with the words “because”).

Examples:

Negation with the present continuous tense

Negation in the present continuous tense is formed like this: add to the form of the verb to be particle not.

Here you need to remember the short forms: am not = ain't; is not = isn't; are not = aren't.

Example:

She is not working at the moment. She's not working right now.

Spelling forms of the present continuous tense.

Typically for education present participles add at the end of the verb ing.

Examples:

There are other cases of formation of the present participle:

1. If the infinitive ends in “e” and the previous consonant, then when forming participles, “e” is replaced by “ing”.

Examples:

imagine imagine imagining imagining

write write writing writing

Exception: verbs that end in ee.

For example:

free flee freeing fleeing

2. In one-syllable verbs that end in a consonant preceded by a vowel, double the consonant before the ending "ing".

Examples:

run run running running

get receive getting receiving

Exception: Consonants are not doubled: x, w, y.

Examples: to fix, to play

3. Verbs of two syllables in which the stress falls on the last syllable double the final vowel before the ending "ing".

Examples:

begin start off beginning beginning

4. If the verb ends in "ie", this ending is replaced with "y", then "ing" is added.

die die dying dying

lie lie lying lying

Using the present continuous tense.

1. Action occurring at the moment of speech.

Examples:

2. An action covering a certain period of time in the present.

Example:

Nelly is studying at University. Nellie studies at the university.

3. Emotionally colored facial characteristics. Typically this is a negative rating.

Example:

She is constantly talking about money. She constantly talks about money.

4. A pre-planned action that will occur in the near future.

Used with verbs of motion: move, come, go, leave, return, start.

Examples:

The show is starting soon. The show starts soon.

Are you moving to the new flat? Are you moving to a new apartment?

5. An action in progress that occurs simultaneously with another action (in the simple past tense). This tense is used in subordinate clauses of time and condition after conjunctions: when, while, aslong as, if, in case, unless.

Example:

David always talks when he is eating. David always talks when he eats.