WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

In this chapter, I will learn to :

Communicate states and events in

progress, in order:
to share the information with others
to explain why things are happening

Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense is

formed from the present tense of

the verb be and the present
participle (-ing form) of a verb

Formula
Sentence

Form

Example

Positive (+)

S + be(am/is/are) + Verb-ing

The ships are sailing

He is smiling

Negative (-)

S + be(am/is/are) + not +
Verb-ing

The ships are not

sailing
He is not smiling

Introgative
(?)

be(am/is/are) + S + Verb-ing?

are the ships sailing?

Is he smiling?

Function
1. We use the present continuous tense to talk
about the present
for something that is happening at the moment

of speaking
Please be quiet. The children are sleeping.

for something which is happening before and

after a given time

When I get home the children are doing their

homework.
for something which we think is temporary
Im working in London for the next two weeks.

Function
2. We use the present continuous tense to talk
about the future
for something which has been arranged or

planned
Mary is going to a new school next term.
What are you doing next week?

Function
3. We can use the present continuous to talk
about the past
When we are telling a story
When we are summarising the story from a

book, film or play etc.

Describe the picture below!

Open the book page 84