1C present continuous: be + verb + -ing

1 A What are you doing?

B I’m sending a message to Sarah.
2 My brother is taking a two-month vacation in the US.
3 In this picture the woman is standing near the window.

• Use the present continuous:

1 for things that are happening now, at this moment.
2 for temporary things that are happening now, this week, etc.
3 to describe a picture.
1C present continuous: be + verb + -ing

I you / we / they he / she / it

+ I’m working. You’re working. He’s working.

– I’m not working. We aren’t working.
They
She isn’t working.
It
Are you working? Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
? ✓ Is he working? Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.

spelling rules for the -ing form

base form -ing form spelling
cook cooking add -ing
study studying add -ing
live living cut the final e and add -ing
run running double the final consonant and add -ing
1C present continuous: be + verb + -ing

simple present or present continuous?

A What do you do? B I work for Microsoft.

A What are you doing? B I’m checking my emails.

• Use the simple present for things that are generally true or always happen.

• Use the present continuous for an action happening now or at this moment.

• We normally use verbs which describe states or feelings (non-action

verbs), e.g., want, need, like, in the simple present, not continuous.