Foundation English

Grammar
Present Continuous Tense
Structure
Subject + BE + Verb (ING)

I + am + work(ing)

you + are + talk(ing) on the phone

he/she/ + is + speak(ing)
we + are + eat(ing) breakfast
they + are + sleep(ing).
 Spelling Rules
•Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply
for -ee)Example: come - coming
Example: agree - agreeing
•After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is
doubled.
Example: sit - sitting
 Spelling Rules
•After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British
English (but not in American English).

Example: travel - travelling (British English)

but: traveling (American English)

•Final ie becomes y

Example: lie - lying

 Use
•To talk about actions which are happening at the
present moment but will soon finish.
•(present simple) I play tennis.
•(present continuous/ progressive) I am playing
tennis.
Present Simple Vs. Present Continuous
Simple Present Present Continuous
Action set by a timetable or Arrangement for the near
schedule future
The film starts at 8 pm. I am going to the cinema
tonight.
 Simple Present Present Progressive
Daily routine An action taking place at the
moment of speaking
Babar works in a restaurant. Jamil is working in a
restaurant this week
 Simple Present Present Progressive
Likes/dislikes/preferences An ongoing action only for a
limited period of time (does
not have to happen directly at
the moment of speaking)

I like pizza Jamil is working in a

He loves cricket restaurant this week
I am reading ‘God of Small
Things’ these days.
•For future arrangements with other people.

At eight I’m meeting Laila, just for a quick coffee.

 Interrogative
Close-Ended Questions
• Just change around the subject and the verb to be.

He is playing cricket.

Is he play(ing) cricket?
Open-Ended questions
Add a Wh word before the helping verb
Are you working hard for the exam?
What + are you working hard for?
Is anybody sitting here?

Who + is sitting here?

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not
in the progressive form).

State: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

Example: We are on holiday.

Possession: belong, have

Example: Sami has a cat NOT Sami is having a cat

Senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He feels the cold. NOT He’s feeling the cold.
Feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example: Sara loves pizza. NOT Sara is loving pizza

Brain work: believe, know, think, understand

Example: I believe you. NOT I am believing you.
These words can help you know if the sentence needs simple
present or present continuous:
Simple Present:
• Always
• Usually
• Often
• Sometimes
• Never
• Every (day/night/year/summer/winter)
Present Continuous:
• Now
• Right now
• At the moment
• Currently
• This week/month/year
• Today