WELCOME... THIS IS GRAMMAR!!! PRESENT CONTINUOUS!!!

Hello everybody and welcome to this new entry of Montcada in English! Previously, we have spoken about the Present Simple tense, which is used to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. Those actions can be habits, hobbies, daily events or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do. The present simple can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things. However, today, I’d like to talk about the Present Continuous.

The structures of the present continuous sentences are:

AFFIRMATIVE

SUBJECT PRONOUN + VERB TO BE + VERB (ING) + COMPLEMENT

I am (I'm) teaching a class

You are (You're) sleeping

He is (He's) watching TV

She is (She's) buying some food

It is (It's) raining

We are (We're) studying English

NEGATIVE

SP + VERB TO BE + NOT + VERB (ING) + COMPLEMENT

I am not (I'm not) teaching a class

You are not (You aren't) sleeping

He is not (He isn't) watching TV

She is not (isn't) buying some food

It is not (It isn't) raining

We are not (We aren't) studying English

YES/NO QUESTIONS

VERB TO BE + SP + VERB (ING) + COMPLEMENT?

Are you teaching a class?

Am I sleeping?

Is he watching TV?

Is she buying some food?

Is it raining?

Are we studying English?

WH/QUESTIONS (WHAT-WHEN-WHERE-WHICH-WHO-WHY-HOW)

WHQ + VERB TO BE + SP + VERB (ING) + COMPLEMENT?

When are you teaching a class?

What am I doing?

Where Is he watching TV?

Why is she buying some food?

Where is it raining?

How are we studying English?

We use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.

FOR EXAMPLE:

You are learning English now ----------------- (Tu) estás aprendiendo Inglés ahora

You are not swimming now --------------------- (Tu) no estás nadando ahora

Are you sleeping? --------------------------------- Estás durmiendo?

I am sitting ------------------------------------------ Estoy sentado

I am not standing --------------------------------- No estoy de pie

What are you doing? ---------------------------- Qué estás/estais haciendo?

Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.

FOR EXAMPLE:

I am studying to become a doctor ----------- Estoy estudiando para convertirme en médico

I am not studying to become a dentist ---- No estoy estudiando para convertirme en dentista

I am reading the book Tom Sawyer ------- Estoy leyendo el libro Tom Sawyer

I am not reading any books right now ----- No estoy leyendo ningún libro por el momento

Are you working on any special projects at work? ----- Estás trabajando en algún proyecto especial en el trabajo?

Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.

FOR EXAMPLE:

I am meeting some friends after work ----- Me estaré reuniendo con algunos amigos luego del trabajo

I am not going to the party tonight ----------- No iré a la fiesta esta noche

Is he visiting his parents next weekend? --- Está visitando a sus padres la próxima semana?

The Present Continuous with words such as always or constantly expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Present Simple, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words always or constantly between be and verb+ing.

FOR EXAMPLE:
She is always coming to class late ----------- Ella siempre llega tarde a clase

He is constantly talking -------------------------- El está hablando constantemente

REMEMBER!!! It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Present Simple.

FOR EXAMPLE:

She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct

She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct

Well people! As far as I concerned, We're done!!! I hope this info can be useful for all of you!

C Ya!!!