When we talk about events that are actually happening now, we use the present continuous tense. This is formed by using the stem of the verb and adding -ing to the end, for example the verb "work" becomes "working". In some cases you need to alter the spelling a bit for example the verb "die" becomes "dying".
FORM
[Am/Is/Are + present participle]Statements + | Statements - | Questions | Short answer + | Short answer - |
---|---|---|---|---|
I'm working. | I'm not working. | Am I working? | Yes, I am. | No, I'm not. |
He's working. | He isn't working. | Is he working? | Yes, he is. | No, he isn't. |
She's working. | She isn't working. | Is she working? | Yes, she is. | No, she isn't. |
It's working. | It isn't working. | Is it working? | Yes, it is. | No, it isn't. |
You're working. | You aren'tt working. | Are you working? | Yes you are. | No, you aren't. |
We're working. | We aren't working. | Are we working? | Yes we are. | No, we aren't. |
They're working. | They aren't working. | Are they working? | Yes they are. | No, they aren't. |
Present Continuous Timeline
For example:
Q) "What are you doing?" A) "I'm building a website."
We also use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are happening around now but are temporary.
For example:
Q) "What are you doing these days?" A) "Unfortunately I'm working a lot."
It is also used to describe trends or situations that are happening but may be temporary.
For example:
"Nowadays more and more people are shopping on the Internet."
...and habitual actions (usually negative).
For example:
"He's always cleaning his car."
The present continuous tense can also be used to discuss future events:
Note:-
The present continuous is usually used with doing verbs (verbs of action) not with verbs of state. The following verbs are not used in the continuous form:
Conditions: belong, cost, need, own, seem Feelings: like, love, hate, want, wish Beliefs: believe, feel, know, mean, remember, think, understand |
Past continuous tense
We use the past continuous tense to describe a past action over a period of time. The past continuous tense expresses action at a particular moment in the past. The action started before that moment but has not finished at that moment. For example, yesterday I watched a film on TV. The film started at 7pm and finished at 9pm.
FORM
[was/were + present participle]Past Continuous Timeline
Q) "What were they doing yesterday?" A) "They were working all day."
It can be used to describe what someone was doing at a particular point in time.
For example:
Q) "What were you doing at 7.30 last night?" A) "I was watching television."
The past continuous can also be used to show that an activity frequently took place over a period of time.
Q) "What did you do on holiday?" A) "I went skiing a lot."
Often the past continuous is mixed with the past simple to show what was happening when something happened. The past continuous refers to the longer event and the simple past to the event that interrupted it.
For example:
"I was driving to work when I crashed my car."
or
As I was driving to work, I crashed my car."
Future continuous tense
The future continuous tense is the present continuous tense recycled. It is often used to ask about and discuss future arrangements or plans with just the addition of a future time, but you only use it when these arrangements are certain.
For example:
Q) What are you doing next week?" A) "I'm working."
Q) What's he doing tomorrow?" A) "He's playing tennis."
The present continuous tense is also used to talk about and make future appointments and arrangements using the words go or come....
For example:
Q) When are you coming to see me?" A) "Next week."
Q) What are you doing tomorrow?" A) "I'm going to the dentist."
...and using verbs of arrival and departure.
"We're arriving in London at 2.30."
"The train leaving from platform one is the 2.45 to Edinburgh."
The Future Continuous (will be doing)
The use of 'will be doing' in a sentence is often referred to as the future continuous. It is used to talk about activities that will be happening at a particular time or over a particular time in the future.For example:
Next week we will be having a party. Can you come?
You can also use it (or the present continuous form) to talk about future plans.
For example:
We will be leaving here at 7.30pm.
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