Dear readers English Voyage blog! Today you will learn how to use one more tense of the English verb In the grammar tables below, we will look at the formation of affirmative, interrogative and negative forms Present Continuous (Progressive). After the tables and a useful video, you can independently translate Russian sentences into English using the present long time. If you do not confuse forms and translate sentences with am, is, are without errors, then you will easily remember the formation of time.

To get started, watch this video tutorial carefully. Here they calmly and in detail talk about the construction and use of Present Continuous. At the end - an exercise (do not be too lazy to do it :).

Present Time continuous used:

to describe an action happening at the moment of speaking. For example: She is singing a song now. She is singing a song now.

to describe a temporary action that takes place outside of this moment speech (in the same minute, second), but in the present period of time. For example: I am working on the project. I'm working on the project. (Meaning not at this moment, but for a limited present period, which will soon end).

to describe repetitive actions that cause irritation, disapproval of the speaker. Especially with phrases like always, constantly, repeatedly, which are translated, as a rule, into Russian by the word "forever". For example: You are always shouting at me! You always yell at me!

marker words(read more about marker words in the article) for Present Continuous: now, at the moment, this week, today. For the future - tomorrow, next week.

Time Present Continuous NOT used with state verbs - verbs that describe the state of the soul, body or mind, as well as ongoing relationships. State verbs include the following English verbs: appear (meaning "appear"), assume - believe, be - be, believe - believe, count, belong - belong, consider (meaning "count"), consist - consist, contain - contain, cost - cost, depend - depend, detest - to be disgusted, envy - to envy, equal - to be equal, exist - to exist, expect - to expect, feel (in the meanings "cause a sensation", "to be touched" and "count"), fit - to be fit, forget - forget, hate - hate, have (meaning "possess"), hear - hear, include - include, know - know, lack - lack, like - like, look (meaning "look"), love - love, matter - to matter, mean - to mean, need - to need, owe - to be due, own - to own, possess - to possess, prefer - to prefer, realize - to realize, remember - to remember, see (in the meanings of "perceive by sight", "understand" ), seem - to seem, smell (meaning "smell"), taste (meaning "to have a taste"), tend - to tend, think (meaning "to count"), understand - understand at, want - want, wish - wish, weigh (meaning "weigh"). We will look at state verbs in more detail in future posts.

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS (PROGRESSIVE) TENSE

affirmative form

Structure			Examples
I	am	V+ing	I am listening to music. I listen to music.
	is		He is listening to music. He is listening to music. She is listening to music. She's listening to music. It is getting dark. It's getting dark.
	are		We are reading. We read. You are reading. You read. They are reading. They are reading.
Notice the suggestion to after the word listen which should be used always after this verb. The omission of to after listen is

Interrogative form

(yes/no questions - general questions) ?

Structure			Examples
Am	I	V+ing?	— Am I reading? I am reading? - Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
Is			Is he reading? He reads? - Yes, he is. / No, he isn't. Is she reading? She is reading? - Yes, she is. / No, she isn't. Is it getting dark? Is it getting dark? - Yes, it is. / No, it isn't.
Are			Are we coming back? Are we going back? - Yes, we are. / No, we aren't. Are you coming back? Are you coming back? - Yes, you are. / No, you aren't. Are they coming back? Are they coming back? - Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.

Interrogative form

(Wh-?- special questions) ?

negative form

Structure			Examples
I	am not	V+ing	I am not dancing. (= I'm not) I don't dance.
	is not		He is not singing. (= He isn't) He doesn't sing. She is not having dinner. (= She isn't) She doesn't have dinner. It is not raining now. (= It isn't) It's not raining now.
	are not		We are not working. (= We aren't) We don't work. You are not laughing. (= You aren't) You are not laughing. They are not looking at me. (= They aren't) They don't look at me.

Before you say a sentence, think about the verb. If this is a state verb, then instead of Present Continuous, you need to use Present Simple. For example, “I love pizza” - “I love (like) pizza”.

So, today we have considered the formation of Present Continuous. If you have any questions about the topic or need additional explanations, write in the comments. I will gladly answer all questions. Expect new articles in the rubric.

Present continuous is the first time from which the student English language starts to get confused. If everything is more or less clear with the present, past and future - these three tenses are in almost all languages, then why do we need Present Continuous - another present?

If you are asking the same question, get ready for big shocks - there are at least 12 times in English (), and most of them have no analogues in Russian. But I hope that the readers of the site will not be surprised by the number of tenses in English, especially since the idea in Present Continuous is quite simple.

continuous vs progressive

But before I start listing the main uses, small digression for discerning readers. Present Continuous (in textbooks with translation you can see “real continuous” or “real continuous”) is sometimes also called Present Progressive. In English it is exactly the same.

The remark "in English" certainly did not escape the eye of more meticulous readers. AT Oriental languages, for example, in Chinese (Mandarin), it is not the same thing - “do something at this moment”, for example, putting on a shirt is one time (Progressive), but “being in some state”, for example, wearing a shirt is something else (Continuous).

And since we are talking about continuous in other languages, I will add that in many European languages there is no analog for continuous at all. Yes, in Italian and Spanish there is a construction for what is being done "right now", but it is used much less often than in English. Not in French and German grammatical way show that the action is happening "right now". Why go far - it’s the same in Russian: to emphasize that I’m doing something “right now”, I’ll have to say it right away - “I’m reading an article right now”, or you have to guess from the context “milk on the stove runs away [precisely at this moment, and not in general in life ...] "...
In English, the difference between "in general" and "right now" can be expressed grammatically - and that's what we'll talk about.

How is the Present Continuous formed?

Formula for Education Present Continuous is like this: we take the verb to be, put it in the desired form, as in the simple present (am, are, is) and add the verb we need in the –ing form to it. Here are some examples.

I am reading a book. I read a book.
You are watching the TV show. You are watching a TV show.
My girlfriend is chatting with her friends, while I'm doing her homework. My girlfriend chats with her friends while I do her homework for her.

verb to be in this construction is called the “auxiliary verb” - auxiliary verb. (This will come in handy when we parse negative sentences or learn how to ask questions).

When and how to use Present Continuous

We figured out what Present Continuous looks like, now the most interesting thing is how to use it. Here are the three most common cases.

1. The action really happens “at this very moment”

That literally happens, at the moment when you say the phrase, at the same time.

Right now I am reading an article on the site- this is what readers of this article can say about themselves right now in Present Continuous.

What are you doing? What are you doing? Right now, when I look at you and ask - what are you doing at this moment.

I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain. I feel the drops fall on my head, but I don't stop singing, as the hero of a classic Hollywood movie did.

2. The action takes place in the wider "now", not far from the current moment.

If the “now” in which the action takes place is not exactly this second, but this minute, this day, a year, and even a century, then this is also a case. use Present continuous.

I'm reading "Lord of the Rings" now. I'm currently reading The Lord of the Rings. To say so, it is not necessary to hold a weighty volume of Tolkien in your hands, and even not take your eyes off the lines for a second. Present Continuous in this case is rather “these days” (or even “months” - the book is very long).

What are you working on now? What are you working on now? I mean, in general, what projects and tasks are you working on these days/months/years? And at the same time, your interlocutor is not at all obliged to hold tools in his hands or sit at a computer.

Our galaxy, Milky Way is heading for a collision with our neighbor, Andromeda galaxy. Our galaxy Milky Way, is about to collide with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy. And the fact that there are still 4 billion years left before the collision does not prevent us from using the Present Continuous here.

Present Continuous vs Present Simple

If this “now” is so extensible, then how is it fundamentally different from Present Simple? I live in Russia or I'm living in Russia? After all, I live in Russia at the moment?

The answer to this question depends on you, on what you want to say. This is something permanent that is unlikely to change in any foreseeable future - then Present Simple, “ I live in Russia". And if you want to emphasize that this is just one of the few states that you are going through, and the situation may soon change - then I'm living in Russia.

Here are some more examples. Please note that Present Simple is used for permanent states, Present Continuous for temporary ones.

Normally I don't smoke, but I'm having a cigarette now, because I'm very nervous. I don't smoke at all, but now I'm with a cigarette, because I'm very worried.

The weather is nice today, so I'm walking home. I usually use subway. The weather is fine today and I'm walking home. Usually I ride the subway.
My friend lives in America. This weekend she is staying in my place. My friend lives in America. He will be staying with me this weekend.

There is one more important point- words denoting states (for example need, like) are not used at all in Present Continuous. Such verbs in English are called state verbs, state verbs. This is a separate big topic, so we will consider it in a separate article. In the meantime, let's move on to the next use case of Present Continuous.

3. Plans for the near future

That is, how can the time we use to describe the present moment be used for the future? Doesn't this cause confusion among those who speak English?

I agree, it sounds weird. But, firstly, with this use of Present Continuous, the future tense is obvious to the participants in the conversation - by mentioning tomorrow, next week, in the future. Secondly, I will repeat the same argument that I used in the article about Present Simple - we use exactly the same construction in Russian. Tomorrow I'm going to visit (I'll go instead). I'm going to university next year (I'm going to do it instead).

Are you coming to the party tomorrow? - I can't. This Friday I'm taking an exam, I need to study. Are you going to the party tomorrow? - I can’t, I’m taking the exam on Friday, I have to study.

Have you forgotten that Present Simple has the same “double role”? I can imagine your confusion: Present Simple can be used to talk about the future, now Present Continuous can be used to talk about the future… What, English times do they not pay enough at their main place of work and do they periodically "hack" at neighboring sites?

Let's try to sort out this confusion. Use the Present Simple for the future if we are talking about events that occur regularly, according to a schedule. Present Continuous - for something irregular, but planned now.

Train for Manchester leaves the station at 7 am. The train to Manchester leaves at 7am (meaning it happens every day).

I am leaving for Liverpool in the morning. I'm going to Liverpool in the morning (and judging by this offer, I don't do it every day).

One more case. Present Continuous and Annoyance

And here is the “half-case” that I mentioned in the title - irritation. "Half-case" - because this is not the most frequent use of Present Continuous. Beginners, I think, should get comfortable with the previous three. But for those who have been studying English for a long time, Present Continuous will help to gracefully express irritation. All you need to do is add words like always, constantly, all the time:

She is always complaining about something. She constantly complains about something.

I am so tired of my boss, he is often telling me what to do. The boss really got me, he always tells me what I need to do.

This app I installed is asking for money all the time. The app I installed keeps wanting money from me.

The effect of irritation is given by the combination of Present Continuous and always. Compare here:

He always gets up at 7 o'clock. He always gets up at 7 am. And apparently, he washes himself, does exercises. Good boy.

He is always getting up at 7 o'clock. He always gets up at 7 am. And, judging by the choice of grammatical time, he turns on loud music and interferes with sleep. Annoys.

That's all.
So, Present Continuous is used for what is happening "at the moment", even if this present moment is stretched in time. This is the difference between this tense and Present Simple,
Another important occasion use of Present Continuous - planned events in the future.
And for those who continue to study English, there is one more interesting way use Present Continuous to express annoyance.

Present Continuous Tense is one of the temporary forms of the English language, which has no analogues in Russian. Its exact name is translated as present continuous (long), and this already contains the essence of this tense: it is used to describe the situation taking place in this moment time.

The present continuous tense in English has many features of use, and due to the fact that in Russian there is no division of tense into long or regular, it can cause some difficulties for those who study English.

So, two examples can be given that reflect such a situation:

· I'm speaking English– I speak English (referring to the fact that I speak English right now)
· I speak English - I speak English (meaning that I always speak English).

In the second example, the time Present Indefinite(Simple) to show the regularity and constancy of the action. In the first case, Present Continuous is used to emphasize that the situation is happening in this particular time period.

Education Present Continuous

It is important to understand not only how the Present Continuous is formed, but also why it happens that way. The basis of this tense is the auxiliary verb to be, the three forms of which in the present tense, as you know, are am (for the pronoun “I”), is (“he”, “she”, “it”) and are (“we” , “you”, “they”). In addition, the construction of time includes a form of the verb called Present Participle, or Participle I and having the ending -ing. Thus, the present continuous tense in English, or rather, the Present Continuous formula looks like this:

Am
Is + V-ing
Are

Questions and negatives

Interrogative sentences

in such a temporary form they differ in that no auxiliary words like do and does are used here, as is the case with Present Indefinite. In this case, the scheme is simple: the first place is given to the verb to be in desired form, followed by the subject, and then the rest of the structure:

Are you going to school now? – Are you going to school now?
Is he watching a new film at the moment? Is he watching a new movie now?

But here you should pay attention to the fact that, like any other tense, Present Continuous has different types of questions. And if the above suggestions apply to general issues, then, for example, special questions in Present Continuous (while the question does not apply to the subject here) are formed using a special interrogative word that comes first, and the further order is exactly the same:

Where is he going? - Where is he going?
Why are they running so fast? Why are they running so fast?

Question to the subject

the present continius has a certain peculiarity: in the first place is interrogative pronoun who, asking a question about an animate object, or what (about an inanimate object). In Russian, the question to the subject begins with the words who or what.

Examples of how a subject question looks like in Present Continuous:

Who is making such a strange noise? Who is making this strange noise?
What is flying over that house? What is flying over that house?

Negative sentences

they do not carry any complexity at all: to the verb to be in the required form is simply added particle not. Here are some examples of sentences that illustrate the negation in Present Continuous:

I'm not walking with my friend now - I'm not walking with a friend now
· They are not talking to their chief at the moment - At the moment they are not talking to their chief.

Rules for writing verb forms in Present Continuous

The grammar of the present continuous requires compliance with certain rules for writing some verbs that are used in a long form:

1. In the event that the last vowel of the verb is the unpronounceable -e, then it will not be written:

to drive - driving
to describe - describing
to dance - dancing

2. There are also situations where the doubling of the consonant occurs:

In the event that the last consonant of the verb is preceded by a short stressed vowel, then this consonant will be doubled:

to stop - stopping
to cut - cutting
to forget - forgetting

· in the event that the last consonant is -l, preceded by a vowel, then this -l will also be doubled:

to tell - telling
to travel-traveling
to spell - spelling

Note: For American English, the doubling rule -l is not typical.

3. In the case when the verb ends with the letter combination -ie, then the replacement with -y takes place:

to die - dying
to lie-lying

Note: if the verb ends in -y, then in this case, the ending -ing is simply added to it:

to fly - flying
to cry-crying

Cases of using Present Continuous

The use of Present Continuous is typical for the following situations:

1. In order to show a long-term effect,

happening at a particular moment in time. Time present continius, also referred to as Present progressive tense, often carries with it some so-called markers, the presence of which, as a rule, indicates that the time will be just that. Such pointer words and constructions are usually now, at the moment. But at the same time, it is important to remember that when speaking about the present moment, one should not focus on the fact that the action is being performed at one particular moment and only now. If in Russian words such as now or now are used, in English we use Present Continuous tense in more broad sense:

John, you are talking nonsense - John, you are talking nonsense
Jack and Mary are in London now. Mary is studying English - Jack and Mary are in London now. Mary is studying English.

At the same time, there are such examples of Present Continuous, when this time is used to show a certain state or quality characteristic of a person at a particular moment in time:

You are being a nuisance - you interfere;
· You are being bitter - You are sorry.

Note: in the event that we are talking about actions taking place in the present tense, but describing not the process, but the very fact of the action, then it is customary to use Present Indefinite:

· Why don't you answer, Emily? Why don't you answer, Emily?
Your defend him despite all his misdeeds - You defend him despite all his misdeeds

2. In a situation where there are two actions in one sentence,

and one of them shows the regularity, and the other - the process, then in the first case should be used the present Indefinite Tense, and in the second - the Present Continuous Tense:

You never talk while you are working - You never talk when you work
She always dreams while she is walking - She always dreams while walking

3. To express the future

In English, in Present Continuous, not only the present can be expressed, but also. This is typical for situations when it comes to actions that have been decided and planned in advance, and the chance of their completion is close to one hundred percent:

· I am leaving tomorrow at sunset - I'm leaving tomorrow at sunset
They are coming to us on Sunday - They will come to us on Sunday

The construction to be going to deserves special attention, which is translated into English as going to do something and is also used to express intentions for the future. Its difference from Present Continuous is that here, as a rule, the exact time is not indicated:

I am going to visit you - I'm going to visit you
She is going to come - She is going to come

Note: The Present Continuous rule provides for the use of this time only in such situations, and not Future Indefinite, where decisions aimed at the future are usually spontaneous and only probable.

4. With "constantly, always, ever"

With Present Continuous, those sentences are usually used in which situations are aimed at demonstrating those actions that are always long and never stand still. In this case, special clues often appear in the form of adverbs constantly, always, ever:

The population of the Earth is always increasing - The population of the Earth is constantly increasing
· The Sun is ever shining - The sun always shines

5. Irritation

Often there are such sentences in Present Continuous in which the speaker expresses the idea of ​​irritation and negative emotions towards another. Here, all the same satellites are also usually used - adverbs always, constantly:

· You are always grumbling! - You always grumble!
She is constantly complaining! She's always complaining!

Verbs not used in Continuous

English, like, perhaps, any other, has its own strict laws. If we are talking about Present Continuous Active, then it is extremely important to remember that not all verbs can form the Present Participle form and be used to indicate the process. Below are the categories of verbs that are not used in Continuous and cannot form the –ing or so-called form:

verbs of sensory perception (see, hear, smell, etc.);
verbs, the essence of which is to express desire and intention (wish, intend, want, etc.);
Verbs illustrating mental activity (think, suppose, believe, etc.);
verbs showing feelings and emotions (love, hate, like, etc.);
verbs that display abstract relationships (have, belong, possess, etc.).

But even in these cases there are exceptions: for example, the verb of sensory perception to see in its direct meaning to see does not have the right to stand in Continuous. But, acting, for example, as phrasal verb(to see off - to see off) or being part of some construction (to see the sights of - to see the sights), has every right to form the form -ing. This means that all verbs that are not used in Continuous, one way or another can be used in a long time, and such situations with them are formed and sound quite natural:

· I'm thinking of tomorrow's meeting - I'm thinking about tomorrow's meeting
What are you doing? - I am having breakfast - What are you doing? I eat breakfast

Thus, even such a relatively simple time has many nuances that must be taken into account. Present Continuous has simple usage rules, but each of them has its own peculiarity, having understood which it will be much easier to use this time in speech.

Present Continuous - the present continuous tense of the English language, denotes
action taking place at the moment; action, which is a continuous process taking place at the moment of speech; future planned action. When we talk about such an event, we usually use the words now(now), at the moment(Currently), currently, currently(currently), etc. The action is incomplete.

affirmative form

affirmative form present tense is formed from auxiliary verb "to be" in the corresponding person of the present tense ( am, is, are) and a semantic verb in the ing form ( V-ing) that follow the subject.

I am watching TV now
I am watching TV now

I am(= I "m) eat ing. -
I eat.

She is reading at the moment
She is currently reading

Is not reading a book. -
He is reading a book (now).

We are working now
We are working now.

We/you/they are(=we"re/you"re/they"re) sing ing. -
We/you(you)/they sing.

The water is boiling. Can you turn it off? -
The water is boiling at the moment. Turn it off.

Currently I am working on a very exciting project. -
Currently I am working on a very interesting project.

We can't come right now because we are watching TV. -
We can't come right now because we watch TV.

Interrogative form

To ask a question in the present continuous tense, you need to put the verb "to be" before subject, semantic verb in the form " -ing"should behind the subject.

Am I reading now? -
I'm reading now?

Is he reading a new book? -
He reads new book?

Are we waiting for a bus? -
Are we waiting for the bus?

Are we playing basketball? -
Are we playing basketball now?

Are children enjoying the party? -
Children enjoy the holiday?

Is she speaking to her mother? -
Is she talking to her mother?

Is Mary sleeping?
Yes, she is. (She's sleeppin.)
No, she is not. (No, she is not sleeping)
No, she's not. (She's not sleeping)
No, she isn't (She isn't sleeping)

Special questions in Present Continuous

Where is Mary sleeping?
On the sofa (She's sleeping on the sofa)

Why are you watching TV?
Because I like this program. (I'm watching TV because I like this program)

Negative form

The negative form is formed by stating the negation " not" after the auxiliary verb.

They are not playing football now.
They don't play football now.

They are very busy.
They are very busy.

Compare with present indefinite:

They don "t play football at all. - They don't play football at all.

Interrogative-negative form

In the interrogative-negative form, the particle not is placed directly after the subject or before the subject, forming an abbreviated form of the auxiliary verb and particle:

Am I not working?
Is he not working? (Isn't he working?)
Are we not working? (Aren't we working?)

+ She is standing.
- She is not standing.
? Is she standing?
Yes, she is. No, she is not. (No, she isn't.)

affirmative form		Interrogative form			negative form
... + am/is/are + IV		Am/Is/Are ... + IV ?			... am/is/are not + IV
I am (=I "m) playing. I play. (now)		Am I playing? Am I playing?			I am not (=I "m not) playing. I do not play.
He She It	is playing =(..."s playing)	Is	he she it	play ing?	He She It	is not playing =(isn't playing)
We You They	are playing =(..."re playing)	Are	we you they	play ing?	We You They	are not playing =(aren't playing)

Present Continuous to express actions taking place at the moment of speech

- What are you writing? - I am writing a letter to a friend of mine.
- What are you (now) writing? I am writing (now) a letter to my friend.

They are not working. They are on their holidays. - They don't work (now). They are on vacation.

If at the moment the fact of action is more important for the speaker than the process, then Present Indefinite is used, not Present Continuous:

Why don't you answer? - Why don't you answer?

Stop talking! Why don't you listen? - Stop talking! Why don't you listen?

If two simultaneous processes occur at the moment of speech, then all three options for transferring these actions are possible: both in Indefinite, one in Indefinite - the other in Continuous, both in Continuous:

Do you hear what he says? = Do you hear what he's saying? = Are you listening to what he's saying?
Do you hear (listen) what he says

Temporal markers Present Continuous

English verbs in Present Continuous used c
temporary markers:
still- still,
now- now,
at present- currently,
at the moment- Currently,
meanwhile- Meanwhile,
while- bye

Moreover, the presence of words denoting the moment of speech: now, at this moment etc. is possible, but not at all necessary.

I am sitting at my table and writing. -
I sit at the table and write. (now)

The bus is coming. -
The bus is coming.

It is raining. -
It's raining. (Currently)

mary, what are are you doing? -
Mary, what are you (now) doing?

You are not listening to me. -
You don't listen to me.

Verbs that are not used in Continuous:

(verbs of senses)
feel - feel
hear - to hear
notice - notice
see - see,
smell - to smell,
sound - sound,
taste - try.

I hear a siren. Do you here it too

(verbs of need and need) needs and wants:
need - need,
wish - wish,
want - want.

I want an apple

(tastes and dislikes) likes and dislikes:
dislike - not to love,
hate - hate,
like - like,
love - to love,
prefer - prefer.

(knowledge)
forget - forget
know - to know
realize - realize
understand - understand.

The Present Continuous Present Continuous is formed using the verb to be and the -ing form of the verb

To express a long action taking place in the present time period, although not necessarily at the moment of speech, for example:

I am learning to drive. -
I am learning to drive. (currently)

He is studying at school. -
He goes to school. (currently)

My husband is working on an invention. -
My husband is (currently) working on an invention.

Is not writing a new play. -
He is writing a new play. (not right now, but in this period of life)

That firm is carrying on negotiations for the purchase of ore. -
This firm is negotiating the purchase of ore.

to express future action

The Present Continuous is also used to express future action:

To express a planned future action (the actor expresses both the intention to perform the action and the confidence in its commission, since there is an agreement, plan, tickets, etc.), especially with verbs denoting movement or action. In this case, the circumstances of time are almost always used. This form is typical of the colloquial style, while Present Indefinite is typical of the formal style.

Such constructions often contain words today, this week and even tomorrow

We are leaving tomorrow at 6.

I "m going to visit my aunt this evening -
I decided to go to my uncle's tonight.

1) To express a planned future action (the actor expresses both the intention to perform the action and the confidence in its commission, since there is an agreement, plan, tickets, etc.), especially with verbs denoting movement or action. In this case, the circumstances of time are almost always used. This form is typical of the colloquial style, while Present Indefinite is typical of the formal style.

I'm leaving tomorrow. -
I leave tomorrow.

We're flying to Paris in the morning. -
We're leaving for Paris in the morning.

We are dining out on Saturday. -
We have lunch at a party on Saturday.

He is taking his examination on Friday. -
He is taking his exam on Friday.

2 To express the future action in adverbial clauses of the condition and time of the conditions introduced by the conjunctions (if if, in case in case, etc.) or time (before before, until (till) until ... not, while in while, while, when, etc.), for example:

If I am sleeping when he comes, wake me up, please. -
If I am sleeping when he comes, please wake me up.

cuts in colloquial speech:

In colloquial speech, abbreviations are used:

I am \u003d I "m
He (she, it) is \u003d He "s (she" s, it "s)
We (you, they) are = we "re (you" re, they "re)
am not="m not
is not= isn't="s not
are not=aren"t="re not

He's working.
He isn't working. = He's not working.
Aren't they working?

Long time. Forms sentences with the help of the auxiliary verb to be (translated in English as "to be") in the form of the present tense and the fourth form of the main semantic verb (with the suffix -ing, characteristic of a long time).

Consider the use of the present continuouse. Suggestion examples:

You are having dinner. - You're having dinner (right now).

I am waiting for you. - I'm waiting for you.

They are traveling in the west. - They travel in the west.

She is writing a letter right. She is writing a letter right now.

We are speaking English now. - We speak English now.

They are reading this boring book now. They are reading this boring book now.

For reference:

• in colloquial English, the word "dinner" means dinner, and "supper" is a late dinner in a homely family environment.

Formation of question and negation

When forming an interrogative sentence in the present continuous tense, the words in it change places. As in any other cases of English.

The verb to be moves to the first place - before the subject (pronoun, noun or proper name) in sentences with the present continuous. Suggestion examples:

Is she reading this boring book now? - Is she reading this boring book now?

Are we speaking English right now? - Are we speaking English right now?

Is she writing the letter now? Is she writing this letter right now?

When forming a negative sentence between the form of the auxiliary and the semantic verb, not is added together with the semantic verb in the present continuous. Suggestion examples:

He is not writing. - He is not writing.

I am not speaking. - I do not speak.

We are not waiting. - We're not waiting.

They are not studying. - They don't study.

She is not asking. She doesn't ask.

However, such full forms of negation are rarely used. AT spoken language abbreviations are used: isn "t in the singular or aren" t in the plural.

Important rules for using this tense

Using the present continuous. Usage rules:

1. Used specified time for expression specific action happening at the present moment or period, that is, right now. This is precisely what temporary additions to sentences indicate:

now - now;

at the moment - at this (this) moment.

But these words are not always present in the sentence. They can only be implied.

He is reading his diploma. - He is reading his diploma (that is, right now).

2. It is usually not used with verbs denoting the state of an object, and not its action:

to want - want;

to feel - feel;

to love - to love;

to think - to think;

to like - like, love;

to be - to be;

to live - live;

to hate - hate;

to stay - stay;

to hear - to hear;

to remember - remember;

to see - to see some other English verbs.

But sometimes specified verbs states are still used to emphasize a temporary state in the present continuous. Suggestion examples:

I know I am being a baby but I can "t help it. - I know that I'm like a child, but I can't help it (that is, I'm acting like a child just now).

She is wanting to stay at this house and I can "t help it. - She wants to stay in this house and I can't help it (that is, she just wants to stay now).

3. When a sentence conveys the intention to perform an action, the present continuous is sometimes used to indicate the future tense. Suggestion examples:

We are going to the cinema tonight. We are going to go to the cinema tonight.

She is leaving by seven-o "clock train. - She is leaving by the seven-o'clock train.

Present Perfect Continuous Forms

Or, as it is also called, progressive in English are a kind of derivative from the present continuous tense.

You can get it with the help of the verb to be (to be) in the form of the present perfect tense (have been or has been in the 3rd person singular) and the auxiliary verb in the continuous tense (with the ending -ing).

Present perfect continuous - examples of sentences:

1) Used to denote an action that began in the past at a certain point in time, continued for some time and continues at the present moment:

I have been walking since 8 o "clock in the morning. - I have been walking since 8 in the morning.

He has been living in Moscow for six years. - He has been living in Moscow for six years.

2) Ordinary and constantly occurring action with an indication of the time period for the continuation of the action. At the same time, if it is not indicated how long (time period) the action lasts, then the present continuous tense is used.

It has been raining for three days. - It has been raining for two days.

It has been raining. - It's raining.

He has been studying English for seven years. - He has been studying English for seven years.

He is studying English. - He is studying English (that is, right now).

3) Constructions of the present perfect continuous tense are also used to indicate the duration of the action. At the same time, if the fact of the perfection of the action is indicated, then another tense is used - the present perfect.

I have been living here since 1956. - I have been living here since 1956 (that is, my residence here has continued all this time).

I have lived here since 1956. - I have been living here since 1956 (that is, the episode of the action that has already happened is emphasized).

4) The present perfect continuous, like the present continuous, is not used with English verbs, denoting the state of the object, and not its action. That is, the verbs - to love - to love, to feel - to feel and others like them, indicated above (present continuous rules).

5) This time is also used in interrogative sentences to indicate the period that precedes the moment of speech (a given moment in time). In this case, the use of appropriate interrogative words and constructions is typical - how long - how much time, how long; since when - from what time, since when.

How long have they been living here? - How long (how long) do they live here?

Since when has she been sitting there? - Since when (since what time) has she been sitting there?

Present continuous passive

The passive form of the present continuous tense shows the action in its development, that is, how it continues. This construction is formed as follows:

• verb to be (am, is, are) + being (that is, an indication of continuous time) + the second form of the semantic verb.

Let's consider the present continuous passive, sample sentences:

New railway stations are being built. - New railway stations are being built (that is, they are being built right now).

Delicious supper is being cooked. - A delicious dinner is being prepared now.

If the present tense in such a voice changes to the past, then in sentences, since there is no indication of the time frame, only the form of the verb to be changes. It is put in the past tense was - in the singular and were - in the plural.