PRESENT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

The present continuous is used to describe actions that are performed in the same moment that you speak.

AFIRMATIVE FORM  

Structure

Subject + auxiliary verb ("to be") + gerund ("-ing").                                                       

I am studying English                            I´m studying English
You are studying English                       You´re studying English

He is studying English                           He´s studying English

She is studying English                         She´s studying English

We are studying English                       We´re studying English

You are studying English                      You´re studying English
They are studying English                    They´re studying English

NEGATIVE FORM

Structure

Subject + auxiliary verb ("to be") + negative auxiliary ("not") + gerund ("-ing")

I am not studying English	I´m not studying English
You are not studying English	You´re not studying English / You aren´t studying English
He is not studying English	He´s not studying English /  He isn´t studying English
She is not studying English	She´s not studying English /  She isn´t studying English
We are not studying English	We´re not studying English /  We aren´t studying English
You are not studying English	You´re not studying English /  You aren´t studying English
They are not studying English	They´re not studying English /  They aren´t studying English

                                   

INTERROGATIVE FORM	SHORT ANSWERS
Am I studying English? Are you studying English? Is he studying English? Is she studying English? Are we studying English? Are you studying English? Are they studying English?	Yes, I am / No, I´m not Yes, you are / No, you aren´t Yes, he is / No, he isn´t Yes, she is / No, she isn´t Yes, we are / No, we aren´t Yes, you are / No, you aren´t Yes, they are / No, they aren´t

Structure

Auxiliary verb ("to be") + subject + gerund ("-ing")?

ORTOGRÁPHICS RULES

By adding-ing to the verb we have to consider the following spelling rules:

1. If the verb ends in -e, lose the -e when adding -ing

    have > having          write > writing          come > coming

2. If the verb is monosyllabic and ends in a vowel + consonant, add-ing to double the final consonant.

     stop > stopping          run > running          swim > swimming          sit > sitting

USES

1. To discuss actions that are happening at the time of speaking (now).

    I am listening to music now.
   She is listening to music now.

2. To discuss actions that are happening in the present, but not necessarily at the time of speaking.

    We are reading a novel

    My brother is studying Spanish

3. To discuss future plans.

    I am going to the cinema this weekend

    We are visiting our gransparents next Saturday

Time expressions commonly used with the Present Continuous

now-ahora

right now-ahora mismo

at the moment-en este momento

today-hoy