PRESENT CONTINUOUS PRESENT CONTINUOUS OR PROGRESSIVEOR PROGRESSIVE

BY CAROLINA ROJAS C.BY CAROLINA ROJAS C.

ANDAND

PATRICIA NEIRA F.PATRICIA NEIRA F.

Progressive TensesProgressive Tenses

Progressive Tenses are used to Progressive Tenses are used to create a dynamic mental picture create a dynamic mental picture in the mind of the reader or in the mind of the reader or listener. listener.

Progressive tenses emphasize Progressive tenses emphasize duration continuity on duration continuity on development of an action.development of an action.

Uses of Present ProgressiveUses of Present ProgressiveMain Use:Main Use: We use the present continuous for activities We use the present continuous for activities

that are in progress (or happening) at the that are in progress (or happening) at the exact moment the speaker is talking. You exact moment the speaker is talking. You can use time expressions such as now or can use time expressions such as now or rigth now, to emphasize that an action is rigth now, to emphasize that an action is happening currently.happening currently.

Examples:Examples:Look! It’s snowingLook! It’s snowingShe’s making dinner now.She’s making dinner now.Steve can’t come to the phone right now. Steve can’t come to the phone right now.

He’s talking a bath.He’s talking a bath.

Uses of Present ProgressiveUses of Present ProgressiveOther Uses:Other Uses:We use de Present Continuous for activities that We use de Present Continuous for activities that

are in progress, but not happening at the exact are in progress, but not happening at the exact moment the speaker is talking. You can use moment the speaker is talking. You can use time expressions such as this week, or these time expressions such as this week, or these days, to show when the action is happening. days, to show when the action is happening.

Examples:Examples: I’m looking for a cheap car. Do you have any I’m looking for a cheap car. Do you have any

ideas?ideas? I’m painting my house this week. Is taking a I’m painting my house this week. Is taking a

long time?long time?

Uses of Present ProgressiveUses of Present Progressive We use Present Continuous for changing We use Present Continuous for changing

situations. They are temporary.situations. They are temporary. Examples:Examples: Luigi is living in Britain for a few months.Luigi is living in Britain for a few months. I’m working for the government during the I’m working for the government during the

summer.summer. We use Present Continuous for an action We use Present Continuous for an action

which appears to be continuous.which appears to be continuous. Example:Example: He is always working. ( he works the whole He is always working. ( he works the whole

time).time).

Forms of Present Forms of Present ProgressiveProgressive

Affirmative StatementsAffirmative Statements

SubjectSubject BEBE BASE FORM OF BASE FORM OF VERB+_INGVERB+_ING

PREDICAPREDICATETE

II AMAM

WORKINGWORKING TODAYTODAY

YOUYOU AREARE

HEHE

SHESHE

ITITISIS

WEWE AREARE

YOUYOU AREARE

THEYTHEY AREARE

Forms of Present ProgressiveForms of Present ProgressiveNegative StatementsNegative Statements

SubjectSubject BEBE NOTNOT BASE FORM OF BASE FORM OF VERB+_INGVERB+_ING

PREDICPREDICATEATE

II AMAM

NOTNOT WORKINGWORKING TODAYTODAY

YOUYOU ARAREE

HEHE

SHESHE

ITITISIS

WEWE ARAREE

YOUYOU ARAREE

THEYTHEY ARAREE

Forms of Present Forms of Present ProgressiveProgressiveYes /No QuestionsYes /No Questions

BEBE SUBJESUBJECTCT

BASE FORM OF BASE FORM OF VERB+_INGVERB+_ING

AreAre YouYou

workingworking now?now?IsIs HeHe

AreAre theythey

Forms of Present Forms of Present ProgressiveProgressive

Short AnswersShort Answers

YESYES SUBJECTSUBJECT BEBE NONO SUBJECT + SUBJECT + BE + NOTBE + NOT

Yes,Yes, II amam No,No, I’m not.I’m not.

hehe isis he isn’t.he isn’t.

theythey araree

they aren’t.they aren’t.

Forms of Present Forms of Present ProgressiveProgressive

Information QuestionsInformation Questions

WH- WH- WORDWORD

BEBE SUBJESUBJECTCT

BASE FORM OF BASE FORM OF VERB+_INGVERB+_ING

HowHow AmAm II Doing?Doing?

WhoWho AreAre YouYou Calling?Calling?

WhatWhat Studying?Studying?

WhereWhere isis HeHe Working?Working?

WhyWhy areare theythey Shouting?Shouting?

ContractionsContractions

AffirmativeAffirmative NegativeNegative

I’mI’m

workiworkingng

today.today.

I’m I’m notnot

workinworkingg

today.today.

You’reYou’re You’re You’re notnot

You You aren’taren’t

He’sHe’s He’s He’s notnot

He He isn’tisn’t

They’rThey’ree

They’rThey’re note not

They They aren’taren’t

Stative Verbs and the Stative Verbs and the Present Continuous.Present Continuous.

Many stative verbs are not generally used Many stative verbs are not generally used in the present continuous. They are usually in the present continuous. They are usually used in the simple present. Some of these used in the simple present. Some of these verbs are know, mean, own, seem and verbs are know, mean, own, seem and understand.understand.

Examples:Examples:Do you know the answer?Do you know the answer?Are you knowing the answer? INCORRECT!Are you knowing the answer? INCORRECT!What does solar system mean?What does solar system mean?What is solar system meaning? What is solar system meaning?

INCORRECT!INCORRECT!

These stative verbs describe emotional and These stative verbs describe emotional and mental states (like, hate, know), use of the mental states (like, hate, know), use of the senses ( hear, smell) or possession (own, senses ( hear, smell) or possession (own, belong). belong).

Some stative verbs can be used in the present Some stative verbs can be used in the present continuous, but they are used as action verbs continuous, but they are used as action verbs and have a different meaning from their simple and have a different meaning from their simple present meaning.present meaning.

They have a large house.They have a large house.

(they own a large house)(they own a large house)They are having a They are having a good time.good time.

(they are experiencing (they are experiencing a good time)a good time)

Mark looks very Mark looks very unhappy.unhappy.

(Mark seems unhappy)(Mark seems unhappy)

Mark is looking for his Mark is looking for his car keys.car keys.

(Mark is searching for (Mark is searching for his car keys.)his car keys.)

I think that’s a great I think that’s a great idea.idea.

(I believe that’s a great (I believe that’s a great idea)idea)

I’m thinking about I’m thinking about Lisa.Lisa.

(Lisa is in my thoughts (Lisa is in my thoughts rigth now.)rigth now.)

Adverbs and time expressions Adverbs and time expressions used with the present used with the present

progressiveprogressive Still: Still emphasize that the activity or Still: Still emphasize that the activity or

state is in progress. It often suggests state is in progress. It often suggests surprise that the activity or state has not surprise that the activity or state has not ended. Place still after be in affirmative ended. Place still after be in affirmative statements, before be in negative statements, before be in negative statements, and after the subject in statements, and after the subject in questions.questions.

Time expressions are also commonly used Time expressions are also commonly used with the present continuous. Some time with the present continuous. Some time expressions refer to an exact moment in the expressions refer to an exact moment in the present. These include now, right now, this present. These include now, right now, this month, these days, and nowadays. Time month, these days, and nowadays. Time expressions can occur at the beginning or expressions can occur at the beginning or end of a sentence.end of a sentence.

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY

Kesner, S, Pavlik, C. (2004) Grammar Kesner, S, Pavlik, C. (2004) Grammar Sense 2. Oxford University pressSense 2. Oxford University press

Hettle, M & Hopkins, D (2003) Hettle, M & Hopkins, D (2003) Developing Grammar in Context. Developing Grammar in Context. Cambridge UKCambridge UK

A.J. Thomson (2000) A Practical A.J. Thomson (2000) A Practical English Grammar. Oxford University English Grammar. Oxford University presspress

LinksLinkshttp://http://

www.englishpage.com/verbpage/preswww.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentcontinuous.htmlentcontinuous.html

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzonhttp://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/pcont.htme/330/grammar/pcont.htm

http://http://www.isabelperez.com/happy/tenses/prwww.isabelperez.com/happy/tenses/present_cont.htmesent_cont.htm

http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/sp_or_pc.htmlhttp://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/sp_or_pc.htmlhttp://www.englishspanishlink.com/grhttp://www.englishspanishlink.com/gr

am%20prescont%20now.htmam%20prescont%20now.htm