GRAMMAR: PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Present continuous: talking about actions in progress

To understand the present continuous well, you need to understand the verb to be

What do we use the present continuous for?

We use the present continuous to talk about actions in progress now

I am writing a new article for the Guardian right now

I am currently staying at my girlfriend´s flat

I am currently doing a German course on Upverb.com

I am working in a bank at the moment

We use the present continuous to talk about temporary situations

My parents are saving for a new holiday home

I am living in Madrid at the moment

Hint: it is very different to say

I live in London = I intend to stay in London

I am living in London = It is only for a short time

We use the present continuous to talk about annoying or irritating situations

You are always arriving late to work!

You are always complaining!

We use the situations to talk about amusing situations

You are always telling the funniest stories

You are forever kidding around

Warning: actually does not mean now, it means in fact/reality

We use the word CURRENTLY to say now/right now

Warning: we do not use the phrase, in this moment

Now = at the moment

We do not usually use the present continuous for stative verbs: these are not actions

For example, it would be strange to say:

I am liking playing tennis. We would simply say, I like playing tennis.

I am wanting to buy a new car. We would say, I want to buy a new car.

Form: how to make your own sentences

+ I am working at a language school at the moment

– I am not listening to music at the moment

? Are you doing your homework right now?

Practice questions:

PRACTICE SPEAKING IN OUR ENGLISH COURSES