Unit 22: Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Tense

In this lesson of learning English as a Second Language, we shall learn Present Continuous Tense:

 

Video Tutorial in English

Video Tutorial in Urdu

 

Usage of Present Continuous Tense:

Before beginning to explain Present Continuous Tense, I would like to tell you that every tense does not have only one usage, it has more than one. In the same way, Present Continuous Tense also has different uses. In this unit we will be looking at the basic use of  Present Continuous Tense. The rest of the uses shall be explained in future lessons.

Present Continuous Tense is the purest form of PRESENT Time. I mean to say that what ever is happening right now is the purest form of Present time. Why I say that. is  1 minute ago is Past , 2 minutes ago is also Past , 3 minutes ago, 1 hour ago , 2 days ago or 2 years ago , all are Past even a minute which passes becomes Past.

In the same way, after 1 minute, after 2 minutes , after 10 minutes, after an hour, after 3 day, after 10 months , all are Future.

So, what is left? Of course the Purest form of Present which is  happening right now. Whatever is going on right now is Present Continuous.

A very good  example right now can be:

You are reading my Article and you are learning Present Continuous Tense ( The actions READ and LEARN are going on at the time of speaking)

But , be careful that is not all .This is only one use of Present Continuous Tense as I told you earlier that there are other uses of Present Continuous Tense too. But today are just learning that use of Present Continuous Tense which shows actions happening at the time of speaking

More Examples:

A: Where is Aslam?

B: He's in his room.

A: What's he doing?

B: He's cleaning his room.  (The action clean is going on at the time of speaking)

So, always remember if you want to show whatever is happening at the time of speaking , use Present Continuous Tense.

One more important thing, you must know the usage of any tense to use it. Students pay more attention to Structure of a Tense rather than usage and that is why they always face difficulties in speaking and communication. Always remember that USAGE OF A TENSE  is PRIMARY and STRUCTURE OF A TENSE  is SECONDARY.

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Structure of Present Continuous Tense

Now, we will look at the secondary level of Present Continuous Tense which is the Structure of Present Continuous Tense

    Affirmative

S     +    is, am, are    +    First form of a Verb   +  ing  +  Object

Negative

S    + is, am ,are     +    not    +    First form of a Verb   +  ing   +  Object

Interrogative

  is, am, are    +     S          +    First form of a Verb   +  ing   +  Object  ?

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Spelling Rules for Continuous Verbs

                                    End of a Verb        --------->               ING Form

Rule 1:     A consonant + e                                      Drop the  e and add ing

                                        write                                          writing

                                         hide                                          hiding

Rule 2:     One Vowel + One Consonant               Double the  consonant and add ing

                                         sit                                             sitting   

                                         run                                            running

Rule 3:    Two Vowels   + One Consonant            Add ing ; Do not double the consonant

                                        sleep                                          sleeping

                                        read                                            reading

Rule 4:     Two Consonants                                   Add ing; Do not double the consonants

                                       teach                                           teaching

                                       pull                                              pulling

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Non Progressive or Non Continuous Verbs

 

want	hear	understand
need	see	know
like	smell	believe
love	taste	hate
		think (believe)

Some verbs are not used in Present Continuous Tense. They are called "non action verbs"

For example:

I'm thirsty right now. I want an apple.      Incorrect: I am wanting an apple

I hear a voice. Do you hear it too?          Incorrect: I'm hearing a voice. Are you hearing it too

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Short Replies in Present Continuous Tense

Usually in spoken English , people use short replies to answer any question which requires Yes/ No .

For example:

A: Are you going to school?

B: Yes, I am . (short reply)    complete reply (Yes , I am going to school)

A list of Short Replies in Present Continuous Tense:

Yes , I am         or             No, I'm not

Yes , you are    or             No, You're not.

Yes, we are       or             No, We're not.

Yes, she is         or             No , she's not   

Yes, he is          or             No, he's not.

Yes, it is            or             No, it's not.

Yes, they are     or             No, they're not

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Present Continuous Exercise 1:

Write the ing  forms for the following words:

1. stand		21.dream
2. smile		22.come
3. run		23.look
4. rain		24. take
5. sleep		25. bite
6. stop		26. shine
7. write		27. win
8. eat		28. join
9. count		29. sign
10 wear		30. fly
11. ride		31. hit
12. cut		32. hurt
13. dance		33. clap
14. put		34. keep
15. sneeze		35. camp
16. plan		36. pay
17. snow		37. study
18. fix		38. get
19. say		39. wait
20. cry		40. write

Check Answers

 

1. standing
2. smiling
3. running
4. raining
5. sleeping
6. stopping
7. writing
8. eating
9. counting
10. wearing
11. riding
12. cutting
13. dance
14. putting
15. sneezing
16. planning
17. snowing
18. fixing
19. saying
20. crying
21. dreaming
22. coming
23. looking
24. taking
25. biting
26. shining
27. winning
28. joining
29. signing
30. flying
31. hitting
32. hurting
33. clapping
34. keeping
35. camping
36. paying
37. studying
38. getting
39. waiting
40. writing

 

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Present Continuous Oral Exercise 1:

In this exercise I will ask you to do a few actions and you will practically do those actions. Then I will ask you what are you doing? Your reply will be a complete answer.

For example:

I : touch your nose.

I : What are you doing?

You: I am touching my nose.

I hope it is clear how to do this exercise it is very interactive exercise to clear the usage of Present Continuous Tense. To begin  press Play

 

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Present Continuous Tense Exercise 2:

Make questions  and  Give short answers to Yes/No questions.

1. A: What  are you writing?

          B: A letter. (I'm writing an essay)

    2.    A: Is Ali reading a story?

           B: No, he isn't / he is not.       (Ali isn't reading  a story)

    3.    A:   

           B:     Yes, (Anna is eating lunch)

    4.    A:   Where 

           B:    At the Red Bird Cafe.    (She's eating lunch at the Red Bird Cafe)

    5.    A:   

           B:     No, (Mike isn't drinking a cup of coffee)

    6.    A:   What 

           B:     A cup of tea. ( He's drinking a cup of tea)

    7.     A:   

            B:   No,  (The girls aren't playing in the street)

    8.     A:   Where 

            B:    In the park.  (They are playing in the park)

    9.     A:   

            B:     Because they don't have school today.  (They are playing in the park because they don't have school today.)

    10.    A:    Hi, kids

             B:    No,  (We aren't drawing pictures with our crayons)

             A:     Oh? Then what 

             B:     Maps to our secret place in  the woods.  (We're drawing maps to our secret place in the woods.)

             A:     Why 

             B:     Because we have a buried treasure at our secret place in the woods.  (We're drawing maps because we have a buried treasure at our secret place in the woods.

Check Answers

1. A: What are you writing?
2. A: Is Ali reading a story?                 B: No, he's not.
3. A: Is Anna eating lunch?                  B: Yes, she is.
4. A:  is she eating lunch?
5. A: Is Mike drinking a cup of coffee?    B: No, he isn't.
6. A: is he drinking?
7. A: Are the girls playing in the street?    B: No, they aren't.
8. A:  are they playing?
9. A:  Why are they playing in the park?  
10. A: Are you drawing pictures with your crayons?    B: No, we aren't.
11. A: are you drawing?
12. A: are you drawing maps?

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Present Continuous Tense Exercise 3:

Make questions with where, why and what.

1.    A:    What are you writing?

       B:     A letter.     (I'm writing a letter)

2.     A:    

        B:    Because I'm happy.     (I'm smiling  because I'm happy)

3.     A:   

        B:     My grammar book.     (I'm reading my grammar book)

4.     A:    

        B:    Because I'm doing an exercise.     (I'm reading my grammar book because I'm doing  an exercise)    

5.    A:    

       B:    In the back of the room.     (Aslam is sitting in the back of the room)

6.    A:   

       B:    The drugstore.        (I'm going to the drugstore)

7.    A:   

       B:    Because she needs to buy some tablets.        (She is going to the drugstore because she needs to buy some tablets)

8.    A:   

       B:    Blue jeans and a T-shirt.      (Ali is wearing  blue jeans and a T-shirt)

Check Answers

1. What are you writing?
2. Why are you smiling?
3. What are you reading?
4. Why are you reading your grammar book?
5. Where is Aslam?
6. Where are you going?
7. Why is she going to the drugstore?
8. What is Ali wearing?