Present Continuous

Present Continuous

We use the present continuous for:

• Actions happening while we are speaking. Ex! Hurry up! The taxi is waiting!

• Planned future action or temporary situations. Ex! Jim is taking his dog to the vet today. Joe isn't working at home this week.

• To criticise another person's actions. Ex! Kate is always calling me late at night! I'm getting really fed up with it.

We use the present continuous for:

• To talk about things that are changing as we speak. Ex! Harry's been really ill but he's getting better now. Prices are going up again.

• To describe what is happening in pictures or photos. Ex! In the photo on page 81, the scientists are tasting food. The woman in the middle is holding a cup.

• 
  

SIGNAL WORDS

• Actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now):  at the moment now / just now / right now Listen! Look!

• Arrangements for the near future: in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening at noon / tonight tomorrow next ...

• Actions taking place only for a limited period of time: this week / this month / this year

• Development, changing situations: more and more

We can't use this tense (or any other continuous tense) with stative verbs.

Multiple Choice

Look! Andy ______ in the garden.

• am working

• are working

• is working

Multiple Choice

I ___________ TV at the moment.

• am watching

• are watching

• is watching

Multiple Choice

We _________ a book.

• am reading

• are reading

• is reading

Multiple Choice

She _________ the piano.

• am playing

• are playing

• is playing

Multiple Choice

Listen! Sue and John ___________ .

• am singing

• are singing

• is singing

Multiple Choice

My dog Charlie _________ to the park.

• is runing

• is running

• are running

Multiple Choice

His brother ________ a test at the moment.

• is writeing

• is writing

• are writing

Multiple Choice

Which is a signal word for the present continuous?

• often

• now

• sometimes

Multiple Choice

Which is not a signal word for the present continuous?

• always

• Look!

• at the moment