Present and past continuous tense

Present and past continuous tense

Present continuous tense is formed

• present tense of 'to be' with the present participle

• am/is/are + verb + ing

• John is speaking

To express a temporary action that is happening now

• The students are studying for a test at the moment.

• Carol is interviewing the applicant now.

• I am having lunch.

To express a temporary situation

• Carla is exploring the countries of South America.

• They are studying in China.

to express regular action around a point of time.

• Usually, they are selecting the new cohort in June.

• The students are usually eating lunch at twelve.

to express future arrangement

• I am meeting the train at 2 pm tomorrow.

• Cassandra and Timothy are marrying in June.

The past continuous tense

Past continuous tense is formed

• past tense of the verb 'to be' with the present participle

• was/were + verb + ing

• Paul was hurrying to meet his parents

to express an action in progress for a period of time

• The explorers were sailing for five months.

• Kevin was studying for five years in Cuba.

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to express interrupted action

• They were addressing the students when the fight started.

• The campers were hiking when they heard a bear.

to express simultaneous action

• The dog was growling while the cat was playing with a mouse.

• The students were reading while the teacher was marking papers.

to make a polite request

• I was wondering whether you could help me with the dishes.

• I was wondering whether you could do my homework.

Multiple Choice

In 1947, the crew were training in Portsmouth.

This shows ___

• polite request

• action in progress for a period

• interrupted action

• simultaneous action

Multiple Choice

While she was baking a cake, her son was doing his homework.

This shows _____

• simultaneous action

• action in progress for a period of time

• interrupted action

• polite request

Multiple Choice

If you wanted extra money to buy a new game cartridge you would say _________

• May I have some extra money?

• Can you give me some more money?

• I was wondering whether I could get some more money.