Present Continuous

Present Continuous

Basic

1) We use the Present Continuous for actions in progress and to talk about being in the middle of the action.

 a) Hi. I’m calling to let you know I’m coming, but it’s snowing and the traffic is moving slowly.

b) Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying to work.

c) Where’s Mark? He’s having a shower.

d) Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more.

e) Hello, Jane! Are you enjoying the party?

f) What’s all that noise? What’s going on?

g) Rachel isn’t wearing her new dress.

h) I’m getting the lunch ready.

Intermediate

2) We use the Present Continuous  when we are in the middle of smth but not actually doing it at the moment of speaking and consider it’s temporary.

a) I must get back to the office. We’re working on a new project.

b) I’m quite busy these days. I’m doing a course at college.

c) Kate wants to work in Italy , so she’s learning Italian.

d) Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope to finish it soon.

e) My sister Fiona is living with Alan just now. She isn’t working yet. She’s looking for a job.

3) We use the Present Continuous when we talk about changes happing around now, especially with these verbs: get, change, become, increase, rise, fall, grow, improve, begin, start

a) Is your English getting better?

b) The population of the world is increasing very fast.

c) At first I didn’t like my job, but I’m beginning to enjoy it now.

4)  We can use the Present Continuous with today, this week, this year (periods around now)

a) You are working hard today

b) the company I work for isn’t doing so well this year.

5) We use the Present Continuous with be to say that somebody is behaving unlike his usual manner

a) Andrew is being very sociable today.

b) You are being an idiot this morning.

c) Wendy is being wild tonight.

Advanced

6) We use the Present Continuous with adverbs such as always, constantly, continually, forever to emphasize that smth is done so often that is characteristic of a person, group or thing.

a) You are constantly changing your mind.

b) Tony is a kind person. He’s always offering to help me with my work.

c) You are always watching television. You should do smth more active.

d) Tim is never satisfied. He’s always complaining.

7)  We can use the Present Continuous with some verbs describing mental states (find realize, regret, think, understand) to emphasize that we have recently started to think about smth or that we are not sure about smth.

a) I’m regretting my decision to give her the job (=I am increasingly aware that it was the wrong decision)

8) We can use the Present Continuous with some performatives (apologize, deny, guarantee, promise, suggest) in negative sentences.

I’m not denying taking the books, but Andy said it would be okay.

9) We can use the Present Continuous with the verb wonder if we want to be especially friendly or polite

I’m just wondering whether toy counted all the books in the boxes?

10) We can use the Present Continuous to describe smth we regularly do at a certain time

At 8 o’clock I’m usually driving to work, so phone me on my mobile