Present

Simple Present
Progressive

in general (regularly, often, never) right now

Colin plays football every Tuesday. Look! Colin

is playing
present actions happening one after another
football
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV. now.

also for
several
actions
happening
at the
same time

Colin is
playing
football
and Anne
is
watching.

arrangement for the near future

action set by a timetable or schedule
I am going to the cinema tonight.
The film starts at 8 pm.

only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen

daily routine directly at the moment of speaking)

Bob works in a restaurant. Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

 always  at the

 every ... moment

 often  at this
moment
 normally
 today
 usually
 now
 sometimes
 right now
 seldom
 Listen!
 never
 Look!
 first
 then

Present Continuous

(also called Present Progressive)

We often use the Present Continuous tense in English. It is very different

from the Present Simple tense, both in structure and in use.

How do we make the Present Continuous

tense?
The structure of the Present Continuous tense is:

subject + auxiliary be + main verb

conjugated in Present Simple

am, are, is present participle (-ing)

The auxiliary verb (be) is conjugated in the Present Simple: am, are, is

The main verb is invariable in present participle form: -ing

For negative sentences we insert not between the auxiliary verb and the main
verb.

For question sentences, we exchange the subject and the auxiliary verb.

Look at these example sentences with the Present Continuous tense:

subject auxiliary verb main verb

+ I am speaking to you.

+ You are reading this.

- She is not staying in London.

- We are not playing football.

? Is he watching TV?

? Are they waiting for John?

How do we use the Present Continuous tense?

We use the Present Continuous to talk about:

 action happening now

 action in the future

Present Continuous for action happening now

a) for action happening exactly now

 I am eating my lunch.

past present future

The action is happening

now.

Look at these images. Right now you are looking at this screen and at the
same time...

the pages are the candle is burning the numbers are spinning
turning

b) for action happening around now

The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before
and just after now, and it is not permanent or habitual.

John is looking for a new job.

past present future

The action is happening

"around" now.
Look at these examples:

 Muriel is learning to drive.

 I am living with my sister until I find an apartment.

Present Continuous for the future

We can also use the Present Continuous tense to talk about the future - if we
add a future word!! We must add (or understand from the context) a future
word. "Future words" include, for example, tomorrow, next year, in June, at
Christmas etc. We only use the Present Continuous tense to talk about the
future when we have planned to do something before we speak. We have
already made a decision and a plan before speaking.

I am taking my exam next month.

past present future

!!!

A firm plan or programme The action is in

exists now. the future.

Look at these examples:

 We're eating at Joe's Cafe tonight. We've already booked the table..
 They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working.
 When are you starting your new job?

In these examples, a firm plan or programme exists before speaking. The

decision and plan were made before speaking.

How do we spell the Present Continuous tense?

We make the Present Continuous tense by adding -ing to the base verb.
Normally it's simple: we just add -ing. But sometimes we have to change the
word a little. Perhaps we double the last letter, or we drop a letter. Here are
the rules to help you know how to spell the Present Continuous tense.
Basic Just add -ing to the base verb:
rule

work → working

play → playing

assist → assisting

see → seeing

be → being

Exception If the base verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel +

consonant, double the last letter:

s t o p

consonant stressed consonant

vowel

vowels = a, e, i, o, u

stop → stopping

run → running

begin → beginning
 Note that this exception does not apply when the last syllable
of the base verb is not stressed:

open → opening

Exception If the base verb ends in ie, change the ie to y:

lie → lying

die → dying

Exception If the base verb ends in vowel + consonant + e, omit the e:

come → coming

mistake → mistaking

Note that continuous tenses are also called progressive tenses. So the
Present Continuous tense is sometimes called the Present Progressive tense.