Mastering the Present Continuous Tense: A Descriptive Guide and Practice
Mastering English grammar can be daunting, especially when it comes to understanding and using tenses correctly. With several tenses to choose from, it’s crucial to have a firm grasp on each one to effectively communicate in English. One important tense that often confuses English learners is the present continuous tense. In this article, we will delve into a descriptive guide to mastering the present continuous tense and provide practical exercises to help you hone your skills.
The Use and Meaning of Present Continuous Tense
The present continuous tense, also known as the present progressive tense, is used to describe actions that are happening at the time of speaking. It’s crucial to remember that this tense is used for temporary actions, ongoing situations, or actions that are happening right now. Present Continuous is used when we talk about something that is happening at the time of speaking. Look at the following sample of Present Continuous in use!
- “Where is Sue?” “She’s having lunch.” (We do not say “She has lunch.”
- “Please don’t make too much noise. The baby is sleeping.” (We do not say, “The baby sleeps.”)
The Present Continuous is also used to talk about changing situations. Let’s see the following examples!
- The price of gasoline is rising very fast.
- The earth is really getting hotter and hotter.
Present Continuous for Future Arrangements
People often use the present continuous tense to talk about future arrangements. See the examples below:
- I’m meeting her this evening.
- Are you doing anything this evening?
Present Continuous Form
To form the present continuous tense, you need a helping verb (to be) in the present tense followed by the present participle of the main verb, which is formed by adding “-ing” to the base verb.
Subject + to be (is, am, are) + verb+ing
Let’s explore some examples to further understand the use of the present continuous tense:
Examples of the Present Continuous Tense
- I am studying for my exams. In this sentence, the speaker is emphasizing that they are currently engaged in the activity of studying for their exams. The verb “studying” is in the present continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action happening in the present.
- She is cooking dinner. Here, the speaker is highlighting that the person referred to as “she” is actively cooking dinner at the moment. The verb “cooking” is in the present continuous tense.
- They are watching a movie. The individuals mentioned are currently engaged in the activity of watching a movie. The verb “watching” in this sentence is in the present continuous tense, emphasizing an ongoing action.
More Examples of the Present Continuous Tense
- He is running in the park right now.
- We are studying for our upcoming exams.
- The dog is barking loudly outside.
- They are working on a new project.
- I am reading an interesting book.
- She is playing the piano at the moment.
- The children are doing their homework now.
- He is repairing his bicycle in the garage.
- Look, they are watching TV.
- Listen! Somebody’s knocking at the door.
Stative Verbs in the Present Continuous Tense
Some English verbs have a stative meaning. They generally describe states. They are not used in the Present Continuous Tense. See the following examples:
- This soup tastes good. (We can not say, “This soup is tasting good.”)
- She knows me well. (We can not say, “She is knowing me well.”)
Stative Verb Examples
See the following stative verbs you may need.
Stative Verbs
taste
smell
hear
feel
see
possess
have
own
belong
believe
know
realize
understand
need
exist
owe
seem
consist of
contain
dislike
envy
hate
like
love
Present Continuous Exercises
Exercise I
In this exercise, we are going to practice changing the verb into the correct form. Let’s see the examples first!
- Please don’t make too much noise. They (pray). Please don’t make too much noise. They are praying.
- Don’t go out. It still (rain). Don’t go out. It’s still raining now.
- Listen! The people next door (fight).
- Why (you/wear) your jacket? It’s not cold here.
- Look. It (rain).
- Excuse me. I (look) for an Internet Hot Spot, please?
- Linda (get) more and more beautiful each day.
- The number of poor people (rise) at the moment.
- Food (get) more and more expensive these days.
- What you (do) alone here?
- Please be careful. The dog (approach) you.
- The boy is already tall and he (get) taller and taller.
Exercise II
Put the verb into the correct Present Continuous form.
Examples :
Please don’t make so much noise. I am studying. (study)
Let’s go out now. It isn’t running (not/rain) any more.
- Please be quiet. I ………….(try) to concentrate.
- Look! It …………………….…(rain).
- Why …………….(you/look) at me like that? Have I said something wrong?
- You…………………….(make) a lot of noise. Be quiet, please!
- Excuse me I ……………..(look) for a toilet. Is there one near here?
- (in the cinema) It’s a good film, isn’t? ………….(you/enjoy) it?
- Listen! Can you hear those people next door? They …….(shout) at each other again.
- Why …………..(you/wear) your jacket today? It’s very warm.
- I …………..(not/work) this week. I’m on holiday.
- I want to lose weight. I …..(not/eat) anything today.
Exercise III
Complete these sentences using the verb in the box.
get become change rise improve get increase
Example :
The population of the world is rising very fast.
- The number of people without jobs …………………at the moment.
- He is still ill but he ………better slowly.
- These days food ………… more and more expensive.
- The world ……….. Things never stay the same.
- The cost of living ……each year. Things are getting higher and higher.
- Ringo has gone to work in Spain. When he arrived, his Spanish wasn’t very good but now it ………
- The economic situation is already very bad and it……………… worse.
Answer
Exercise I
- Listen! The people next door are fighting.
- Why are you wearing your jacket? It’s not cold here.
- Look. It is raining.
- Excuse me. I am looking for an Internet Hot Spot, please?
- Linda is getting more and more beautiful each day.
- The number of poor people is rising at the moment.
- Food is getting more and more expensive these days.
- What are you doing alone here?
- Please be careful. The dog is approaching you.
- The boy is already tall, and he is getting taller and taller.
Exercise II
- Please be quiet. I am trying to concentrate.
- Look! It is raining.
- Why are you looking at me like that? Have I said something wrong?
- You are making a lot of noise. Be quiet, please!
- Excuse me. I am looking for a toilet. Is there one near here?
- (in the cinema) It’s a good film, isn’t it? Are you enjoying it?
- Listen! Can you hear those people next door? They are shouting at each other again.
- Why are you wearing your jacket today? It’s very warm.
- I am not working this week. I’m on vacation.
- I want to lose weight. I am not eating anything today.
Exercise III
- The number of people without jobs is increasing at the moment.
- He is still ill but he is getting better slowly.
- These days food is getting more and more expensive.
- The world is changing. Things never stay the same.
- The cost of living is rising each year. Things are getting higher and higher.
- Ringo has gone to work in Spain. When he arrived, his Spanish wasn’t very good but now it is improving.
- The economic situation is already very bad and it is becoming worse.
Download/print the exercises above here.
By going through these exercises, you develop a clearer understanding of the present continuous tense and how it differs from other tenses. Regular practice and exposure to the correct usage of tenses will help you internalize them and use them naturally in your conversations or writing.
To further enhance your understanding, try using the present continuous tense in different contexts. For example, describe what you or someone else is doing right now, discuss ongoing events, or talk about future plans using the present continuous tense.
Remember, mastering any tense takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself and keep working on improving your skills. Utilize online resources such as grammar websites, English language forums, and language exchange platforms to practice and seek feedback from others. Soon enough, the present continuous tense will become second nature to you, allowing you to communicate more effectively in English.
Now you know that the present continuous tense is a valuable tool in the English language. Understanding its usage and practicing with various exercises will tremendously enhance your command of this tense. Embrace the learning journey and keep practicing until you feel confident in your ability to use the present continuous tense accurately and effortlessly.
