We use the present simple to talk about repeated actions or events, permanent states or things which are always true. Indicate an action that began in the past and continues to the present. It is raining. For example, The children are playing in the field. I'm Seonaid and I hope you like the website. The stocks are dropping constantly due to the economy. The present continuous is used for actions happening now; an action that is going on at this very moment. The present perfect continuous (also called present perfect progressive) is a verb tense which is used to show that an action started in the past and has continued up to the present moment. (Stative). And as it is in progress we can also call it progressive present tense.It means this tense refers to an action that is currently in progress and not complete. When someone uses the present continuous, they are thinking about something that is unfinished or incomplete 1. to describe an action that is going on at this moment: You are using the Internet. The present continuous tense expresses something that is happening at the moment of speaking. We also use the Present Continuous tense in the future. For example: Online shopping is growing in popularity nowadays. John's working in a bar until he finds a job in his field. I'll be home in an hour. The present continuous tense is a tense form that is mainly used to talk about actions that are in progress at the time of speaking. To use the will + be + present participle construction with a stative verb would sound very odd indeed. Present continuous or present progressive tense is used to describe the action that is taking place at the time of speaking. The present perfect is a verb tense which is used to show that an action has taken place once or many times before now. For example: Is she laughing?, Are we going?, etc. What are you doing? Present Simple . You are studyingEnglish grammar. The present continuous tense is used for actions happening now or for an action that is unfinished. Example: I am not playing the guitar. (Stative), The shopkeeper is weighing the can of oil. Hurry up! It is used to describe habits, unchanging situations, general truths, and fixed arrangements. Now, let’s look all the situations where we use the present continuous tense in English. Present continuous tense is used to describe an action that is going on at this moment. Read about how to make the present continuous tense here. ), I'm working in a school. The Present Continuous Tense is made from the present form of the verb ‘be’ and the -ing form of a verb. I've been reading. (I think this is a permanent situation. Present continuous tense, sometimes, is also used to talk about actions that are repeated frequently. We can also use the Present Continuous tense to talk about the future - if we add a future word !! Such time references can be seen in present perfect continuous tense. If I asked you to tell me what’s happening there right now, you would tell me everything using the present continuous tense. It is a fact that Alan is an English teacher, so in theory I can use Present Simple. We can also use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening around now, and not necessarily this very moment. You might not see these actions happening actively, but the state of the actions are on. I am sitting down, because I am tired. In Spanish, the present continuous tense is used to talk about something that is happening at this very moment. Present continuous: used to describe currently ongoing (usually temporary) actions “She is writing a paper for her class. People are not doing conventional jobs these days. The present continuous tense has a number of uses. The present perfect continuous usually emphasizes duration, or the amount of time that an action has been taking place. We use the present progressive to talk about temporary actions and situations that are going on ‘around now’. Apart from this, it has some other usages as well. The formation of the present continuous is based on the conjugated form of the auxiliary ‘to be’ in the present tense (which is ‘am, is’ or ‘are’) and the infinitive (base form) of the corresponding verb with ‘ … The present perfect continuous tense (also known as the present perfect progressive tense) shows that something started in the past and is continuing at the present time. Conclusion: Present Continuous tense in English is one of the most used tenses in English. Use the present perfect continuous tense to indicate an action that began in the past and is still happening in the present. It is raining. Examples: Please contact me if you have any questions or comments. Simple Tense:It is used for habitual or routine actions in the Present Tense, action which is over in the Past Tense & action to happen in the Future Tense. When there is a new trend or a change, we use the present continuous tense to talk about it. We can also use Present indefinite tense to talk about this. 1. actions happening at the moment of speaking (now, at the moment) Peter is reading a book now Download this explanation in PDF here. Try some exercises about the present continuous here. To find out more about the present simple, read and listen to the conversation below. It hasn't been snowing. To form negative sentences in the present continuous tense we add not after the verb to be and before the present participle (ING) that you want to use. She is having a bath at the moment. Affirmative Sentences. It is frequently used in conjunction with time expressions such as "right now" or "today" to indicate that an action is … More and more people are becomingvegetarian. Say: I am walking. Past Continuous tense (Active and passive voice). I am doing my homework. This is the most common use of the present continuous in English. This tense describes a continued or ongoing action at the present time. On the other hand it is a temporary situation (English classes will end sooner or later, everyone understands that). Example Helping Verb = Is / Am / Are. Examples The kids are watching TV. And present perfect also uses past participle verbs, but uses those past participle verbs to describe present actions. These actions are occurring exactly at the time of speaking. I am not learning German, because this is an English class. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and present perfect exercises. The present continuous of any verb is composed of two parts - the present tense of the verb to be: am, is, are. Online quiz to test your understanding of the Present Continuous tense in English. It is used to state an ongoing action that has started at a point in the past. Sequence of Tenses; Uses of Tenses; Present Continuous Tense. I am writing letters. Lucy's always smiling! When do we use Present Continuous? Note: some verbs can function as both stative and action verbs. You can see different meanings of the present continuous and how to use them in English. (Action), He is measuring the length of the bed. Are you seeing anyone these days? We can use present forms to talk about the past: when we are telling a story: Well, it's a lovely day and I'm just walking down the street when I see this funny guy walking towards me. The present perfect continuous is formed using the construction has/have been, and the present participle (root + -ing). He/she is interested in the process as well as the result, and this process may still be going on, or may have just finished. There are two main situations where you always need to use the present tense. Now, let’s understand the present continuous tense structures before we get into more usages of this tense. The present continuous tense cannot be used with non-continuous verbs or mixed verbs. The present continuous (sometimes also called present progressive) stands for actions and processes that are still ongoing (that have not stopped yet) in the present.These actions may take place at the time of speaking or around it … In present continuous tense, we use present participle. Present continuous tense is used to describe an event of the future which is already planned and prepared. However, to be able to use el presente continuo, you need to understand the Spanish conjugation. She's staying with her friend for a week. You can use it to describe both events that are happening in the present – right now, while you are talking about something, or in … Future Uses 5: The next use is for definite future arrangements (with a … So, it becomes vital that we know how to use the present continuous tense the right way, and what situations we use it in. When we want to talk about an action that is happening now or at this time (and is unfinished), we use the present continuous tense. I usually get up at 7 o'clock. We use it for present running action. Sam is working from last two days. The present continuous is used in several instances: Present perfect continuous tense expresses the action which is occurred in the past, and they proceed in the current situation or maybe in the future. Note that … In negative sentences, we may contract the first auxiliary verb and "not": I haven't been playing tennis. It can also be used … When we use the Present Perfect Continuous tense in speaking, we often contract the subject and the first auxiliary verb. I work in a school. Common uses. This tense is also used when the action is temporary. How to form the present continuous. For example: I am meeting my best friend tonight. Anne is writing a book about the human mind. We can't use any continuous tense (including the present continuous tense, of course) with stative verbs. We are leaving for the party in the evening. Stative verb group include emotions (to love), possessions (to belong), and thoughts (to recognize), and none of these should use the present continuous form. Jenny's been helping us recently. The present continuous can also be used to show that an action is going to take place in the near future. Present continuous tense can be used in questions as well. Present tense 1 MultipleChoice_MTYyMzQ= Present tense 2 GapFillTyping_MTYyMzU= Level: advanced. Formula Middle Of An Action. It can be employed in both the indicative and subjunctive moods.Approximately 5% of verbs in spoken English are in the present continuous form. Today, most people are using text messages instead of the phone. Start walking around the classroom. The present continuous is made from the present tense of the verb be and the –ing form of a verb: I am: working: You are: playing: He is: talking: She is: living: It is: eating: We are: staying: They are: sleeping: We use the present continuous to talk about: activities at the moment of speaking: I'm just leaving work. The present continuous is used in several instances: You're forever losing your keys! We will look at this all separately. For verbs with reduced infinitives, the gerund uses the same stem as the imperfect (which sometimes corresponds to the stem of the 1st person singular indicative present). Present Continuous for the future. For actions happening now . This section will describe one of the most common ones. Read more about the difference between the present simple and the present continuous here.). The present perfect is most frequently used to talk about experiences or changes that have taken place, but there are other less common uses as well. (I am not an expert) 3. That means we are in the middle of the process and we are continuing to work on this project. Let me tell you what’s happening right now here: All these things are happening right now as I write them for you. The present continuous is made from the present tense of the verb be and the –ing form of a verb: I am: working: You are: playing: He is: talking: She is: living: It is: eating: We are: staying: They are: sleeping: We use the present continuous to talk about: activities at the moment of speaking: I'm just leaving work. Uses of the present progressive tense To denote time around now. Basic Rule for Present Continuous Tense. + the present participle of the main verb. Jyoti is making pasta for me in the kitchen. When to use the present simple. My sister is studying BBA at SRCC college. I am working on a big project at the moment. These actions began before now and will continue after now. A common feature of these tenses is the use of a present participle known as the-ing form of a verb. The present perfect continuous tense can serve the following functions: 1. Present Perfect Continuous Tense This tense express an action that started in past and continued to present or recently stopped. Welcome! Present perfect continuous tense is used to express an action that started in the past and continued till present. Some ladies are buying something from a street vendor. Most people are leaning towards using public transportation today. A time reference is found in these kind of sentences like “since 2000”, “for 2 hours”. We use the present progressive to talk about temporary actions and situations that are going on ‘around now’. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Formula. Apart from this, it has some other usages as well. (Action), The bed measures 5 feet 3 inches long. To form the English future continuous tense, follow this simple pattern: (Subject) + Will + Be + (-ing form of the root verb) For example: I will be eating. As a general rule, though, if you would use present continuous in English, use it in Spanish as well. You cannot use present continuous tense in non-continuous … We also sometimes do this in informal writing. Read about how to make the present continuous tense here. We are all waiting for you. Stative verbs describe states of existence, like being, seeming, and knowing.) Definition. Describing facts, … Here, we talk about actions that are going on at the time of speaking. We use Present Continuous passive voice tense for that action which is going on at the same time of speaking. The present continuous tense is a grammatical tense that can be used to describe when an action happened, or may happen. Read more about the difference between the present simple and the present continuous here.) Please be quiet. In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the Present Perfect Continuous tense, as well as the use of for and since, followed by a quiz to check your understanding. (the project is incomplete) I am learning how to play the guitar. Need more practice? It is also called Present Continuous. Please call back as we are eating dinner now. We use it every day, in most of our conversations. I am writing letters. Subject +is/am/are (Helping Verb) +1 ST Verb+ Ing+ Object. The speaker is thinking about something that started but perhaps did not finish in that period of time. For example: He usually speaks in English but he is speaking in Hindi today. Another use of this tense is when talking about a planned event in the future. Present Continuous Tense. Present perfect and present continuous use “have,” a modal verb that is also common in past tenses in English. Present Continuous Tense is used to describe a continued or an on-going action of the present. The use of the Present Continuous Tense is done more than often in English. In fact, it seems that I never found it. It's used as an object and for present continuous Active Voice tense. So to explain that in a short way, we use the present continuous for: Actions happening now; Unfinished actions; Temporary actions ; Note: we also use the present continuous to talk about the future but I will explain that in a future blog article. What are you doing? Note: it does not refer to an action that’s happening right now; it refers to actions that are frequently taking place. For example: You are studying math, You are using my comb. It can be employed in both the indicative and subjunctive moods.Approximately 5% of verbs in spoken English are in the present continuous form. 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