We use the Present Continuous Tense:
1.To talk about activities at the moment of speaking
I‘m just leaving work. I’ll be home in an hour.
Please be quiet. The children are sleeping.
2.To talk about future plans or arrangements
Mary is going to a new school next term.
What are you doing next week?To talk about
We follow this formula to form the present continuous:
Affirmative:
Subject + to be + verb+ ing
George is playing the violin right now.
They are eating at John’s favorite restaurant today.
Negative:
Subject + to be + not + verb+ ing
I am not going to the wedding!
Benjamin isn’t working very hard.
Interrogative:
to be + subject + verb+ ing
Are you talking to me?
Where are you going?
| Verb: Play | ||
| Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
| I am Playing | I am not playing | Am I playing? |
| You are Playing | You are not/aren’t playing | Are you playing? |
| He/She/It is playing | He/She/It is not/isn’t playing | Is he/she/it playing? |
| We are playing | We are not/aren’t playing | Are we playing? |
| You are playing | You are not/aren’t playing | Are you playing? |
| They are playing | They are not/aren’t playing | Are they playing? |
Do not use the present continuous tense with stative verbs. Stative verbs show a state of being that does not show qualities of change. These verbs use the simple present form.
For example:
Correct: Laura prefers chocolate over ice cream.
Incorrect: Laura is preferring chocolate over ice cream
Here, the stative verb prefer shows opinion, and therefore should not be used with the present continuous.
Stative verb categories include emotion (to love), possession (to belong), and thoughts (to recognize), and none of these should use the continuous form.
Some verbs can be both dynamic and stative! Think about the verbs be and think.
Sarah is being greedy for not sharing her cake.
Examples:
Jordan thinks that Mary should get a dog (Stative and in the simple present)
Jordan is thinking about getting a dog. (Dynamic and in the present continuous)
