1. Present Continuous Tense
Affirmative statements, negative statements, yes/no questions and information questions
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Robert F. van Trieste
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2. Uses of Present Continuous
Used with action verbs, such as work, write, talk and eat.
Not used with stative verbs (verbs of state)
Emotions
Cognition
Possession
Sense
love
believe
have
smell
hate
think
belong
taste
like
mean
possess
see
respect
understand
own
hear
need
know
feel
want
remember
dislike
Not used with all verbs. Not used with stative verbs, such as, have, love, hate, smell
This is not a complete list of all stative verbs.
Note: some of these verbs sometimes have non-stative uses. E.g., We’re having a party.
Senses as actions: e.g., The soup tastes salty [sense] vs. Ben is tasting the soup [action]
BE and other linking verbs are not used in present continuous.

3. Time References of Present Continuous
Can refer to:
moment of speaking/writing
Philip is washing the dishes.
temporary general present
Orlando is taking three courses this term.
future time
I am working overtime tomorrow night.
Of course moment of speaking/writing is also temporary. But the time reference is relatively short.
These uses of the present continuous contrast with the use of the simple present tense. For most verbs, the simple present tense implies a permanent situation, or a habit or routine that began in the past and will probably continue into the future. By contrast, the present continuous indicates nothing about the past– we don’t know if Philip ever washed dishes before in his life– and does not imply that the situation will continue into the future. We don’t know if Philip will ever wash dishes again.
To express future time, a future time reference is necessary in the context. It may be in the same sentence as the present continuous verb or it may be in a preceding sentence or question. For example, if someone asks the question “What are you doing tomorrow night?” An appropriate answer is “I am working.” We understand that the time is future because the question contains the future time reference tomorrow night.

4. Present Continuous: Affirmative
Subject
am/is/are
main verb -ing
rest of sentence
Philip is
washing
the dishes.
Emma and Enid
are
cooking
dinner.
The students
taking
a math test now.
You
making
a big mistake.
Orlando
three courses this term.
Laura
writing
a book of poems. I am
working
overtime tomorrow night.
My cousin
arriving
at six o’clock tonight.

5. Present Continuous: Negative
Subject
am/is/are
not
main verb -ing
rest of sentence
Philip is
washing
the dishes.
Emma and Enid
are
cooking
dinner.
The students
taking
a math test now.
You
making
a big mistake. I am
working
overtime tomorrow night.
My cousin
arriving
at six o’clock tonight.
Not is placed after the auxiliary am / is / are to form negative sentences. The normal pattern for the negative in English is to place not after the first auxiliary.
am, is, and are sometimes contract with the preceding pronoun or noun. For example: I+am = I’m and Irma+is = Irma’s.
is and are sometimes contract with not: is+not = isn’t and are+not = aren’t.

6. Present Continuous: Yes /No Questions
Am /Is /Are
Subject
Main Verb
-ing
Rest Is
Karla’s uncle
fixing
her computer ?
Are
you
taking
a math class this term ?
his cousins
coming
to his graduation party ?
Jon
eating
his lunch right now?
Don’t usually ask ourselves questions.

7. Present Continuous: Information Questions
Wh-word
am /is / are
Subject
Main Verb
Rest
What is
your friend
writing
on the envelop ?
Why
are
you
crying ?
Where
the boys
going ?
Whose car
Pedro
driving ?
When
Jane and José
buying
a new laptop ?
Who
fixing
you car ?

8. END