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Present Continuous Tense #1, by Dennis Oliver
The Present Continuous
Tense #1
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There are several continuous tenses in English, and all of
them are
similar in form: they use BE
+ the -ing form of
another verb.
The uses of all the continuous
tenses are similar
but not exactly
the same--and of course
they are used for
different times.
To understand present continuous tense better,
let's take
a look at its form.
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Present
Continuous Tense: Form
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The present continuous tense
always has two parts:
| 1. |
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BE (present: am,
are, is) |
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| 2. |
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a verb ending in -ing |
Examples:
He is studying.
They are
arguing.
It is
raining.
You are
reading these examples.
I am using my computer
to make these examples.
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Special Notes:
|
1. |
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Contractions with BE are common with
present continuous
tense, especially with
subject pronouns:
He's studying.
They're
arguing.
It's
raining.
You're
reading these examples.
I'm using my computer
to make these examples.
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2. |
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Contractions are also possible
when the subject
is a noun--especially
when the subject means
he, she, or it:
Bob's sleeping.
Maria's watching
TV.
The bell's ringing loudly.
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3. |
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Some people use the term present progressive
tense
instead of present continuous
tense.
Both names are correct. |
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4. |
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It is actually more accurate to say that sentences
like "I'm using my computer to make these
examples" are in present tense and show the
progressive
aspect. |
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Next: uses of th
present continuous tense
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