TEACHER: Morelba Briceo LECTO I Present Continuous The present progressive puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action.

The present progressive is used for actions going on in the moment of speaking and for actions taking place only for a short period of time. It is also used to express development and actions that are arranged for the near future. Present progressive is also known as present continuous.

Use a form of to be and the infinite verb plus -ing. Affirmative Negative Question

I am playing.

I am not playing.

Am I playing?

he, she, it

He is playing.

He is not playing.

Is he playing?

you, we, they You are playing.

You are not playing.

Are you playing?

FORM

[am/is/are + present participle] Examples:

You are watching TV. Are you watching TV? You are not watching TV.

Complete List of Present Continuous Forms USE 1 Now

Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now. Examples:

You are learning English now. You are not swimming now. Are you sleeping? I am sitting. I am not standing. Is he sitting or standing? They are reading their books. They are not watching television. What are you doing? Why aren't you doing your homework?

USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.

Examples:

I am studying to become a doctor. I am not studying to become a dentist. I am reading the book Tom Sawyer. I am not reading any books right now. Are you working on any special projects at work? Aren't you teaching at the university now?

USE 3 Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future. Examples:

I am meeting some friends after work. I am not going to the party tonight. Is he visiting his parents next weekend? Isn't he coming with us tonight?

Exercise Put the verbs into the correct form (present progressive). 1. I (starve) ___________________________ 2. I can tell when you (lie) _________________________ 3. I (joke / only) ______________________________ 4. She (go out) ___________________________with a real cutie. 5. (you / try) _______________________________to pull my leg? 6. You (not / fool) _______________________________anyone. 7. What (go on) __________________________________here? 8. I (look forward) _______________________to seeing you again. 9. What (you /do) ___________________________________? 10. (I / dream)____________________________________?

Simple Present / Present Continuous

EXERCISES Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate 1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) ______________________her kids to football practice. 2. Usually, I (work) _____________________as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) ______________________French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris. 3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep)___________________________. 4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain)___________________________. 5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always)_____________________________. 6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) _________________________because everybody (talk)__________________________________________________ so loudly. 7. Justin (write, currently) _________________________a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished. 8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight? Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) __________________________to a movie tonight with some friends. 9. The business cards (be, normally) __________________________printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be) ____________________inexpensive, yet the quality of their work are quite good. 10. This delicious chocolate (be) ____________________made by a small chocolate in Zurich, Switzerland.

Past Progressive (Past Continuous)

The past progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past. Form Positive Negative Question

I / he / she / it I was speaking.

I was not speaking.

Was I speaking?

you / we / You were speaking. You were not speaking. Were you speaking? they

Exceptions in Spelling Exceptions in spelling when adding ing Example

final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed)

come coming (but: agree agreeing)

after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is sit sitting doubled

l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British travel travelling English)

final ie becomes y

lie lying

Use of Past Progressive

puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past Example: He was playing football.

two actions happening at the same time (in the past) Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.

action going on at a certain time in the past

Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang. Signal Words of Past Progressive

when, while, as long as

Exercise on Past Progressive Put the verbs into the correct form (past progressive). 1. When I phoned my friends, they (play) _____________________monopoly. 2. Yesterday at six I (prepare) _______________________________dinner. 3. The kids (play) ________________________in the garden when it suddenly began to rain. 4. I (practice) __________________________the guitar when he came home. 5. We (not / cycle) ______________________________all day. 6. While Aaron (work) ___________________in his room, his friends (swim) _______________________in the pool. 7. I tried to tell them the truth but they (listen / not)_________________________. 8. What (you / do) _________________________yesterday? 9. Most of the time we (sit) _____________________in the park.