Present Continous

Present Continuous Tense used for actions that are happening while now. For example, "I am studying English" means that I'm in the process of learning English now.

Shape

Present Continuous Tense is formed by adding the verb "to be" and form - ing. Consider the following table:

Single Affirmative I am studying  You are studying  She is studying  He is studying  It is studying Negative I am not studying  You are not studying  She is not studying  He is not studying  It is not studying Question Am I studying?  Are you studying?  Is she studying?

Plural Affirmative We are studying  You are studying  They are studying Negative We are not studying  You are not studying  They are not studying Question Are we studying?  Are you sutdying?  Are they studying?

For negative kelimat we simply add not after the auxiliary verb "to be", for example:

·          I am playing -> I am not playing

For questions we swap the position of the subject and the auxiliary verb "to be", for example:

·          You are playing -> Are you playing?

Usefulness

Present Continuous Tense used for actions that are happening while now. Example:

·          We are studying English (we were studying English)

·          You are using a computer (the computer you are currently using)

Present Continuous Tense is also used for processes that occur around the time now. For example:

·          It is raining today (rain today)

·          I am working in Paris this month (I work in Paris this month)

·          The world is turning (spinning globe)

The time period from the first sentence above is today (today), the second sentence of the month, and the last sentence for ever, but all this sentence talking about the processes that occur around the time now. These processes occur before the time is now, is happening now, and will continue to take place after now. This is the main core of the Present Continuous tense.

Present continuous tense is also used for repeated actions or habits. Such repetition is considered as a continuous process (continuous). For example:

·          I am getting up early this week (I get up this week)

Surely the subject (I) in the above sentence is not only wake up once a week, but during the week the subject will wake up early every day, so this could be considered as a process.

Present Continuous is also used for the plans in the future that it is definitely time. Example:

·          I'm going to Rome at 10:30 tomorrow (I will go to Rome tomorrow at 10:30)

·          She's coming to my apartment this evening (he would come to my apartment this evening)

Spelling

To create a form - ing, which is also known as the present participle, we usually add - ing to a verb. Example:

·          study - studying

·          eat - eating

·          jump - jumping

For verbs ending in - e, we remove e and add - ing. Example:

·          write - writing: not writeing

·          skate - skating: not skateing.

For verbs ending with consonants and syllables, we usually double the last consonant and add - ing. Example:

·          run - running: not runing

·          cut - cutting: not cuting

For verbs ending in - ie we replace - ie with - y and add - ing. Example:

·          lie - lying: not lieing

Example of use in conversation

1) What are you doing? 
I'm studying English. What are you doing? 
I'm making some food. Do you want some? 
Sure!

2) Right now I'm working at home. My friend is talking on the 'phone and my sister is studying Spanish. She wants to be a businesswoman, so she's learning a new language. I usually work at the office, but today I'm working at home. It's great fun!

3) How's Sarah? 
She's fine. She's living in Chicago now. 
Really! 
Yes, and she's working as a fashion designer. 
That's great. Is she having a good time? 
Yes, she's doing really well.