Page 81 - New Grammar with a Smile 6

Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense tells us about an action that is taking place at the time
of speaking.

Uses

The present continuous tense is used
1. to describe an action that is happening at the time of speaking. For example,
• Ipsita is eating her breakfast.

• I am writing a letter to the editor of our school magazine.

2. to describe an action that has been going on over a period of time, including the
present, but may not be happening at the time of speaking. For example,
• Akshay is learning French and German.

• Mohan and Rajat are working on a project on ‘Global Warming’.

3. to describe a future plan. For example,
• My sister is arriving by the 7 o’clock train tonight.

• They are leaving for Jaipur tomorrow.

Structure

♦ Affirmative sentences

For affirmative sentences in the present continuous tense, we use the present
participle form of the verb.

subject am/is/are verb + ing rest of the sentence

• I am playing football.

• Shiela is baking cookies.
• They are singing loudly.

♦ Negative sentences

For negative sentences, we have the following structure.

subject am/is/are not verb + ing rest of the sentence

• I am not watching television.
• She is not staying in Scotland.
• We are not making any noise.

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