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The Present Continuous Tense


             We use the present continuous tense to talk about
             1.  something that is happening at the time of speaking. For example,
                 •  Mum is travelling to Kanpur on a train right now.

                 •  Smita is eating a doughnut at Freddie’s Bakery.

             2.  temporary situations that are occurring only in the present time. For example,
                 •  I usually walk to school, but today I am riding my bicycle to school.
                 •  She generally goes to church on Sundays, but today she is going to her
                    Uncle’s house.


             We also use the present continuous tense with time expressions like
             ♦   now, right now, today, at the moment, this week/year/weekend, etc. For example,
                 •  Rohit is studying right now.

                 •  Sophie is dancing at the concert this weekend.

                                              Present continuous

                                   •  for actions that are going on at this moment
                            •  for actions that will or will not happen in the near future


                                                                        Interrogative sentences
                Affirmative         Negative sentences
                 sentences                                                             With question
                                                                                             word

               I am singing.       I am not singing.             Am I singing?      What am I singing?

               You are             You are not/aren’t            Are you            What are you
               singing.            singing.                      singing?           singing?


               He is singing.      He is not/isn’t               Is he singing?     What is he singing?
                                   singing.
               She is              She is not/isn’t                                 What is she
               singing.            singing.                      Is she singing?    singing?

               It is singing.      It is not/isn’t singing.      Is it singing?     What is it singing?

               We are              We are not/aren’t             Are we             What are we
               singing.            singing.                      singing?           singing?

               They are            They are not/aren’t           Are they           What are they
               singing.            singing.                      singing?           singing?





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