How the present continuous rules are formed. Present Continuous in English

Today we will talk about the differences in present simple And ) Tenses(present simple and present continuous).

present simple

When do we use this time? Let's look at an example and analyze the cases of using the simple present tense.

I live . — I live.

If we say that we live somewhere, it means that we are talking about something more or less permanent.

The simple present tense is also used to indicate actions that are always happening. For example:

The sun rises in the East. — The sun rises in the east.

It is also used to describe regular actions. present simple:

every day I wake up at this time. I take shower. — Every day I get up at this time. I am taking a shower.

A little later we will look at the simple present tense in more detail. And now we will consider the present continuous tense for comparison with the simple present.

Present Continuous (Progressive)

I am staying. — I am standing.

I am working. — I am working.

I am speaking I am talking.

You are listening or you are writing. — You are listening or writing.

We use the present continuous tense to describe actions that are happening right now or the temporally continuous tense - a period of time. Those. for example, you can say about someone that he is writing a book, he has been writing it for some time, but right now he may not be writing it, but we still say: He is writing a book.

This period of time can be anything - two minutes, a week or 10 years. The main thing here is that this is not a permanent action, but a temporary one that is happening now.

In order to better understand the difference in the use of these tenses, I will give another example:

Where are you live? — I live in Canada, Toronto. — present simple

While you in Toronto where are you staying? — I'm staying at the hotel. — Present Continuous

Present Simple Tense - in more detail

The ending "s" of verbs with third person nouns is very important. Many students at the initial stage forget about it.

These were examples positive suggestions. Now let's see what the simple present tense will look like in negative sentences.

More examples of simple present tense sentences:

He works in the office.

He doesn't work in the office.

Does he work in the office?

They live in Toronto.

They don't live in Toronto.

Do they live in Toronto?

English Joke

Old farmer Johnson was dying. The family was standing around his bed. With a low voice he sad to his wife: "When I'm dead I want you to marry farmer Jones."
wife: "No, I can't marry anyone after you."
Johnson: "But I want you to."
wife: "But why?"
Johnson: "Jones once cheated me in a horse deal!"

Remember, at school, in the third grade, an English teacher showed you pictures in which people were doing various useful things, and asked in English: “What is he doing?”. And you answered: "He reads", "He helps his mother" or "He builds a birdhouse." This is where the acquaintance with Present Continuous ended for many of us.

Present Continuous, or present continuous tense, one of the basic tenses of the English language, starting from which you will build your system of tenses.

First, we will consider how the forms of this time are formed.

To form a statement, we need two components: auxiliary to be (am/ is / are - depending on the subject) and ending verb-ING.

* informational question with the word When ? is not set in Present Continuous, since the form itself to be + Ving indicates that the action is happening at the moment of speech, therefore, the question of time does not make sense.

At all times the group continuous and in all types of statements there is an auxiliary verb to be and a semantic verb with the ending -ING.

How to add an ending -ING to verbs? When this ending is added to the verb, the spelling of the verb changes. There are a few rules to remember:

Now consider the use cases Present Continuous.

1. An action that occurs at the moment of speech. (Action in progress at the moment of speaking)

Present Continuous serves to express an action that is happening at the moment of speech, often in front of our eyes, that is, we can observe the process.

At the time of speech indicate such time indicators: now(Now), at the moment(at present), still(still). Time pointers now And at the moment may not be used, because the form itself to be + Ving indicates that the action is happening right now, at the moment of speech.

In addition, words that serve to attract attention (look, listen, be careful, etc.), indicate that the action is happening at the moment of speech.

look! She is dancing! - Look! She is dancing!
Jim is still doing his homework. Jim is still doing his homework.
Be careful! The ladder is falling! - Carefully! The ladder is falling!

2. Temporary actions and states

States are actions that seem to be in progress at the time of speech, but we cannot see them. For example: live, work, study.

Using the Present Continuous in this sense, you are saying: “I’m doing it now, but it’s temporary, I don’t usually do it. When the action is completed, everything will return to its place".

Pointers: today, this week, these days, tonight, at present.

I'm living at my friend's while my flat is being redecorated. - I live with a friend while my apartment is being renovated. (This is a temporary action, the renovation will be completed and I will return to my apartment)

He likes science fiction but this month he is reading historical novels as it's the topic of this month. - He loves science fiction, but this month he is reading historical novels because that is the theme of this month. (The action is temporary, the topic will end and he will read fiction again)

She is working as a secretary these days. She is currently working as a secretary. (This is a casual job)

3. Changing and progressive actions (Changing or developing situations)

If you are watching any process and see the changes taking place, then you should use Present Continuous. Often used with comparative paired adjectives: more and more, better and better.

It is becoming a client and colder. - It's getting colder and colder.
The flowers are becoming more and more beautiful. - The flowers are getting more and more beautiful.
It is getting hotter. I will have a break. - It's getting hotter. I'll take a break.

4. Plans and agreements. (Arrangements)

The present continuous also has a future meaning. It can denote personal plans and arrangements for the near future. Often with indications of place and time. In Russian, we use the present tense in the same way to express the future action that we have planned:

Mr. Smith is leaving tomorrow at 11.00. - Mr. Smith leaves tomorrow at 11.00.
I am taking my exam tomorrow so I am studying tonight. - I'm taking the exam tomorrow, so I'm studying tonight.
We are meeting the manager tomorrow at 10 o'clock. We are meeting with the manager tomorrow at 10 o'clock.

5. At the beginning of the story to create an atmosphere. (Setting the scene)

If you are going to tell a story, you can use the Present Continuous to create a setting, to give the listeners an opportunity to imagine the situation. You can use the word Imagine(Imagine).

The Present Simple is used to describe the main events.

He is walking through the dark forest. It is raining and the wind is blowing. - He's walking through a dark forest. It's raining and the wind is blowing.
Imagine: you are in the garden. The sun shining is and the birds are singing. Imagine you are in a garden. The sun is shining and the birds are singing.

6. Frequently repeated actions to convey irritation or surprise (Annoying or surprising actions)

Always is considered a typical Present Simple marker, but this adverb can be used with the Present Continuous to express an action that is repeated too often: constantly, all the time. Such actions either irritate us or surprise us.

Except always, can be used constantly And continuously.

My sister is always leaving her dirty dishes on the table. My sister constantly leaves dirty dishes on the table.
You are constantly interrupting me! - You interrupt me all the time!
I am always meeting you in this shop. - I always meet you in this store.

Comparative characteristics present simple And Present Continuous you will find .

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Continuous Tenses, "to continue"- continue, last. The very name of this group of tenses indicates that their main grammatical meaning is duration, the process of action.

Group Times continuous also called Progressive Tenses , and in Russian their called extended or long time. verb used in the form continuous means that an action takes place at a certain moment. This moment may be clear from the context, or often denoted by additional words - an exact indication of the time (hour), another action, etc. somehow concretizing this moment. Depending on the duration of the action, there are:

Present Continuous- present continuous (present continuous),

Past continuous- past continuous (past continuous),

Future Continuous- future continuous (future continuous).

Scene 1 discusses examples of the use of time The Present Continuous Tense.
Scene 5 has examples of how to use The Past Continuous Tense.
In scene 29, the comparison in the use of tenses Future And Future Continuous.

Continuous Tense formed by an auxiliary verb "to be" and the fourth main form of the verb (present participle - Present Participle). Only the auxiliary verb will be the changeable part of the predicate "to be".

Conventions used in the table:

Ving- The fourth form of the verb. Present participle ( Present Participle or Participle I) and gerund ( Gerund).

to be + Ving- "to be doing"

In order to better understand the grammatical essence of continuous tenses, let's use the literal translation of each component:

I am working
I am employed
I am working

Not working
He is working
It works

We are working
We are working
We are working

She was working
She was working
She worked

They were working
They were working
They worked

I shall be working
I will be working
I will work

You will be working
You will be working
You will work

It can be seen from these examples that the second component of the continuous tenses - the present participle - gives the entire verb a sign of duration. It is on the basis of the duration of action that these times are contrasted to the times of the Indefinite group. Latest used to express ordinary, repetitive actions. Compare:

Where is Ivanov?
Where is Ivanov?

Not working in his study now.
He is currently working in his office.

Ivanov usually works in his study.
Ivanov usually works in his office.

into Russian form continuous are translated by imperfective verbs of the present, past or future tense (according to the time of the auxiliary verb).

Interrogative and negative forms of continuous tenses are formed according to the rule of the verb "to be":

I am working.
Am I working?

He was working.
Was he working?

He wasn't working.

Verbs that do not represent action as a process are not used in the form continuous.

The main ones are: to accept, to belong, to contain, to consist, to depend on, to deserve, to hope, to hear, to know, to like, to mind, to please, to possess, to prefer, to resemble, to understand, to result, to see, to:

I understand what you are saying.
I understand what you are saying.

I see your drawing and I like it.
I see your drawing and I like it.

Present continuous tense ( Present Continuous) is formed according to the scheme: to be + present participle of the semantic verb

to be + verb ending ing

Examples:

It is important to understand the difference between simple present and simple continuous.

simple present tense describes habitual actions in the present. Present continuous tense describes actions that occur at the moment of speech or in the period to which this moment refers.

Compare:

Questions with present continuous tense in English.

1. Interrogative sentences requiring a simple yes/no answer.

In questions subject and verb to be change places. Present participle (ing form) costs after the verb to be and the subject.

Scheme:

to be + subject + verb ending in ing

Examples:

Answers can be detailed and short.

2. The use of question words.

The word order in such questions is the same as in simple questions of the previous type. question word put before auxiliary and main verbs:

Wh...+to be+subject+verb with ending ing

Examples:

If the question is why (why), in the answer use the word because (because).

Examples:

If the answer is short, then it includes only the second part of the sentence (beginning with the words "because").

Examples:

Negative with present continuous tense

Negative in present continuous tense formed like this: add to the form of the verb to be particle not.

Here you need to remember short forms: am not = ain't; is not = isn't; are not = aren't.

Example:

She is not working at the moment. She is not working now.

Spelling forms of the present continuous tense.

Typically for education present participles add at the end of the verb ing.

Examples:

There are other cases of the formation of the present participle:

1. If the infinitive ends with "e" and the previous consonant, then when forming participles, "e" is replaced by "ing".

Examples:

imagine imagine imagining imagining

write write writing writing

Exception: verbs that end in ee.

For example:

free flee freeing fleeing

2. In single-syllable verbs that end in a consonant preceded by a vowel, double the consonant before the ending "ing".

Examples:

run run away running running

get receive getting receiving

Exception: consonants are not doubled: x, w, y.

Examples: to fix, to play

3. Verbs of two syllables in which the stress falls on the last double the final vowel before the ending "ing".

Examples:

begin start off beginning beginning

4. If the verb ends with "ie", this ending is replaced with "y", then "ing" is added.

die die dying dying

lie lie lying lying

Use of the present continuous tense.

1. Action taking place at the moment of speech.

Examples:

2. An action covering a certain period of time in the present.

Example:

Nelly is studying at University. Nelly is studying at the university.

3. Emotionally colored characteristic of the face. Usually it's negative.

Example:

She is constantly talking about money. She talks about money all the time.

4. A pre-planned action that will take place in the near future.

Used with verbs of motion: move, come, go, leave, return, start.

Examples:

The show is starting soon. The show starts soon.

Are you moving to the new flat? Are you moving to a new apartment?

5. An action in a process that occurs simultaneously with another action (in the simple past tense). This tense is used in subordinate clauses of time and condition after conjunctions: when, while, aslong as, if, in case, unless.

Example:

David always talks when he is eating. David always talks when he eats.