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Ch 10

Present Continuous

I am working · She isn't sleeping · Are they coming?

When do we use it?

The Present Continuous describes something happening right now, or a temporary situation, or a future arrangement.

Right now
She is working at the moment.
Temporary
I am staying at my sister's house this week.
Arrangement
We are meeting tomorrow at 6.
Signal words: now · at the moment · right now · today · this week · Look! · Listen!

How to form it

am / is / are + verb + -ing

I
am working / eating / studying
He / She / It
is working / eating / studying
You / We / They
are working / eating / studying
Spelling: CVC
run→running · sit→sitting · swim→swimming
Spelling: -e
come→coming · make→making · take→taking

Negative and questions

Put am/is/are before subject, or add not after

Negative
She isn't sleeping. / I am not watching TV.
Question
Is she sleeping? / Are they coming?
Short answer
Yes, she is. / No, they aren't.
Is he working?
Yes, he is.
She isn't listening.
neg: is + n't

Simple vs Continuous

The key difference

Present Simple
She works in a hospital.
→ her permanent job
I drink coffee every day.
→ regular habit
Present Continuous
She is working late tonight.
→ just today, temporary
I am drinking coffee now.
→ right now

Common mistakes

She is know the answer.
→
She knows the answer.
State verbs (know/want/like) → no continuous
I am not watching nothing.
→
I am not watching anything.
No double negatives in English
He is swiming.
→
He is swimming.
CVC rule: double the final consonant

Recap

Positive
am/is/are + -ing
She is working.
Negative
isn't / aren't + -ing
He isn't sleeping.
Question
Is/Are + subject + -ing?
Are you coming?
CVC spelling
double final consonant
run → running
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