1. What is the Present Continuous tense?
- Form : (subject + be + verb (-ing form)
e.g. am feeling , is eating, are running, etc.
2. When to use the Present Continuous tense - Example Situation
- We use the Present Continuous for:
1. an action happening now - e.g. I'm making dinner now.
2. *a current or temporary action
e.g. Thomas is learning Japanese at the moment.
e.g. We are meeting Jamie for drinks after work next week.
3. How to Use the Present Continuous? - Example Sentence:
1. Isabel is eating watermelon now.
2. My brother is studying for his exams at the moment.
3. I'm seeing my friend off at the airport later.
4. My parents are coming to visit next week.
5. Ben is working in Singapore this month.
6. Is Tina going to the craft fair tomorrow?
7. What are you doing this weekend?
4. Compare Present Continuous & Present Simple.
- When to Use the Present Simple tense: Example Sentences:
Example Situation
1. true facts > Isabel loves watermelons.
2. habits & routines > She drinks milk every day.
3. timetables > Her school bus leaves at 7 every morning.
4. programmes / notices > The performance starts at 7.30pm.
5. instruction > Leave your bags on the floor.
Review the Present Simple form:
>> 5 Ways to Use the Present Simple + Adverbs of Frequency (link below)
5. How to form the Present Continuous Tense - Positive / Negative
- Form: (is, am, are + verb -ing)
i) (Positive) + short form
- I am ('m) having
- We / They / You are ('re) having
- He / She / It is ('s) having
ii) (Negative) + short form
- I am not ('m not) having
- We / They / You are not ('re not / aren't) having
- He / She / It is not ('s not / isn't) having
iii) Yes/No Questions
- Am I having...?
- Are we / they / you having...?
- Is he / she / it having...?
iv) Short Answers (positive)
- Yes, I am.
- Yes, we / they / you are.
- Yes he / she / it is.
v) Short Answers (negative) + short form
- No, I am not ('m not).
- No, we / they / you are not ('re not / aren't).
- No, he / she / it is not ('s not / isn't).
vi) Wh-Questions + 'be' verb + subject + verb-ing ...?
What
Who
When are they having ...?
Where
Why
Grammar Check!
*Note the spelling change for some of the -ing verbs
e.g. have >having, plan >planning
For more rules & spelling changes for verbs -ing form:
6. Use The Present Continuous Tense for: an action happening now
Conversation A:
- At Home
Mum: Brian, where are you?
Brian: In the bathroom, mum.
Mum: What are you doing? Are you brushing your teeth?
Brian: No, I'm not. Not yet. I'm putting toothpaste on my toothbrush.
Conversation B:
- Mum is talking to Sarah...
Mum: Sarah. Mike's here for you.
Sarah: I'm coming, mum. Tell him to wait. I'm getting dressed.
Mum: (looking out the window) Ok, then. Take your time. He's getting out of the car. Oh, he's talking to your dad now.
Conversation C:
- A phone call to the florist
Shop: Hello. Candy's florist. How may I help you?
Customer: Hello. May I speak to Candy, please?
Shop: Sorry, she's not available right now. Can I help?
Customer: Oh, is she teaching a workshop now?
Shop: No, she isn't. She's arranging some flowers and getting ready for
this afternoon's class.
Customer: Ok, then. Can you get her to return my call?
Shop: Sure. You are...?
Customer: Sara here. My number is...
Learning Tip #1 for Spoken English Grammar
Notice that we're using the short form spelling in the conversation examples. Use them for your speaking practice.
Conversation D
- A visit to a neighbour's house
A: Hi Amanda. Is Luke in?
B: No, he's not. He's studying at the library.
A: Is he studying with his classmates?
B: No, he's not. He's revising for his English speaking test with his online tutor.
Vocabulary Check!
revise (verb) meaning: to study something again before you take a test or exam
Check pronunciation & meaning click on the link.
Translation of "revise" from the online Cambridge English–Japanese dictionary, © Cambridge University Press, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-japanese/revise Accessed 20 Oct 2020. Used by permission.
Conversation E
- Joyce and Ming are colleagues with Stella. They're entering the restaurant for their lunch break when...
Joyce: Look! There's Stella. She isn't drinking coffee. She's standing and drinking beer with some friends.
Ming: What's she doing here? Her lunch break is over. Her sales team's waiting for her to start the meeting.
Joyce: Ming...,who're you talking to on your mobile?
Ming: Her boss... She's not answering her phone. He asked if the meeting is cancelled. He's coming over to join her for a drink now...
5. Use The Present Continuous Tense for: a current or temporary action or event happening around now:
Look out !
Time expressions to show action / event is temporary or current - e.g. (these days, currently, at the moment, etc...)
Conversation Example A
Lucie and Pat are old school friends. Lucie lives in the UK with her husband.
They're chatting on Zoom...
Lucie: Hi Pat. Are you in Singapore now?
Pat: Yes, I am. My husband’s working at the main office this year.
Lucie: Are you working? Or studying at the moment?
Pat: I'm spending this year studying.
Lucie: That's fantastic. What courses are you doing?
Pat: I'm taking conversational English lessons 3 times a week.
It's a part-time online course. I'm also doing an art diploma course.
Lucie: Wow, sounds exciting but a bit busy...
Pat: (laughs) It's all right. I'm not working at the moment. So *I've got quite
a lot of free on my hands. I'm enjoying my life here in Singapore,
meeting new people and experiencing a new culture.
Lucie: You're right. What about the place where you live? Is it in a good area?
Pat: Oh, yes. We're living in an apartment somewhere downtown. It's in a nice residential area. So many interesting shops and restaurants nearby.
Grammar Check!
*have got - I've got
Go to>> How to Use 'have or have got' + Example Sentence
Learning Tip #2 for Spoken English Grammar
*Note the conversation between the 2 friends. Lucie and Pat.
Notice that we don't need to use the time expressions all the time in the sentences. Especially when a conversation is flowing. It's understood between the speakers. They're talking about some current events happening around now.
6. Use The Present Continuous Tense for: An action in the future / Something you plan or arrange to do
Look out!
Time expressions for the future - (tonight, next year, day after tomorrow, week after next… etc)
i) - Alison is talking to her mum about plans for the next day.
Speaking Practice #1
Alison: I’m taking part in our school's storytelling contest tomorrow.
Mum: Well done, sweetheart.
Alison: I'm telling the story of "The Missing Snowman."
Mum: Oh, that's your favourite story. Best of luck, honey.
Alison: Thanks. And... Mum, don't forget we're going to Nando's for dinner after school tomorrow.
Mum: Sure. Do you still remember your promise to your dad?
Alison: What promise?
Mum: You're doing the dishes for 2 days starting this Wednesday, remember?
ii. - Auntie Agnes is looking at the family's photo.
Speaking Practice #2
She's thinking about some family members...
1. Lily and Freddy aren't coming home for lunch this weekend.
2. Liz isn't starting kindergarten next spring.
3. We aren't celebrating grandpa's birthday indoors but out in the garden this year.
iii. - Sasha's writing in her journal / diary ...
Speaking Practice #3
1. I'm not cooking dinner this whole week.
2. So I'm not shopping for groceries after work.
3. The boys are spending time at their grandparents' place for the next 6 days.
4. Martin and I are dining out every night this week.
Learning Tip #3 for Spoken English Grammar
Let's look at the following conversation between 2 friends. Christine and Leah. They are talking about some events happening in the future.
Conversation Practice
Christine and Leah are meeting on Zoom.
Christine works in an advertising firm.
Leah is a homemaker.
She lives with her husband and little Clara.
Christine: Are you meeting Ling after this?
Leah: Yeah, I am. We're going shopping for some more mother and baby
stuff. She's giving birth next month. I'm so excited for her and her
husband.
Christine: Me too. Is her mother coming to stay with her?
Leah: Yeah, her mum's coming at the end of this month. She's helping
Ling out for about 2 weeks.
Christine: Are you taking little Clara out with you?
Leah: No, I'm not. My sister's coming to babysit her at 11.
Christine: Lucky you! Have fun then, send Ling my love.
And don't forget we're attending David's engagement party next
weekend.
Leah: (laughs) Of course I won't. You're coming here to help me do my
hair first, remember?
8. A quick recap!
We use the Present Continuous to talk about these 3 different situations:
1. for an action happening now - I'm studying.
2. *a current or temporary action - They're planning a surprise party for Ruth.
3. *an action/ event in the future - I'm taking the kids to the zoo this weekend.
9. Your English conversation practice
We've learnt how to use the Present Continuous tense in 3 ways
1. Talk about what's going on in your life right now.
2. And your plans for this week, next month, etc.
Thanks so much for reading & Happy speaking.
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