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uses",null,{"type":44,"value":45,"toc":780},"minimark",[46,50,55,58,64,132,140,183,205,209,226,295,326,330,333,338,341,353,357,360,373,377,380,392,396,399,411,418,431,443,447,454,480,504,507,539,545,548,552,555,621,629,633,636,709,713,729,733,736,771],[47,48,49],"p",{},"The present continuous, also called the present progressive, is the tense for\nthings in progress. If the present simple is the tense of facts and routines,\nthe present continuous is the tense of right now and around now. It is one of\nthe first tenses learners meet, and the form is mechanical once you have it, but\ntwo things trip people up: the -ing spelling and the small set of verbs that\nrefuse to take it at all.",[51,52,54],"h2",{"id":53},"how-to-form-the-present-continuous","How to form the present continuous",[47,56,57],{},"The structure never changes:",[47,59,60],{},[61,62,63],"strong",{},"am \u002F is \u002F are + verb-ing",[65,66,67,86],"table",{},[68,69,70],"thead",{},[71,72,73,77,80,83],"tr",{},[74,75,76],"th",{},"Subject",[74,78,79],{},"Auxiliary",[74,81,82],{},"-ing form",[74,84,85],{},"Example",[87,88,89,104,118],"tbody",{},[71,90,91,95,98,101],{},[92,93,94],"td",{},"I",[92,96,97],{},"am",[92,99,100],{},"working",[92,102,103],{},"I am working.",[71,105,106,109,112,115],{},[92,107,108],{},"you \u002F we \u002F they",[92,110,111],{},"are",[92,113,114],{},"reading",[92,116,117],{},"They are reading.",[71,119,120,123,126,129],{},[92,121,122],{},"he \u002F she \u002F it",[92,124,125],{},"is",[92,127,128],{},"sleeping",[92,130,131],{},"She is sleeping.",[47,133,134,135,139],{},"The auxiliary (am, is, are) is a form of the verb ",[136,137,138],"em",{},"be",", and it does all the\ngrammatical work. The main verb just sits in its -ing form and never changes for\nthe subject.",[141,142,143,174],"ul",{},[144,145,146,149,150,153,154,157,158,161,162,165,166,169,170,173],"li",{},[61,147,148],{},"Negative:"," add ",[136,151,152],{},"not"," after the auxiliary. ",[136,155,156],{},"I am not working. She is not\nreading. They are not coming."," The short forms are ",[136,159,160],{},"isn't"," and ",[136,163,164],{},"aren't"," (",[136,167,168],{},"am\nnot"," contracts only in the subject: ",[136,171,172],{},"I'm not",").",[144,175,176,179,180],{},[61,177,178],{},"Question:"," put the auxiliary first. ",[136,181,182],{},"Are you working? Is she reading? What\nare they doing?",[47,184,185,186,188,189,192,193,196,197,200,201,204],{},"Notice you do not add a second auxiliary. The ",[136,187,138],{}," verb is already there, so\nthere is no ",[136,190,191],{},"do"," or ",[136,194,195],{},"does"," as in the present simple. In speech and informal\nwriting the auxiliary almost always contracts: ",[136,198,199],{},"I'm working, you're reading,\nshe's sleeping, they aren't coming."," The full forms are reserved for emphasis\n(",[136,202,203],{},"I am working, thank you",") and formal writing.",[51,206,208],{"id":207},"spelling-the-ing-form","Spelling the -ing form",[47,210,211,212,165,215,218,219,218,222,225],{},"Most verbs just add ",[136,213,214],{},"-ing",[136,216,217],{},"play - playing",", ",[136,220,221],{},"read - reading",[136,223,224],{},"go - going",").\nThree groups need a small change first.",[65,227,228,241],{},[68,229,230],{},[71,231,232,235,238],{},[74,233,234],{},"Rule",[74,236,237],{},"What you do",[74,239,240],{},"Examples",[87,242,243,262,273],{},[71,244,245,251,259],{},[92,246,247,248],{},"Verb ends in a silent ",[136,249,250],{},"e",[92,252,253,254,256,257],{},"Drop the ",[136,255,250],{},", add ",[136,258,214],{},[92,260,261],{},"make - making, write - writing, come - coming",[71,263,264,267,270],{},[92,265,266],{},"Short stressed vowel + single consonant",[92,268,269],{},"Double the consonant",[92,271,272],{},"run - running, sit - sitting, swim - swimming",[71,274,275,281,292],{},[92,276,277,278],{},"Verb ends in ",[136,279,280],{},"-ie",[92,282,283,284,286,287,256,290],{},"Change ",[136,285,280],{}," to ",[136,288,289],{},"-y",[136,291,214],{},[92,293,294],{},"lie - lying, die - dying, tie - tying",[47,296,297,298,301,302,305,306,309,310,218,313,316,317,319,320,218,323,173],{},"A few cautions on the doubling rule. You double only when a single consonant\nfollows a single stressed vowel: ",[136,299,300],{},"sit - sitting",", but ",[136,303,304],{},"open - opening"," (the\nstress is on the first syllable, so no doubling). British English also doubles a\nfinal ",[136,307,308],{},"l"," after a vowel even when the stress is elsewhere: ",[136,311,312],{},"travel -\ntravelling",[136,314,315],{},"cancel - cancelling",". American English keeps the single ",[136,318,308],{},"\n(",[136,321,322],{},"traveling",[136,324,325],{},"canceling",[51,327,329],{"id":328},"when-to-use-the-present-continuous","When to use the present continuous",[47,331,332],{},"There are five jobs it does. Every present continuous sentence is doing one of\nthem.",[334,335,337],"h3",{"id":336},"_1-an-action-happening-right-now","1. An action happening right now",[47,339,340],{},"The action is in progress at the moment of speaking.",[141,342,343,348],{},[144,344,345],{},[136,346,347],{},"I am writing an email.",[144,349,350],{},[136,351,352],{},"Listen - the baby is crying.",[334,354,356],{"id":355},"_2-a-temporary-action-around-now","2. A temporary action around now",[47,358,359],{},"It is true these days, but not at this exact second, and it will not last.",[141,361,362,368],{},[144,363,364,367],{},[136,365,366],{},"I am reading a great novel."," (Not literally right now, but currently.)",[144,369,370],{},[136,371,372],{},"She is working in Berlin this month.",[334,374,376],{"id":375},"_3-a-fixed-future-arrangement","3. A fixed future arrangement",[47,378,379],{},"The plan is already settled, usually with a time or place agreed.",[141,381,382,387],{},[144,383,384],{},[136,385,386],{},"I am meeting him tomorrow.",[144,388,389],{},[136,390,391],{},"We are flying to Madrid on Friday.",[334,393,395],{"id":394},"_4-a-changing-or-developing-situation","4. A changing or developing situation",[47,397,398],{},"Trends and processes that are in motion.",[141,400,401,406],{},[144,402,403],{},[136,404,405],{},"Prices are rising.",[144,407,408],{},[136,409,410],{},"The climate is getting warmer.",[334,412,414,415],{"id":413},"_5-annoying-habits-with-always","5. Annoying habits with ",[136,416,417],{},"always",[47,419,420,421,423,424,218,427,430],{},"Add ",[136,422,417],{}," (or ",[136,425,426],{},"constantly",[136,428,429],{},"forever",") to complain about a repeated habit.\nThis is the one use where the continuous describes something frequent rather than\ntemporary.",[141,432,433,438],{},[144,434,435],{},[136,436,437],{},"He is always losing his keys.",[144,439,440],{},[136,441,442],{},"You are constantly interrupting me.",[51,444,446],{"id":445},"the-confusion-stative-verbs","The confusion: stative verbs",[47,448,449,450,453],{},"Some verbs describe a state, not an action, and English does not normally put\nthem in the continuous. These are ",[61,451,452],{},"stative verbs",", and they fall into a few\ngroups:",[141,455,456,462,468,474],{},[144,457,458,461],{},[61,459,460],{},"Thinking and knowing:"," know, believe, understand, remember, mean",[144,463,464,467],{},[61,465,466],{},"Liking and wanting:"," like, love, hate, want, prefer, need",[144,469,470,473],{},[61,471,472],{},"Having and belonging:"," have (possession), own, belong, contain",[144,475,476,479],{},[61,477,478],{},"Senses and appearance:"," seem, appear",[47,481,482,483,486,487,490,491,486,494,490,497,486,500,503],{},"So you say ",[136,484,485],{},"I know the answer",", not ",[136,488,489],{},"I am knowing the answer","; ",[136,492,493],{},"She wants a\ncoffee",[136,495,496],{},"She is wanting a coffee",[136,498,499],{},"This box contains nothing",[136,501,502],{},"is\ncontaining",".",[47,505,506],{},"The exceptions are where it gets interesting. A stative verb can go in the\ncontinuous when it shifts to mean a deliberate action.",[141,508,509,519,529],{},[144,510,511,514,515,518],{},[136,512,513],{},"I'm thinking about it."," (the mental process, an action) vs ",[136,516,517],{},"I think you're\nright."," (an opinion, a state)",[144,520,521,524,525,528],{},[136,522,523],{},"I'm having lunch."," (eating, an action) vs ",[136,526,527],{},"I have a car."," (possession, a\nstate)",[144,530,531,534,535,538],{},[136,532,533],{},"I'm loving it."," (informal, a temporary feeling right now) vs ",[136,536,537],{},"I love my job.","\n(a permanent state)",[47,540,541,544],{},[136,542,543],{},"I'm loving it"," is grammatically marked but extremely common, especially in\ninformal and advertising English. Use the simple form for the safe, standard\nchoice.",[47,546,547],{},"A useful rule of thumb: if you could not honestly answer the question \"what are\nyou doing?\" with the verb, it is probably stative. You cannot reply \"I'm\nknowing\" or \"I'm wanting\" to that question, which is exactly why those verbs\nresist the continuous.",[51,549,551],{"id":550},"present-simple-vs-present-continuous","Present simple vs present continuous",[47,553,554],{},"This is the comparison that matters most. The split is between general and\nspecific, permanent and temporary.",[65,556,557,567],{},[68,558,559],{},[71,560,561,564],{},[74,562,563],{},"Present simple",[74,565,566],{},"Present continuous",[87,568,569,577,585,597,609],{},[71,570,571,574],{},[92,572,573],{},"Habits and routines",[92,575,576],{},"Actions in progress now",[71,578,579,582],{},[92,580,581],{},"Permanent facts",[92,583,584],{},"Temporary situations",[71,586,587,592],{},[92,588,589],{},[136,590,591],{},"I work in London.",[92,593,594],{},[136,595,596],{},"I am working from home today.",[71,598,599,604],{},[92,600,601],{},[136,602,603],{},"Water boils at 100C.",[92,605,606],{},[136,607,608],{},"The kettle is boiling.",[71,610,611,616],{},[92,612,613],{},[136,614,615],{},"She speaks three languages.",[92,617,618],{},[136,619,620],{},"She is speaking French right now.",[47,622,623,624,503],{},"The test: if it is a general truth or a regular habit, use the present simple.\nIf it is happening now or only temporary, use the present continuous. For the\nfull picture of the other half, see the\n",[625,626,628],"a",{"href":627},"\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Fpresent-simple","present simple",[51,630,632],{"id":631},"common-mistakes","Common mistakes",[47,634,635],{},"Ranked by how often they actually appear:",[637,638,639,652,668,685,694],"ol",{},[144,640,641,644,645,648,649],{},[61,642,643],{},"Putting stative verbs in the continuous."," ",[136,646,647],{},"I am knowing the answer. She is\nwanting a coffee."," Wrong. Stative verbs stay simple: ",[136,650,651],{},"I know the answer. She\nwants a coffee.",[144,653,654,644,660,663,664,667],{},[61,655,656,657,659],{},"Forgetting the ",[136,658,138],{}," auxiliary.",[136,661,662],{},"I working now. She reading."," The tense\nneeds am, is or are: ",[136,665,666],{},"I am working now. She is reading."," This is the single\nmost common slip, because many languages build the -ing-style form without a\nseparate verb.",[144,669,670,644,673,676,677,680,681,684],{},[61,671,672],{},"Using it for permanent facts.",[136,674,675],{},"I am living in Spain"," is fine if it is\ntemporary, but ",[136,678,679],{},"The sun is rising in the east every day"," should be ",[136,682,683],{},"The sun\nrises in the east."," Permanent truths take the present simple.",[144,686,687,644,690,693],{},[61,688,689],{},"Wrong -ing spelling.",[136,691,692],{},"writeing, runing, lieing."," It is writing, running,\nlying.",[144,695,696,644,699,702,703,705,706],{},[61,697,698],{},"Adding a second auxiliary in questions.",[136,700,701],{},"Do you working? Does she\nreading?"," Wrong. The ",[136,704,138],{}," verb already inverts: ",[136,707,708],{},"Are you working? Is she\nreading?",[51,710,712],{"id":711},"british-vs-american-usage","British vs American usage",[47,714,715,716,718,719,722,723,726,727,503],{},"The two varieties mostly agree here. The visible difference is in the -ing\nspelling of verbs ending in ",[136,717,308],{},": British English doubles it (",[136,720,721],{},"travelling,\ncancelling, modelling","), American English does not (",[136,724,725],{},"traveling, canceling,\nmodeling","). If you are learning British English, double the ",[136,728,308],{},[51,730,732],{"id":731},"practice","Practice",[47,734,735],{},"Put the verb into the present continuous, or choose the correct form. Answers are\nbelow.",[637,737,738,746,752,759,765],{},[144,739,740,741,745],{},"Be quiet - the children ",[742,743,744],"code",{},"___"," (sleep).",[144,747,748,749,751],{},"I ",[742,750,744],{}," (meet) my dentist tomorrow at ten.",[144,753,754,755,758],{},"Choose: ",[136,756,757],{},"I know \u002F I am knowing"," what you mean.",[144,760,761,762,764],{},"Look! It ",[742,763,744],{}," (rain) again.",[144,766,767,768,770],{},"He ",[742,769,744],{}," (always \u002F forget) his password.",[47,772,773,776,777,779],{},[61,774,775],{},"Answers:"," 1. are sleeping 2. am meeting (a fixed future arrangement) 3. I\nknow (\"know\" is a stative verb, so it stays simple) 4. is raining 5. is always\nforgetting (the ",[136,778,417],{}," habit pattern)",{"title":781,"searchDepth":782,"depth":782,"links":783},"",2,[784,785,786,795,796,797,798,799],{"id":53,"depth":782,"text":54},{"id":207,"depth":782,"text":208},{"id":328,"depth":782,"text":329,"children":787},[788,790,791,792,793],{"id":336,"depth":789,"text":337},3,{"id":355,"depth":789,"text":356},{"id":375,"depth":789,"text":376},{"id":394,"depth":789,"text":395},{"id":413,"depth":789,"text":794},"5. Annoying habits with always",{"id":445,"depth":782,"text":446},{"id":550,"depth":782,"text":551},{"id":631,"depth":782,"text":632},{"id":711,"depth":782,"text":712},{"id":731,"depth":782,"text":732},"A1","How to form and use the present continuous (present progressive) in English. The am\u002Fis\u002Fare + verb-ing rule, -ing spelling, stative verbs, and the future use that surprises learners.","md",[804,807,810,813],{"q":805,"a":806},"What is the present continuous tense?","The present continuous, also called the present progressive, describes an action in progress. It is formed with am, is or are plus the -ing form of the verb (I am working, she is reading). It covers actions happening right now, temporary situations around now, and fixed future arrangements.",{"q":808,"a":809},"What is the difference between present simple and present continuous?","The present simple is for habits, routines and permanent facts (I work in London). The present continuous is for actions in progress now or temporary situations (I am working from home this week). If it is a general truth, use the simple; if it is happening or temporary, use the continuous.",{"q":811,"a":812},"Why can't I say I am knowing?","Know is a stative verb. Stative verbs describe states rather than actions (know, like, want, believe, belong, understand) and are not normally used in the continuous. Say I know, not I am knowing.",{"q":814,"a":815},"Can the present continuous talk about the future?","Yes. Use it for fixed future arrangements, especially ones with a time and a place already agreed: I am meeting him tomorrow, We are flying to Madrid on Friday. The plan is settled, so the continuous fits.","english",{},"\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Fpresent-continuous",{"title":41,"description":801},"english\u002Fgrammar\u002Fpresent-continuous","rqPSDUCFMhodeadQKE6EVlByIEWB5qVXsq9HWz1vF6c"]