 |
Present
Continuous |
 |
| I'm (I am) eating. |
I'm not |
We're (We are) eating. |
We aren't |
| He's (He is) eating. |
He isn't |
You're (You are) eating. |
You aren't |
| She's (She is) eating. |
She isn't |
They're (They are) eating. |
They aren't |
| It's (It is) eating. |
It isn't eating. |
Expressing Action at a Given Moment
The Present Continuous is used to express action at a
given
moment.
I'm playing the guitar. He's taking a shower.
We're going to work.
Expressing Temporary Activities
The Present Continuous is also used to express action that
the
speaker sees as temporary.
I'm reading a very good science fiction book.
I'm working a lot of
overtime right now.
Future Arrangements
The Present Continuous is also used to talk about future
arrangements. We mean arrangements when we are talking about
plans made before the time of speaking. This is similar to going to
in the future. However in this case the Present Continuous is almost
always used with a time expression, such as tomorrow,
at lunch or at 5:00.
I'm meeting my wife at 12:00.
We're going to a concert tomorrow.
He's coming today.
Short Answers
| Am I eating? |
Yes, I am. |
No, I'm not. |
| Is he eating? |
Yes, he is. |
No, he isn't. |
| Is she eating? |
Yes, she is. |
No, she isn't. |
| Is it eating? |
Yes, it is. |
No, it isn't. |
| Are we eating? |
Yes, we are. |
No, we aren't. |
| Are you eating? |
Yes, you are. |
No, you aren't. |
| Are they eating? |
Yes, they are. |
No, they aren't. |
Practice Dialogs
Practice the dialogs with a friend. Try to use the
different
expressions.
 |
1. (bathroom, brushing my teeth and washing my face
/
bedroom, getting dressed) |
A: Where are you?
B: I'm in the bathroom.
A: What are you doing?
B: I'm brushing my teeth and washing my face.
|
|
2. (office, typing his report /
corridor, talking to
the visitors) |
A: Where's Mr. Holmes?
B: He's in his office.
A: What's he doing?
B: He's typing his report.
|
|
3. (supermarket, library / post office, sports club) |
A: Hello Mary! How are you?
B: Fine. And you?
A: Fine. Where are you going?
B: I'm going to the supermarket.
How about you?
Where are you going?
A: I'm going to the library.
B: Well, nice seeing you.
A: Nice seeing you, too.
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|
4. (Mr. Jacobs, company president,
talking to the
employees) |
A: Who is that?
B: That's Mr. Jacobs.
A: Who is he?
B: He's the company president.
A: What's he doing?
B: He's talking to the employees.
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