Present continuous tense in English
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The present continuous tense in English is used to describe an action or event that is taking place in that moment.
The present continuous tense consists of two parts:
Present continuous tense examples:
The table below shows the conjugation of the verb 'to be'.
Subject | Present tense of the verb to be |
---|---|
I | am |
You | are |
He / she / it | is |
We | are |
You | are |
They | are |
How the present continuous tense is formed, depends on whether the sentence is:
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Structure: subject / pronoun + form of 'to be' + verb + suffix '-ing' + rest of the sentence
Examples:
Structure: subject / pronoun + negative form of 'to be' + verb + suffix 'ing' + rest of the sentence
The table below shows the conjugation of the verb 'to be' in the negative form.
Subject | Verb 'to be' |
---|---|
I | am not |
You | are not |
He / she / it | is not |
We | are not |
You | are not |
They | are not |
Examples:
Structure: form of the verb 'to be' + subject / pronoun + verb + suffix '-ing' + rest of the sentence + question mark
Examples:
The table below shows the situations in which the present continuous is used.
Situation | Example |
---|---|
You want to describe an action or event that takes place at that exact moment. |
|
You want to describe an action or event that is happening now, but not necessarily during the conversation. |
|
You want to describe an action or event that is already scheduled, but is not happening right now. |
|
You want to describe a temporary event or a temporary situation. |
|
You want to describe and emphasize a continuous series of repeated actions. Often combined with words as 'always, forever, constantly.' |
|
You can recognize the use of the present continuous tense when the sentence contains words as:
There are some verbs that normally don't appear in the present continuous, because they refer to a status and not to an action or event:
Do the exercises below to test your knowledge of the present continuous.
Remember: The present continuous tense consists of two parts:
He at a school right now. (to work)
We our sister with her homework today. (to help)
I a meal for my family. (to cook)
They in the sea now. (to swim)
She her father. (to call)
You wine in a restaurant right now. (to drink)
We to school. (to walk)
He with his best friend on Sunday. (to meet)
I not attention in class now, because I am on my phone. (to pay)
They the game. (to watch)
Fill in the correct form of 'to be' to make the present continuous.
He walking to the store.
You running the park.
I sitting on the couch.
We listening to the radio.
They studying for the exam.
She trying on some clothes.
The cat drinking milk.
Maria going to a friend's house.
I buying some food.
My parents helping me decorate my room.
Fill in the correct form of the present continuous of the verbs between brackets. The present tense of the verb 'to be' is already given.
Remember: The second part of the present continuous: verb + suffix '-ing'
He is to his university right now. (to walk)
I am water all day. (to drink)
She is not today. (to swim)
We are our grandmother this Saturday. (to visit)
They are TV upstairs. (to watch)
The weather in the Netherlands is often bad, but the sun is at the moment. (to shine)
Sanna and Peter are constantly (to argue)
We are on our project right now. (to work)
He is salad, because he is on a diet. (to eat)
Why are you always about your work? (to complain)
Fill in the English present continuous.
Remember:
She not to the festival. (to go)
we together? (to work)
I pictures of the animals in the zoo. (to take)
You your lunch. (to eat)
they the bill? (to pay)
We not to Barcelona, but to Madrid. (to fly)
Harry to my house later today. (to come)
Nadia her sister a present. (to give)
My mother my grandmother. (to call)
You me for a favour. (to ask)
Remember: The present continuous tense consists of two parts:
He at a school right now. (to work)
We our sister with her homework today. (to help)
I a meal for my family. (to cook)
They in the sea now. (to swim)
She her father. (to call)
You wine in a restaurant right now. (to drink)
We to school. (to walk)
He with his best friend on Sunday. (to meet)
I not attention in class now, because I am on my phone. (to pay)
They the game. (to watch)
Fill in the correct form of 'to be' to make the present continuous.
He walking to the store.
You running the park.
I sitting on the couch.
We listening to the radio.
They studying for the exam.
She trying on some clothes.
The cat drinking milk.
Maria going to a friend's house.
I buying some food.
My parents helping me decorate my room.
Fill in the correct form of the present continuous of the verbs between brackets. The present tense of the verb 'to be' is already given.
Remember: The second part of the present continuous: verb + suffix '-ing'
He is to his university right now. (to walk)
I am water all day. (to drink)
She is not today. (to swim)
We are our grandmother this Saturday. (to visit)
They are TV upstairs. (to watch)
The weather in the Netherlands is often bad, but the sun is at the moment. (to shine)
Sanna and Peter are constantly (to argue)
We are on our project right now. (to work)
He is salad, because he is on a diet. (to eat)
Why are you always about your work? (to complain)
Fill in the English present continuous.
Remember:
She not to the festival. (to go)
we together? (to work)
I pictures of the animals in the zoo. (to take)
You your lunch. (to eat)
they the bill? (to pay)
We not to Barcelona, but to Madrid. (to fly)
Harry to my house later today. (to come)
Nadia her sister a present. (to give)
My mother my grandmother. (to call)
You me for a favour. (to ask)
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I have studied social sciences to PhD level and have experience of working in universities as a researcher, including giving tutorials. I have also worked as a professional proofreader.
I speak British English and I have an appreciation of other varieties of English, sometimes referred to as ‘Global Englishes’, as well as the use of English as a ‘lingua franca’ or common language.
I have been trained in the ‘communicative approach’ to language teaching. This approach is based on the idea that the best way for us to learn a language is through using it in communication that is meaningful for us. My lessons will help you to learn English through using it in activities and tasks that are connected to your reasons for learning English and your wider interests. The lessons will include vocabulary, grammar and other aspects of language as well as the four skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, depending on your priorities. I would like to have some background information about you, including why you are learning English, your professional and/or personal interests and your first language. I can then create lessons that meet your individual needs with activities that are personalised for you.
I have also been trained in teaching English online and I am familiar with a range of digital tools that can make the lessons effective and interesting. I am also familiar with several sources of professionally designed study materials that are publicly available for adaptation for different learners. I will give you feedback on your strengths and on how to improve. I can also give guidance on homework and other resources you can access, if this is of interest to you.
I welcome your feedback on each lesson.
I have experience of learning languages myself, including Mandarin and Turkish, which I really enjoy. I hope that you will enjoy my English lessons.
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I am an experienced English tutor specialized in IELTS and TOEFL exam preparation. My main focus is on speaking and writing section with additional focus or reading and listening.I offer a result oriented learning plan to achieve your desired score. The student will have homework after every lesson and ample opportunity to practice speaking during the lesson. I prepare a custom learning plan for every student depending on their present English level. I am an easy going and jovial personality and i make the lessons interesting by including real life examples. The student can expect smooth learning to achieve their goal. I also teach basic conversational English and prepare students for interview or presentation. For further information , the students are requested to take the trial lesson and contact me by message.
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- Learn with a native English speaker: MA in Special Needs, PGCE, CELTA
- Advance essential skills: speaking, reading, listening comprehension, writing
- Prepare for TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, exam with confidence
- Homework assistance for primary and secondary students in bilingual schools
- Well-prepared lessons with abundant teaching resources
- Personalised strategy ans structured lessons
- Helpful suggestions for practicing at home
- Choose a lesson package that works for you
- Please indicate your city/country/time zone in your lesson request
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This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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I am an English language teacher with a strong academic background and a love of languages. I enjoy helping people to develop their ability to use English in different contexts.
I have the internationally recognised Cambridge CELTA qualification (Pass A) in English language teaching. I am teaching English to those learning for professional reasons or academic study as well as those learning for personal reasons or holidays. I am able to teach all levels from beginner to advanced (CEFR Levels A1-C2). I usually teach adults.
I have studied social sciences to PhD level and have experience of working in universities as a researcher, including giving tutorials. I have also worked as a professional proofreader.
I speak British English and I have an appreciation of other varieties of English, sometimes referred to as ‘Global Englishes’, as well as the use of English as a ‘lingua franca’ or common language.
I have been trained in the ‘communicative approach’ to language teaching. This approach is based on the idea that the best way for us to learn a language is through using it in communication that is meaningful for us. My lessons will help you to learn English through using it in activities and tasks that are connected to your reasons for learning English and your wider interests. The lessons will include vocabulary, grammar and other aspects of language as well as the four skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, depending on your priorities. I would like to have some background information about you, including why you are learning English, your professional and/or personal interests and your first language. I can then create lessons that meet your individual needs with activities that are personalised for you.
I have also been trained in teaching English online and I am familiar with a range of digital tools that can make the lessons effective and interesting. I am also familiar with several sources of professionally designed study materials that are publicly available for adaptation for different learners. I will give you feedback on your strengths and on how to improve. I can also give guidance on homework and other resources you can access, if this is of interest to you.
I welcome your feedback on each lesson.
I have experience of learning languages myself, including Mandarin and Turkish, which I really enjoy. I hope that you will enjoy my English lessons.
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Emily is a native speaker, this is why she is an ideal teacher if you want to learn more than only the English language. She teaches to adults and to all levels A1 until C2. She has lots of different and interactive learning materials. Overall, she is a great teacher, and you will surely learn a lot from her.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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I am an experienced English tutor specialized in IELTS and TOEFL exam preparation. My main focus is on speaking and writing section with additional focus or reading and listening.I offer a result oriented learning plan to achieve your desired score. The student will have homework after every lesson and ample opportunity to practice speaking during the lesson. I prepare a custom learning plan for every student depending on their present English level. I am an easy going and jovial personality and i make the lessons interesting by including real life examples. The student can expect smooth learning to achieve their goal. I also teach basic conversational English and prepare students for interview or presentation. For further information , the students are requested to take the trial lesson and contact me by message.
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Great teacher, lovely person, smart and open minded. I also like the fact that he is aware of cultural differences and his methodology of teaching is actually so effective. I was very happy to have selected him, he did an amazing job! If you are looking for a teacher who knows exactly what you should know before the exam, I strongly recommended contacting Tapas. He will show you the ingredients needed to write a good essay, report and proposal and pay attention to the rules of constructing statements in specific parts required during the exam. I Highly recommend him if you are looking for....
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