present progressove

The PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE indicates continuing action, something going on now. This tense is formed with the helping “to be” verb, in the present tense, plus the present participle of the verb (with an -ing ending): “I am buying all my family’s Christmas gifts early this year.

The PRESENT PROGRESSIVE is formed by combining the verb “to be” with the present participle. (The present participle is merely the “-ing” form of a verb.) I am studying. I am studying with María. In English, present progressive can be used to describe what is happening now, or what will happen in the future.

to get technical about it, present is a tense, but continuous and progressive are grammatical aspects, not tenses. … English makes no distinction between continuous and progressive, and they are both formed using the present participle (–ing verb forms)

1. Use of the Present Progressive

1.1. actions happening at the moment of speaking

Peter is reading a book now.

1.2. fixed plans in the near future

We are going to Basel on Saturday.

1.3. temporary actions

I am working in Rome this month.

1.4. actions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions)

My friend is preparing for his exams.

1.5. trends

More and more people are using their computers to listen to music.

1.6. repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Andrew is always coming late.

2. Signal words

• now
• at the moment
• Look!
• Listen!

3. Form

to be (am, are, is) + Infinitiv + -ing

4. Examples

4.1. Affirmative sentences in the Present Progressive

4.2. Negative sentences in the Present Progressive

4.3. Questions in the Present Progressive