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Present continuous (present progressive) |
Pattern
| I am eating | I'm not eating | am I eating? |
| you are eating | you aren't eating | are you eating? |
| he is eating | he isn't eating | is he eating? |
| she is eating | she isn't eating | is she eating? |
| it is eating | it isn't eating | is it eating? |
| we are eating | we aren't eating | are we eating? |
| you are eating | you aren't eating | are you eating? |
| they are eating | they aren't eating | are they eating? |
Usage
1. Present actions that are happening now or around now, which means the actions are temporary, not habitual:
The car sales are increasing.
It's raining a lot now.
Compare:
She is living in San Francisco. (temporary action)
She lives in San Francisco. (fact)
2. Future arrangements: to ask about people's plans and talk about your own future plans (next week, tonight, tomorrow, on Monday, etc):
What are you doing next weekend?
Is Scott visiting his parents in September?
3. Complaints about people's typical behavior by using the adverb always:
Michael is always watching soccer games on TV (that's all he does!).
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the verbs in the present continuous:
1. They _____________(travel) to Jamaica next week.
2. _____she ______(read) a book now?
Yes, she _____.
3. Is it true that prices ___________(go up) in Brazil?
4. Scott __________(sail) this weekend.
5. Martha _________(neg / come) to class tonight, because she's in hospital.
Copyright ©2003-2007 Helcio Domingues