Present Continuous Tense: Present Continuous Tense #1

Dennis Oliver

The Present Continuous Tense #1

There are several continuous tenses in English, and all of
them are similar in form: they use BE + the -ing form of
another verb. The uses of all the continuous tenses are similar
but not exactly the same--and of course they are used for
different times.

To understand present continuous tense better, let's take
a look at its form.

Present Continuous Tense: Form

The present continuous tense always has two parts:

1.		BE (present: am, are, is)

2.		a verb ending in -ing

Examples:

He is studying.
They are arguing.
It is raining.
You are reading these examples.
I am using my computer to make these examples.

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Special Notes:

1.		Contractions with BE are common with present continuous tense, especially with subject pronouns: He's studying. They're arguing. It's raining. You're reading these examples. I'm using my computer to make these examples.

2.		Contractions are also possible when the subject is a noun--especially when the subject means he, she, or it: Bob's sleeping. Maria's watching TV. The bell's ringing loudly.

3.		Some people use the term present progressive tense instead of present continuous tense. Both names are correct.

4.		It is actually more accurate to say that sentences like "I'm using my computer to make these examples" are in present tense and show the progressive aspect.

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Next: uses of th present continuous tense

Present Continuous Tense: Present Continuous Tense #1

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