Present Continuous Tense

The Present Continuous is mainly used to express the idea that something is happening at the moment of speaking. The Present Continuous also describes activities generally in progress (not at the moment). Another use of the tense is to talk about temporary actions or future plans.

USE:

• Things that are happening now, at the moment.

What are you doing?
She's reading in the garden.
They're not standing in the rain.

• Actions happening in a period around the present moment in time.

I'm reading "The Surgeon's Mate" by Patrick O'Brian.
Whose account are you working on?
She's studying hard for her final exam.

• Future plans and arrangements.

We're having leftovers this evening.
What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?
She isn't coming on Friday.


Common present continuous time expressions include:
at the moment, now, today, this week, this month, tomorrow, next week (for future arrangements ), currently.


STRUCTURE

Affirmative
Conjugate the helping verb "be" + verb + -ing.

I'm (I am) -> working today.
You're (You are) -> working today.
He's (He is) -> working today.
She's (She is) -> working today.
It's (It is) -> working today.
We're (We are) -> working today.
You're (You are) -> working today.
They're (They are) -> working today.

Negative
Conjugate the helping verb "be" + not + verb + -ing.

I'm not (I am not) -> coming this evening.
You aren't (You are not) -> coming this evening.
He isn't (He is not) -> coming this evening.
She isn't (She is not) -> coming this evening.
It isn't (It is not) -> coming this evening.
We aren't (We are not) -> coming this evening.
You aren't (You are not) -> coming this evening.
They aren't (They are not) -> coming this evening.

Interrogative
Question word + conjugate the helping verb 'be' + subject + verb + -ing

What -> are you -> doing this afternoon?
What -> is he -> doing this afternoon?
What -> is she -> doing this afternoon?
What -> is it -> doing this afternoon?
What -> are we -> doing this afternoon?
What -> are you -> doing this afternoon?
What -> are they -> doing this afternoon?

AFFIRMATIVE (S+ BE [is, am, are] + V-ing + C)		NEGATIVE(S+ BE [is, am, are] + NOT +V-ing + C)
I am studying English now.		I am not studying English now.
He is studying English now.		He is not studying English now.
She is studying English now.		She is not studying English now.
We are studying English now.		We are not studying English now.
They are studying English now.		They are not studying English now.
You are studying English now.		You are not studying English now.
INTERROGATIVE (BE [is, am, are] + S + V-ing + C + ?)
Am I studying English now? (+) Yes, you are. (-) No, you aren’t.		Are we studying English now? (+) Yes, we are. (-) No, we aren’t.
Is he studying English now? (+) Yes, he is. (-) No, he isn’t.		Are they studying English now? (+) Yes, they are. (-) No, they aren’t.
Is she studying English now? (+) Yes, she is. (-) No, she isn’t.		Are you studying English now? (+) Yes, I am. (-) No, I am not.

(Illustrative Situations) Read the text and answer the questions!

Example : Karno Rano is a businessman. At the moment he is in a plane on his way to Jakarta from Jayapura. There is a cup of coffee in his right hand, a smile on his face, and a beautiful woman

in front of him.

Question: What is he doing?

Answers : 1. He’s flying to Jakarta.

2. He’s drinking a cup of coffee.

3. He’s smiling at a beautiful woman.

Text 1

Ms. Widiastuti is a teacher. She is in class now.

Question : What is she doing?

Text 2

Ricardo Kaka’ is a great football player. He is on the field now, and everyone’s eyes are on him.

Question : What is he doing?

Text 3

Andika has a job in bank from 09.00 a. m. to 05.00 p.m. It is 02.00 p. m. now and he is still in the bank.

Question : What is he doing?

Text 4

Mr. and Mrs. Yulianto are at a restaurant now. The steak is very good and so is the orange juice.

Question : What are they doing?

Text 5

Komang and Rita like plays very much. They are at the theatre now, and the actors are on the stage.

Questions : 1. What are Komang and Rita doing?

2. What are the actors doing?

Text 6

It’s a sunny Saturday, and everyone in Bambang’s neighbourhood is outside today. Bambang is with his bicycle. Daud, his next door neighbour, is near his car with a bucket of water and a piece of cloth. Mr. Jauhari is on the lawn with a sickle in his right hand. Some boys are in the yard with a ball. Some girls are in the garden with their jerry-cans full of water. It’s a nice day to be outside!

Questions :

1. What is Bambang doing?

2. What is Daud doing?

3. What is Mr. Jauhari doing

4. What are the boys doing?

5. What are the girls doing?

Make sentences! (Orally)
Example : the waiter / serve / the guest / now
• The waiter is serving the guest now.

1. he / deliver / the mails / now
2. astronauts / travel / the space / now
3. pilot / fly / the plane / now
4. mother / tell / a story / to my little brother / now
5. the dog / chase / the cat / now
6. the workers / build / a bridge / at the moment
7. I / interview / a famous artist / at the moment
8. Maman / post / the letter / now
9. the doctor / examine / the patient / at the moment
10. Barry/ talk / to Pramasti / now