12.1 Usage:

A: to describe something happening now or for a limited time in the future.

e.g. Mary is working today.

John is learning French this year.

The policeman is not driving his car this week.

The students are not learning English this term.

N.B. Word order in the negative sentence.

B: to describe an expected or unexpected event that happens frequently and uses the adverb always:

e.g. The teacher is always shouting at his class.

It is always snowing in winter.

C: to make appointments and arrangements using go/come:

e.g. I am going to the dentist at 9 a.m..(not I go)

Eric is coming here tonight (not Eric comes)

D: to describe an event that is to happen and where the sentence includes a word/phrase with limited future meaning:

on Monday, on Tuesday etc.. in June, in July etc..

this afternoon, this evening, tomorrow etc.. next week, next month, next year etc..

e.g. Michael is buying a new car next Tuesday.

For my holiday in July, I am flying to Japan.

E: to form a question in the present tense:

e.g. Are you coming to my house? (not come you)

Is he going to work today? (not goes he)

N.B. the word order in a question.

12.2 Usage: Exception:

Some verbs are never used in the Present Continuous Tense.

A: Verbs of "thinking": to think (when it means believe), believe, agree, understand, know, remember, forget, mean, doubt.

e.g. I understand the teacher's lesson. ( not I am understanding)

B: Verbs of "feeling": to wish, love, hate, like, dislike, imagine, want

e.g. The soldier wishes to go home.(not is wishing)

C: Verbs of "possession": to have, own, belong, want.

e.g. The rich man owns three cars (not is owning)

D: Verbs for "reporting": to say, tell, answer, report.

e.g. My uncle says he is poor. (not is saying)

E: Particular verbs: to cost, seem, appear, need, weigh, prefer, recognise, taste.

e.g. The elephant weighs fifty kilos. (not is weighing)

12.3 Structure:

The verb to work:

singular plural

I am working We are working

You are working You are working

He/she/it is working They are working

The general rule for construction of the Present Continuous Tense of most verbs is:

Take the Simple Present Tense of the auxiliary verb to be plus the infinitive plus -ing.

12.4 Structure: Negatives

In negative sentences, the word not is placed immediately after the auxiliary verb and before the verb ending in -ing.

S AUX V

e.g. Positive: The driver is running to his bus.

Negative: The driver is not running to his bus.

/The driver isn't running to his bus.

12.5 Structure: Questions

To form questions, the auxiliary verb to be and the subject are reversed.

S AUX

e.g. Statement: We are going to the restaurant.

AUX S

Question: Are we going to the restaurant?

S AUX

Statement: The small boy is listening to the radio.

AUX S

Question: Is the small boy listening to the radio?

N.B. Carefully note the word order for a question including a negative. The word not follows immediately after the auxiliary verb and before the subject.

AUX S

e.g. Isn't he visiting his mother today?

Aren't the fish swimming quickly?

12.6 Final note on the Present Tenses:

In general, we use the Present Continuous Tense for temporary situations:-

e.g. They are going to the park.

We use the Simple Present Tense for permanent situations:-

e.g. I celebrate Christmas every year.