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FORM
[am/is/are + present participle]
Examples:
You are watching TV.
Are you watching TV?
You are not watching TV.
Besonderheiten:
Present Continous is used for:
- Now – Use the Present Continuous with „Normal Verbs“ (not Non-Continuous Verbs) to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now. Examples: Are you sleeping? I am sitting. I am not standing
- Also longer actions in Progress Now – In English, „now“ can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second. Examples: I am not studying to become a dentist. I am reading the book Blablabla.
- Near Future – Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future. Examples: I am not going to the party tonight. Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
- Repetition and Irritation with „Always“ – The Present Continuous with words such as „always“ or „constantly“ expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words „always“ or „constantly“ between „be“ and „verb+ing.“ Examples: She is always coming to class late.
He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up. I don’t like them because they are always complaining.
Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses.
She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct
She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Right now, Tom is writing the letter. Active
Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. Passive
Signal words:
at the moment, at present, just, just now, now, right now, still,today, tonight. Look! Listen!
Sources and weblinks:
Article is based on Present Continous On that page you can find also some helpful exercises.
Present Progressiv- online üben und lernen
Present Progressiv
Bildquelle: By Katie Chan – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39193497