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Long tense in English. Present Continuous is the present continuous tense in English. Rules for the formation of interrogative sentences in the present continuous tense

Today we will talk about the differences in Present Simple And ) Tenses(present simple and present continuous).

Present Simple

When do we use this time? Let's look at an example and analyze the use of the simple present tense.

I live . — I live.

If we say that we live somewhere, it means that we are talking about something more or less permanent.

The simple present tense is also used to indicate actions that are always happening. For example:

The sun rises in the East. — The sun rises in the east.

Also used to describe regular actions Present Simple:

Every day I wake up up at this time. I take a shower. — Every day I get up at this time. I am taking a shower.

A little later we will look at the simple present tense in more detail. Now we will look at the present continuous tense for comparison with the simple present tense.

Present Continuous (Progressive))

I am staying. — I am standing.

I am working. — I am working.

I'm speaking— I am talking.

You are listening or you are writing. — You listen or write.

We use the present continuous tense to describe actions that are happening right now or temporarily for a long time - a period of time. Those. for example, you can say about someone that he is writing a book, he has been writing it for some time, but at the very moment he may not be writing it, but we still say: He is writing a book.

This period of time can be anything - two minutes, a week or 10 years. The main thing here is that this is not a permanent action, but a temporary one that is happening now.

In order to better understand the difference in the use of these tenses, I will give another example:

Where are you live? — I live in Canada, Toronto. — Present Simple

While you are in Toronto where are you staying? — I’m staying at the hotel. — Present Continuous

Present Simple Tense - in more detail

The “s” ending on verbs with third person nouns is very important. Many students forget about it at the initial stage.

These were examples positive suggestions. Now let's see what the simple present tense will look like in negative sentences.

More examples of sentences with the simple present tense:

He works in the office.

He doesn’t work in the office.

Does he work in the office?

They live in Toronto.

They don't live in Toronto.

Do they live in Toronto?

English Joke

Old farmer Johnson was dying. The family was standing around his bed. With a low voice he sad to his wife: “When I’m dead I want you to marry farmer Jones.”
wife: “No, I can’t marry anyone after you.”
Johnson: "But I want you to."
wife: “But why?”
Johnson: “Jones once cheated me in a horse deal!”

Present Continuous is the present continuous tense in English, its main meaning is a continuous action taking place at the present moment.

Present Continuous – all the most important things

This image provides the most basic information about the Present Continuous. Read more below.

Present Continuous education scheme: rules and examples

Let's look at how the continuous present tense is formed in an affirmative, negative and interrogative sentence.

1. Present Continuous in the affirmative form: I am talking

In the affirmative form, the Present Continuous is formed using a verb and a verb with the ending – ing, in this case only the verb changes to be. Examples are given in the table:

Examples:

Are you talking to me? -Are you talking to me?

Is this device working properly? – Does this device work correctly?

Meaning of Present Continuous: When is the continuous simple tense used?

Present Continuous is used in the following cases.

• A long-term action occurs now, that is, at the moment of speech.

Example sentences:

I am going to a swimming pool. – I’m going to the pool (I’m going now).

I am working. – I’m working (at the moment).

Compare how the meaning changes if the verb is in:

I go to a swimming pool. – I go to the pool (in general, regularly, but not at the moment).

I work. – I’m working (in general, not at the moment).

• A long-term action takes place in the present period of time.

That is, not in the literal sense now (that is, at this second), but in a broader sense, for example, during this day, this month.

I am reading the book “War and Peace” . – I am reading the book “War and Peace” (not at the moment, the book is in the process of reading).

He is writing a new song. – He is writing a new song (not right now, but in some real period of time).

• To express an action that will happen in the near future.

That is, to express the intention to perform this action or the confidence that it will certainly happen.

You are going with me - You are coming with me (meaning: you will come with me).

I am leaving the town in 24 hours – I’m leaving the city in 24 hours (I’ll leave).

• A repetitive action with a negative connotation.

This case is rarely mentioned in educational literature, but it should be mentioned because it is characteristic of colloquial speech. Present Continuous with words like always, constantly(meaning “constantly”, “all the time”) expresses some unpleasant, irritating action that occurs regularly.

He is constantly talking. I hate it. - He talks all the time. I hate it.

I don't like them because they are always complaining. – I don’t like them because they constantly complain.

In essence, the meaning is like y - a repeated regular action, but here we are talking about an annoying, unpleasant action.

Verbs that are not used in the Present Continuous

Some verbs expressing perception, feelings, emotional state are not used (as a rule) in Continuous tenses, because they cannot express a continuous action. These include verbs.

Present continuous tense ( Present Continuous) is formed according to the scheme: to be+present participle of the semantic verb

to be+verb ending ing

Examples:

It is important to understand the difference between the simple present and simple continuous tenses.

Simple present tense describes habitual actions in the present tense. Present continuous tense describes actions that occur at the moment of speech or during the period to which this moment relates.

Compare:

Questions with the present continuous tense in English.

1. Interrogative sentences requiring a simple yes/no answer.

In questions subject and verb to be change places. Present participle (ing form) costs after the verb to be and the subject.

Scheme:

to be+subject+verb ending ing

Examples:

Are you painting the house?	Are you painting the house?
Is he going to the hardware store?	Is he going to the hardware store?
Is it raining?	It's raining?

Answers can be detailed or short.

2. Use of question words.

The word order in such questions is the same as in simple questions of the previous type. Question word is put before auxiliary and main verbs:

Wh...+to be+subject+verb ending ing

Examples:

If the question says why (why), the answer uses the word because (because).

Examples:

If the answer is short, then it includes only the second part of the sentence (starting with the words “because”).

Examples:

Negation with the present continuous tense

Negation in the present continuous tense is formed like this: add to the form of the verb to be particle not.

Here you need to remember the short forms: am not = ain't; is not = isn't; are not = aren't.

Example:

She is not working at the moment. She's not working right now.

Spelling forms of the present continuous tense.

Typically for education present participles add at the end of the verb ing.

Examples:

work (work) + ing = working (working)

paint (paint)+ing=painting (painting)

I work in Chicago.	I"m working in Chicago this year.
I work in Chicago.	I'm working in Chicago this year.
I paint the house every summer.	I"m painting the house right now.
I paint my house every year.	I'm painting the house now.

There are other cases of formation of the present participle:

1. If the infinitive ends in “e” and the previous consonant, then when forming participles, “e” is replaced by “ing”.

Examples:

imagine imagine imagining imagining

write write writing writing

Exception: verbs that end in ee.

For example:

free flee freeing fleeing

2. In one-syllable verbs that end in a consonant preceded by a vowel, double the consonant before the ending "ing".

Examples:

run run running running

get receive getting receiving

Exception: Consonants are not doubled: x, w, y.

Examples: to fix, to play

I"m fixing the sink.	I'm fixing the kitchen sink.
The cats are playing.	Cats are playing.

3. Verbs of two syllables in which the stress falls on the last syllable double the final vowel before the ending "ing".

Examples:

begin start off beginning beginning

4. If the verb ends in "ie", this ending is replaced with "y", then "ing" is added.

die die dying dying

lie lie lying lying

Using the present continuous tense.

1. Action occurring at the moment of speech.

Examples:

I'm painting the kitchen.	I'm painting the kitchen.
My husband is helping me.	My husband helps me.

2. An action covering a certain period of time in the present.

Example:

Nelly is studying at University. Nellie studies at the university.

3. Emotionally colored facial characteristics. Typically this is a negative rating.

Example:

She is constantly talking about money. She constantly talks about money.

4. A pre-planned action that will occur in the near future.

Used with verbs of motion: move, come, go, leave, return, start.

Examples:

The show is starting soon. The show starts soon.

Are you moving to the new flat? Are you moving to a new apartment?

5. An action in progress that occurs simultaneously with another action (in the simple past tense). This tense is used in subordinate clauses of time and condition after conjunctions: when, while, aslong as, if, in case, unless.

Example:

David always talks when he is eating. David always talks when he eats.

Present Continuous Tense (or Present Progressive Tense) is translated from English as “present continuous tense”. In English speech it is used on a par with the Present Simple, with the same frequency, and occupies an important place in grammar.

When the Present Continuous is used - when it is necessary to emphasize the duration of an action in the present. The limits of “duration” can be different: an action can last indefinitely or occupy a certain period of time - all these are cases of using the Present Continuous.

Present Continuous - formation of sentences of different types

Statement

According to the rules of the English language, any sentence is constructed in a certain order. In affirmative sentences, the subject takes first place, the predicate - second. In the Present Continuous, the predicate is made up of the auxiliary verb to be and the main (semantic) verb, which expresses the action. To be takes the desired form (am, is, are) depending on the subject, and the main verb takes on the ending -ing.

1. Formula: I am + ing verb Example: I am singing - I sing.
2. Formula: He/She/It is + ing verb Examples: He is smiling - He smiles. She is dancing - She is dancing. It is shining - It shines.
3. Formula: We/You/They are + verb-ing Examples: We are listening - We are listening. You are reading - You are reading. They are swimming - They are swimming.

Adding the ending -ing to a verb is a general rule. However, adding an ending can transform the stem of some verbs when forming the Present Continuous.

1. Verb ends in -e Rule: the last letter is discarded Example: make - making (to do)
2. The verb ends in -ie Rule: -ie is replaced by -y Example: lie - lying (lie down)
3. Monosyllabic verb ending in a vowel and a consonant Rule: last consonant is doubled Example: get - getting

Negation

When the Present Continuous is used in negative sentences, the auxiliary and main verb are separated by the particle not.

1. Formula: I am not + ing verb Example: I am not singing - I don’t sing.
2. Formula: He/She/It is not + ing verb Examples: He is not smiling - He does not smile. She is not dancing - She doesn’t dance. It is not shining - It does not shine.
3. Formula: We/You/They are not + verb-ing Examples: We are not listening - We are not listening. You are not reading - You are not reading. They are not swimming - They do not swim.

Question

When the Present Continuous is used in interrogative sentences, the auxiliary verb takes first place, followed by the subject and then the main verb.

1. Formula: Am I + verb-ing Example: Am I singing? - I sing?
2. Formula: Is He/She/It + verb-ing Examples: Is he smiling? - He smiles? She is dancing? - She is dancing? Is it shining? - Is it shining?
3. Formula: Are We/You/They + verb-ing Examples: Are we listening? - We are listening? Are you reading? - You are reading? Are they swimming? - They are swimming?

Present Continuous - used in typical cases

1. The action is happening right now, at the time of speech. You can also use the Present construction

Continuous for several actions occurring simultaneously in the present. Marker words: now (now), at the moment (at the moment).

Example: She is eating apple while I am drinking juice - She eats an apple while I drink juice. (two actions are performed simultaneously)

2. The action is extended in time and occurs in the present, but is not limited to the present second. It started a while ago and will continue for some time. During this period of time, the designated action is performed.

Marker words: now (now), currently (now, now), these days (In these days, the other day).

Example: We are moving into a new house - We are moving to a new house. (We are busy with the process of moving and will continue it, but at the time of speaking we are not specifically engaged in this, we are simply in a state of moving)

3. The situation is temporary.

Marker words: until (not yet), for (during), during (during).

Example: He is staying in New York for three months - He lives in New York for three months. (in three months, for some reason, he will leave New York, his period of stay in this city will end; this situation is temporary, he permanently resides, for example, in Moscow, and is in New York for work or in connection with studies)

4. The action is developing or constantly changing, the sentence often contains specific verbs to indicate it. Describing the process of change is a case of using the Present Continuous. Marker words: get (become), change (change), rise (rise), fall (fall), grow (grow), become (become), start (begin), improve (improve), begin (begin). Example: Your English is getting better - Your English is getting better. (there is a gradual increase in your level of English)

Special cases of using the Present Continuous construction

1. The deed is planned and will definitely be done in the near future, often with a date, place or some other details indicated.

Marker words: this/next week (this/next week), tonight (in the evening), today (today), tomorrow (tomorrow), this/next year (this/next year), this/next weekend (in these /next weekend).

Example: Next week we are buying a new car - Next week we are buying a new car. (we have not just decided, but have already chosen the brand of car and the car dealership where the purchase will be made)

2. We are talking about action in the present, affecting the near future, using verbs denoting movement.

Marker words: go (go), move (move), leave (leave), start (start), come (come), return (return).

Example: I'm tired. I am going to bed. - I'm tired. I am going to sleep. (right now I feel tired and will go to sleep right after I report this)

3. The speech is emotionally charged, the speaker is dissatisfied, annoyed or outraged by something that constantly happens.

Marker words: all the time (all the time), always (always), constantly (constantly)

Example: You are always interrupting me! - You constantly interrupt me! (you do this all the time and it annoys me)

4. Present Continuous - cases of use with state verbs.

According to the rules, such verbs in English are not used in the present tense, since they denote feelings and mental processes that have no time limits - these verbs express a state rather than an action.

However, if the meaning of such a verb you need is a specific action that has a beginning and an end, then the phrase can be constructed using the Present Continuous formula.

Marker words: to love, to feel, to wish, to think, to see, to look, to smell, to have ) and others

Examples: The steak tastes good. - This steak tastes great. (steak prepared according to this recipe is always delicious) The chef is tasting the steak. - The cook tastes the steak. (he's doing it right now)

Using the Present Continuous in difficult cases

1. We are talking about something new with a contrast to the old.

Example: He has left university, now he is working with his friend - He left the university and is now working with his friend.

2. We are talking about the unusual behavior of a certain person, he suddenly began to behave differently than before.

Example: She is eating too much - She eats too much. (before this she did not have such a good appetite)

3. Present Continuous is used in subordinate clauses after conjunctions. The sentence speaks of two actions, one of which is single or “short” (Present Simple), the second long (Present Continuous). For an action that occurs “in the background,” the Present Continuous is used, and for an event that interrupts it, the Present Simple is used.

Marker words: as long as (yet), when (when), in case (if), if (if), while (while), unless (not yet).

Example: I try not to make noise in case my daughter is reading her book - I try not to make noise when my daughter reads.

Meaning of Continuous time and translation:

Continuous tenses denote actions that take place (have taken place, will take place) at a precisely specified time - present, past and future. Additional characteristics of such actions are their incompleteness, dynamism, and visibility. This can be seen from the comparison of infinitives:
To work - to work (Indefinite)
To be working – literally to be working (Continuous), i.e. it shows the process as unfinished and ongoing.

For example, you can say. Our children read and Our children are reading. Both sentences translate as: Our children read.
But in the first case, Present Indefinite, you give only the most general idea: Our children read in the sense that they know how and love to read. At the moment of pronouncing these words, children may not dance, but learn lessons, play, dance.
But the sentence Our children are reading shows a specific picture of children reading: They are reading now.

The Continuous form is formed using the auxiliary verb to be.

Present Continuous

Present Continuous is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the present tense and the 4th main form of the verb.

Present Continuous Verb Conjugation Table

Affirmative form	Interrogative form	Negative form
I am reading	Am I reading? I am reading?	I am not reading
He, she, it is reading He, she, it reads	Is he, she, it reading? Does he, she, it read?	He, she, it is not reading
We are reading	Are we reading? We read?	We are not reading
You are reading	Are you reading? You are reading?	You are not reading
They are working	Are they reading? They are reading	They are not working

Note 1:

It is worth noting that the singular and plural forms are the same.
You are asking. You ask.
You are asking.

Note 2:

In spoken English, instead of full forms, abbreviated forms are usually used: isn’t, aren’t

Present Continuous is used in the following cases:

1. To express an action, an event occurring at the present moment in time or at the moment of speech. Shows that the action taking place at the present moment began before this moment and will continue after it.
An indication of time such as now (now), at the moment (at the moment) can be either expressed or implied.

She is answering (at this moment). She answers (currently)
She is studying at school (now). She is currently studying at school.
He is writing a letter. He is writing a letter now.
I'm sitting in the park. I'm sitting in the park.
Young woman is reading a book. Young woman reading a book.

2. To express a future action (similarly in Russian), when there is an intention to perform an action or confidence in its completion.
In this case, the future is indicated by the adverb: soon (soon), tomorrow (tomorrow), next week (next week).

Liza is arriving in Moscow soon. Lisa will soon arrive in Moscow.
They are leaving London tonight. They are leaving London today.

Note:

With state verbs:

To love (to love);
- to think (think);
- to want (to want);
- to live (to live);
- to be (life, to be);
- to feel (feel);
- to see (see);
- to know (to know);
- to remember (remember);
- to hear (hear);
- to stay (stay);

Present Continuous is not used.

The exception is the case when they want to show that a given condition is temporary.

How are you feeling? – Great. How do you feel? - Fabulous.
I know I'm being a stupid. But I don't know to do. I know I'm being stupid. But I don't know what to do.

Past Continuous

Past Continuous is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the past tense and the 4th main form of the verb.

Past Continuous conjugation table

Affirmative form	Interrogative form	Negative form
I was asking	Was I asking? I asked?	I was not asking
He, she, it was asking	Was he, she, it asking? Did he, she ask?	He, she, it was not asking
We were asking	Were we asking? Did we ask?	We were not asking
You were asking	Were you asking? Did you ask?	You were not asking
They were asking	Were they asking? Did they ask?	They were not asking

Past Continuous is used in the following cases:

1. To express an action that took place (lasted) at a certain moment in the past, which is indicated either by a circumstance of time or by another action in the past. However, neither the beginning nor the end of the long-term action is known.

You were reading a book at 5 o’clock. You were reading a book at five o'clock.
You were reading a book when they came. I was reading a book when they arrived.
At weekend I was preparing for my exams. Over the weekend I studied for my exams.

2. To express a long-term action that took place during a certain period of time in the past (from five to six, all day long, the whole day yesterday)

I was writing letters the whole day yesterday. I wrote letters all day yesterday.

Important!
In this case, the beginning and end of the action are unknown, all that matters is that it lasted the entire specified period of time.
In both cases, 1 and 2 Past Continuous is used when it is necessary to emphasize the process of action itself, its duration.
If only the fact of the action is important, then Past Indefinite is used.

In addition, the Past Continuous can be used to express simultaneous actions that took place in the past at the same moment.

The children were playing in the yard while their mother was watching TV. The children were playing in the garden while the mother was watching TV.

As I was taking a shower, my girlfriend was cooking breakfast. While I was taking a shower, my girlfriend was preparing breakfast.

3. Past Continuous is used with verbs of motion to express a future action that is planned in the past and viewed from the point of view of the past.

My mom was glad that I was leaving for Moscow. My mother was glad that I was going to Moscow.
They said that I was returning the next week. They said I was coming back next week.
She wrote she was arriving on Sunday. She wrote that she was coming on Sunday.

Note 1:

The Past Continuous, like the Present Continuous, is usually not used with state verbs. State verbs are used in the Past Continuous only in cases where it is emphasized that this state is temporary.

Note 2:

The Past Continuous sometimes expresses a constant characteristic of someone in the past. In this case, the sentence contains the adverbs always, constantly.

He was always coming and staying for hours giving pointless advice and asking endless questions.
He always came and sat for hours, giving useless advice and asking endless questions.

Future Continuous

Future Continuous expresses a future action in the process of its completion, i.e. an unfinished long-term action. It is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the future tense and the 4th main form of the verb.

Conjugation table for the Future Continuous

Affirmative form	Interrogative form	Negative form
I shall be speaking. I will speak.	Shall I be speaking. I will speak?	I shall not be speaking. I will not speak.
He, she, it will be speaking. She, she, it will speak.	Will he, she, it be speaking? She, she, it will speak?	He, she, it will not be speaking. She, she, it won't speak.
You will be speaking. You will talk.	Will you be speaking? Will you speak?	You will not be speaking. You won't speak.
We shall be speaking. We will talk.	Shall we be speaking? We will talk?	We shall not be speaking. We won't talk.
They will be speaking. They will talk.	Will they be speaking? Will they talk?	They will not be speaking. They won't talk.

Future Continuous is used:

1. To express a continuous action that will begin before a certain moment in the future and will still continue, last at that moment. This may be indicated by the circumstance of time (at that moment, at six o’clock, at midnight)

At seven o'clock tomorrow she will be having exam. Tomorrow at seven o'clock she will take the exam.
If you ring him up at midnight, she won’t answer. She will be sleeping. If you call her at midnight, she won't answer. She will sleep.

2. To express a long-term action that will be performed at a certain period of time in the future.

Don’t call my friend tonight between 7 and 11. She will be wring a letter. Don't call my friend between 7 and 11 o'clock. She will write a letter.
I shall be reading the whole day tomorrow. Tomorrow I will read all day.

3. To express the intention to perform an action in the future or confidence in its completion.

I shall be reading tonight. I'm going to read this evening.
She will be visiting me tomorrow. Tomorrow she is going to visit me.