1. Present continuous, form

The present continuous of any verb is composed of two parts - the present tense of the verb to be + the present participle of the main verb.

(The form of the present participle is: base+ing, e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling)

AffirmativeSubject + to be + base+ingshe is talking

     NegativeSubject + to be + not + base+ingshe is not (isn't) talking

     Interrogativeto be + subject + base+ingis she talking?

Example: to go, present continuous

Affirmative Negative InterrogativeI am going I am not going Am I going?You are going You aren't going. Are you going?He, she, it is going He, she, it isn't going Is he, she, it going?We are going We aren't going Are we going?You are going You aren't going Are you going?They are going They aren't going Are they going?

Note: alternative negative contractions: I'm not going, you're not going, he's not going etc.

2. Present Continuous, function

As with all tenses in English, the speaker's attitude is as important as the time of the action or event. When someone uses the present continuous, they are thinking about something that is unfinished or incomplete.

The present continuous is used:

to describe an action that is going on at this moment e.g. You are using the Internet. You are studying English grammar.

to describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend, e.g.Are you still working for the same company? More and more people are becomingvegetarian.

to describe an action or event in the future, which has already been planned or prepared (See also 'Ways of expressing the future) e.g. 

We're going on holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visitingyou next winter?

to describe a temporary event or situation, e.g. He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment.

with 'always, forever, constantly', to describe and emphasise a continuing series of repeated actions, e.g. Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're forever complaining about your mother-in-law!

EXERCISES

Complete with the verbs in present continuous

1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) her kids to football practice.

2. Usually, I (work) as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.

3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) .

4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) .

5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) .

6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) because everybody (talk) so loudly.

7. Justin (write, currently) a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished.

8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?

Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) to a movie tonight with some friends.

9. The business cards (be, normally ) printed by a company in New York. Their prices

(be) inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good.

10. This delicious chocolate (be) made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.

Complete with verbs in present continuous

1) Alexander   a film. (to watch)

2) We   a computer game. (to play)

3) The dog   at the cat. (to bark)

4) Peter   his rabbits. (to feed)

5) Philipp and Johnny   a song. (to sing)

6) Mary   her hair. (to wash)

7) I   to Doris. (to talk)

8) Peggy   a picture. (to draw)

9) Henry and his sister   their mother. (to help)

10) You   the poem by heart. (to learn)

Complete with present simple or cont.

(Play) I golf every weekend.

(Play) The children outside at the moment.

(Work) Haruka today.

(Work) You can’t borrow my lawnmower because it doesn’t

(Make) Smells good! What are you ?

(Make) My husband never me breakfast.

(Live) Pauline is in Hong Kong.

(Live)Do you still with your parents?