PRESENT CONTINUOUS

We mainly use the present progressive or present continuous to talk about events that are taking place at the time of speaking so we can infer that the action is not finished yet.

         The structure of the present progressive or present progressive is as follows:

subject/pronoun + be + verb-ing + complement 

                                                               am, is are

The kids are playing in the park.

Joe and his friends are watching a movie in the living room.

Maria is making a chocolate cake.

We also use the present continuous or present progressive to talk about temporary events or situations.

Steve teaches History at school on weekends. (simple present)

This weekend he is  teaching English. (Present continuous)

I usually work in my office in the morning. (simple present)

This week I am working at home. (present continuous)

We can use the adverbs "always, forever, and constantly" to emphaze a series of repeated events or actions.

My parents are always arguing.

The new secretary is constantly leaving the office early in the afternoon.

Rules that we have to consider when we add "ing" to verbs in the present contonuous or presengt progressive.

A. All verbs will add "ing" when used in the present progressive or present continuous.

Walk  -  Walking

Run  -  Running

Swim  -  Swimming

Paint  -  Painting 

B. Verbs ending in a silent "e" will drop it out and will add "ing".

Dance  -  Dancing

Write  -  Writing

Arrive  -  Arriving

Chase  -  Chasing

C. One syllable verbs that end in a consonant - vowel - consonant will duplicate their last consonant and will add "ing"

Get  -  Getting

Stop  -  Stopping

Run  -  Running

Spin  -  Spinning

D. A small group of verbs will not add "ing" becaue of their meaning, we call them stative verbs. feel, agree, love, like, adore, belong, believe, prefer, see, taste, doubt, sound, need, think, appreciate, cost.

The manager is not agreeing with us. (incorrect!)

The manager does not agree with us. 

She is believing our story. (incorrect!)

She believes our story. 

The food is smelling delicious.

The food smells delicious.

the secretary is needing a new computer. (incorretct!)

The secretary needs a new computer.