Present Progressive(Continuous) Tense

	affirmative	negative	question
I	I am playing.	I am not playing.	Am I playing?
he, she, it	He is playing.	He is not playing.	Is he playing?
you, we, they	You are playing.	You are not playing.	Are you playing?

SPELLING;

A single, silent e at the end of the word is dropped before ing.

example: come - coming
I am coming home. You are coming home. He is coming home.

But: ee at the end of the word is not changed

example: agree - agreeing

The final consonant after a short, stressed vowel is doubled before ing.

example: sit - sitting
I am sitting on the sofa. You are sitting on the sofa. He is sitting on the sofa.

The letter l as final consonant after a vowel is always doubled before ing.

example: travel - travelling
I am travelling around. You are travelling around. He is travelling around..

An ie at the end of a word becomes y before ing.

example: lie - lying
I am lying in bed. You are lying in bed. He is lying in bed.

1: Firstly, we use it for things that are happening at the moment of speaking.

• I’m working at the moment.
• Please call back – we are eating dinner.
• Julie is sleeping.
• You are studying the present continuous.

2: We can also use this tense for temporary situations, when we feel something won't continue for a long time.

• She’s staying with her friend for a week.
• I’m living in London for a few months.
• John’s working in a bar until he finds a job in his field.
• I’m reading a really great book.

Compare this with the present simple, which is used for permanent situations that we feel will continue for a long time.

3: We can use the present continuous for habits but they have to be temporary or new habits (for normal habits that continue for a long time, we use the present simple).

• He’s eating a lot these days.
• She’s swimming every morning (she didn’t used to do this).
• You’re smoking too much.
• They’re working late every night.

4: The next use is for definite future arrangements (with a future time word). In this case we have already made a plan and we are pretty sure that the event will happen in the future.

• I’m meeting my father tomorrow.
• We’re going to the beach at the weekend.
• I’m leaving at three.
• They’re coming to the party at the weekend.

Time Expressions;

Actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now) 

• at the moment
• now / just now / right now
• Listen!
• Look!

Arrangements for the near future 

• in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening
• at noon / tonight
• tomorrow
• next ...

Actions taking place only for a limited period of time 

• this week / this month / this year

Actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking) 

• at the moment
• now / just now / right now

Development, changing situations 

• more and more