The Continuous tenses

Present Continuous ("I am choosing") Past Continuous ("I was choosing") Future Continuous ("I will be choosing") They are formed with the progressive

(continuous) aspect. This aspect indicates that an action or state,

past, present, or future, was, is or will be unfinished at the time referred to.

The continuous tenses (incomplete tenses) include:

The Present Continuous is mainly used to express the idea that something is happening at the moment of speaking. The Present Continuous also describes activities generally in progress (not at the moment). Another use of the tense is to talk about temporary actions or future plans.

It is formed by means of the present form of auxiliary verb “to be” and participle 1(-ing form) of the notional verb.

The Present Continuous

In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.

E.g. Is she eating my cake now? In the negative form the negative particle

not is placed after the auxiliary verb. E.g. We aren't waiting for my uncle.

Present actions Temporary actions Longer actions in progress Future (personal) arrangements and plans Tendencies and trends Irritation

USE

Most often, we use the Present Continuous tense to talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking.

He is eating a dinner. Mary is talking with her friends. They are swimming in the pool.

Use 1: Present Actions

There is a certain group of verbs that usually does not appear in the Continuous form. They are called Stative (State) Verbs, and if used in the Continuous form, they have a different meaning.

Examples: I think you look pretty today. meaning:

Opinion I'm thinking of moving to San Francisco.

meaning: Act of thinking

Stative (State) Verbs

We can use present continuous with some state verbs(e.g. attract, like, look, love, sound) when we want to emphasise that a situation is temporary or for a period of time around the present.

E.g. Jean is with us at the moment. The children are loving having her here.

Exceptions

This tense is also used for activities continuing only for a limited period of time.

I'm riding a bike to get to work because my car is broken. Temporary Action (His car will soon be repaired)

They are not talking with each other after the last argument. Temporary Action (They will soon make up)

Mary is working at McDonald's. Temporary Action (She is working there only during the summer holidays

Use 2: Temporary Actions

We also use the Present Continuous when we are in the middle of doing something time-consuming (i.e. something that takes time to complete). An example of such an activity is writing a book, saving money or studying for an exam.

They are working hard to earn money. I am training to become a professional footballer. Mike is studying hard to become a doctor. Elizabeth is currently writing a children's book

titled I am the World.

Use 3: Longer Actions in Progress

Sometimes we use the Present Continuous to show that something is planned and will be done in the near future.

I'm meeting Katie in the evening. He's flying to Rome in September. We're not going anywhere tomorrow.

Use 4: Future (Personal) Arrangements and Plans

This tense is also used for expressing tendencies or trends.

Our country is getting richer. The Internet is becoming less of a novelty. The Universe is expanding.

Use 5: Tendencies and Trends

And the last use of this tense is to express irritation or anger over somebody or something in the present with adverbs such as: always, continually or constantly.

Also we can use this tense with adverbs to emphasize that something is done so often that is characteristic of a person, group or thing.

She is continually complaining about everything!

Johny is always asking stupid questions! My boss is contantly critising me! E.g. You are constantly changing your mind

Use 6: Irritation or Anger

I + am = I'm is + not = isn't are + not = aren't he + is = he's she + is = she's it + is= it's Contractions are mainly used in speech

and informal writing. They should not be used in formal writing.

Contracted forms

We usually use the Past Continuous to talk about activities that lasted for some time in the past. The actions can be interruped by something or can be happening at the same time.

It is formed by means of the past form of the auxiliary verb to be and the Participle 1 of the notional verb.

Past Continuous

In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject.

E.g. Were you painting your house yesterday at 5 p.m?

In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.

E.g. He asked me why I wasn't having dinner at the hotel.

Duration in the past Interrupted actions in progress Actions in progress at the same time in the

past Irritation Polite question

Use

We use the Past Continuous to talk about actions or situations that lasted for some time in the past, and whose duration time is unknown or unimportant.

I was watching TV yesterday in the evening. She was sleeping on the couch. The dog was barking.

USE 1: Duration in the past

The Past Continuous is often used when one action in progress is interruped by another action in the past. The Past simple is used in such sentences. We usually use when or while to link these two sentences.

Sentence in Past Continuous + WHEN + Sentence in Past Simple

WHEN/WHILE + Sentence in Past Continuous + Sentence in Past Simple

I was talking with James when the telephone rang. While Angelica was playing tennis, the plane

crashed.

USE 2: Interrupted actions in progress

We also use this tense to talk about two or more activities happening at the same. We usually use when or while to link the two sentences.

Sentence in Past Continuous + WHEN/WHILE + Sentence in Past

WHEN/WHILE + Sentence in Past Continuous + Sentence in Past Continuous

I was watching TV and Barbara was reading a book.

When Bob was painting windows, Mary was working in the kitchen.

USE 3: Actions in progress at the same time

If we want to ask a polite question, we can use the Past Continuous.

I was wondering if you could open the window.

I was thinking you might help me with this problem.

Even though the sentences have a Past Continuous form, they refer to the present moment. Their meaning is similar to the "could you" sentences, but they are more polite.

USE 4: Polite questions

We mainly use the Future Continuous to indicate that we will be in the middle of doing something in a specified time in the future.

It is formed by the means of future form of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle 1 of the notional verb.

Future Continuous

In the interrogative form the first auxiliary verb is put before the subject.

E.g. Will Mark be playing football at 6 p.m.? In the negative form the negative particle

not is placed after the first auxiliary verb. E.g. John won't be sleeping now.

Future actions in progress Guesses about the present or the future Polite questions about somebody's intention

Use

The first use of the Future Continuous is to express future action in progress.

In an hour, I will be sitting in front of my TV. In the evening, I will be baking a birthday

cake.

Use 1: Future actions in progress

Use this tense also to make guesses about something in the present or future.

He won't be coming any time soon. He is still at the office.

Beatrice will be getting married very soon.

Use 2: Guesses

And the last use of the tense is to make polite questions about something or somebody.

Will you be coming home before or after 10 PM?

Will you be goingto the supermarket? I have something to buy.

Use 3: Questions

Sometimes the present participle is irregular. 1. doubled letter

In these examples we can see that one of the letters is doubled.

swim + ing = swimming run + ing = running get + ing = getting grab + ing = grabbing 2. "e" removed write + ing = writing move + ing = moving take + ing = taking

Present Participle exceptions

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