When to use is, are, am with Present Continuous Tense?

When to use is are am with Present Continuous Tense

Asked by @ Mostafizur Rahman (Community Student)

What are modal verbs

Answered by @ Elo Kasia

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When to use is are am with Present Continuous Tense

How to Use (Am /Is /Are) Present Continuous Questions | English Grammar Lessons

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When to use is are am with Present Continuous Tense

Question Time: When to use is/are/am with Present Continuous.

  @ Mostafizur Rahman , Thank you for your question.

  As usual, I will try to explain the difference using simple language and plenty of examples.

Am/ are/ is are different forms of the verb TO BE. Remember that this verb is used very often in English and we need it:

1. to describe states and things which are true in the present or were true in the past,
2. as a “helping” verb in continuous tenses (Present Simple and Continuous) and
3. in the passive voice.

To be with Present Continuous.

Form: TO BE (I am, you are, he/she/it is, we are, they are) + verb + ing

Use for:

1. Actions happening now
2. Longer actions in progress
3. Future plans
4. When expressing annoyance

Actions happening NOW, at the moment of speaking.

• I’m sitting in at my desk and I’m writing an article about Present Continuous.
• I’m not talking on the phone.
• Are you studying now?
• Is he driving to work now?
• They aren’t reading, they are watching TV.

Longer actions in progress, happening around now, but not always at the moment of speaking.

“Now” can mean this second, today, this month, this year, and so on. We are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress.

• I’m living with my sister now; my flat is being decorated.
• I’m reading a very good book at the moment.
• Is Sammy studying to be a doctor?
• He isn’t working this week; he is on holiday.

Future plans. It is used very often to talk about near future when we talk about something we have planned.

• I am meeting some friends after work.
• I am not going to the party tonight.
• Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
• Isn’t he going to Portugal this summer?

To express irritation or annoyance at somebody’s behaviour.

We use words such as “always” or “constantly” and the meaning is like simple present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words “always” or “constantly” between “be” and “verb+ing.”

• I hate going to restaurants with her, she is always complaining about the food.
• He is always coming to class late. It disrupts the whole class.
• You are acting out of order!

NOTE:

There are some verbs which we never (or hardly ever) use in the -ing form, they include:

Abstract verbs: to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist…

Possession Verbs: possess, to own, to belong…

Emotion Verbs: to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind

To practise Present Continuous talk to yourself about what you are doing now, for example, in the morning “I’m brushing my teeth, I’m looking in the mirror, I’m washing my face” etc. Talk about your current work projects, ex. “I’m updating our customer database.”, “I’m sowing some crops this week.” Remember, this tense is very handy for talking about the future “I’m going out tonight.”, “I’m meeting some friend this afternoon.”, “They are coming soon.”

Make sure you follow our *TT exercises, which are especially designed to practise our daily grammar topics and prepare you for the Friday test.

  Additional Tips from Our community Australian English Tutor Helen Eastley:

Better use of “GOT”

some suggestions for a better way….

• I have got (I have)
• I haven’t got (I don’t have)
• I hadn’t got (I hadn’t had)
• I had got (I had had)
• You have got (you have)
• You haven’t got (you don’t have)
• You hadn’t got (you hadn’t had)
• He has got (he has)
• He hasn’t got (he doesn’t have)
• He hadn’t got (he hadn’t had)

There are more examples, but that gives the general idea.

Check my other articles here: All English Time Ask Elo – Learning Articles

Elo Kasia

Community Mentor for ” English Grammar and Speaking Academy“.

Director at Eloquent Learning Online, educational institution based in the UK. www.eloquentlearning.com.

When to use is are am with Present Continuous Tense