English Grammar: Present Continuous Tense

Study Notes

The present continuous tense is used to describe:
- An action that is in progress at the moment of speaking
- An action that is temporary or changing
- An action that is happening around a specific time (e.g. now, at the moment, this week)
Form: subject + is/are + verb-ing (e.g. I am writing, they are studying)

Present perfect tense is used to describe:
- An action that started in the past and continues up to the present
- An action that happened at an unspecified time in the past
Present continuous tense is not used to describe:
- Completed actions in the past
- Actions that started and finished in the past
Contrast examples:
- I have studied English for three years (present perfect, started in the past and continues up to the present)
- I am studying for my exam (present continuous, action in progress at the moment)

State verbs:
- Describe a permanent or temporary state (e.g. be, have, belong, know, like)
- Are not used in the continuous form
Action verbs:
- Describe an action (e.g. run, jump, write, read)
- Can be used in the continuous form
Examples:
- I am being lazy (state verb, cannot be used in continuous form)
- I am writing a letter (action verb, can be used in continuous form)

Present continuous conjugation:
- I am + verb-ing (e.g. I am writing)
- you are + verb-ing (e.g. you are studying)
- he/she/it is + verb-ing (e.g. he is reading)
- we are + verb-ing (e.g. we are playing)
- they are + verb-ing (e.g. they are watching)
Irregular verb conjugation:
- Some verbs have irregular forms in the present continuous tense (e.g. to be: I am, you are, he/she/it is, etc.)

Describes an action that is in progress at the moment of speaking
Describes an action that is temporary or changing
Describes an action that is happening around a specific time (e.g. now, at the moment, this week)
Form: subject + is/are + verb-ing (e.g. I am writing, they are studying)

Describes an action that started in the past and continues up to the present
Describes an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past
Not used to describe completed actions in the past
Not used to describe actions that started and finished in the past
Example: I have studied English for three years (started in the past and continues up to the present)

State verbs: describe a permanent or temporary state (e.g. be, have, belong, know, like)
State verbs are not used in the continuous form
Action verbs: describe an action (e.g. run, jump, write, read)
Action verbs can be used in the continuous form
Example: I am being lazy (state verb, cannot be used in continuous form)
Example: I am writing a letter (action verb, can be used in continuous form)

Present continuous conjugation:
- I am + verb-ing (e.g. I am writing)
- you are + verb-ing (e.g. you are studying)
- he/she/it is + verb-ing (e.g. he is reading)
- we are + verb-ing (e.g. we are playing)
- they are + verb-ing (e.g. they are watching)
Irregular verb conjugation:
- Some verbs have irregular forms in the present continuous tense (e.g. to be: I am, you are, he/she/it is, etc.)