Use am/is/are + -ing for something already in progress and not yet finished, whether it is happening this second or across a stretch of time around now.
A What the present continuous is
Rob is on the bus, on his way to the office. He has been on it for twenty minutes and it has moved roughly forty yards.
We say: He is travelling to work. It is happening now, at the moment of speaking, and it has not finished. On present evidence it may never finish.
The form is am/is/are + -ing:
| Subject | be | -ing |
|---|---|---|
| I | am (I'm) | working |
| he / she / it | is (he's, she's, it's) | waiting |
| we / you / they | are (we're, you're, they're) | travelling |
- Rob's travelling to work.
- I'm waiting for the bus.
- They're sitting in traffic again.
B Started, not finished: in the middle of it
I am doing something means I have started it and I have not finished it. I am in the middle of it.
The action does not need to be happening at the exact second of speaking. If somebody tells you on the phone that they are reading a very long book about canals, they are not reading it while they talk to you. They have started it, they have not finished it, and one suspects they never shall.
- Could you keep it down, please? I'm trying to concentrate.
- "Where's Dad?" "He's having a bath."
- We can go out now. It isn't raining any more.
- How's the new job going? Are you enjoying it?
- What's all that banging? What's going on?
- I'm reading a very long book about canals at the moment.
- Megan wants to live in Spain, so she's learning Spanish.
- My neighbours are building an extension. They hope to finish it by Christmas.
C Periods around now: today, this week, this year
Use the present continuous with today, this week, this month, this year and similar periods that include the present.
- You're working late today.
- The shop isn't doing very well this year.
- We're eating far too much cake this week.
D Changes already under way
Use the present continuous for a change that has started and is still developing. These verbs turn up in this pattern all the time:
getting, becoming, changing, improving, starting, beginning, increasing, rising, falling, growing
- Is your Spanish getting better?
- The price of bread is rising again.
- I hated the gym at first, but I'm starting to enjoy it now.
- The days are getting shorter.
Exercises
1.1 What is happening in each scene? Complete the sentence with one of these verbs in the present continuous.
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A woman is standing on a ladder with a brush, putting blue on a wall.
She's painting the wall.
She's painting the wall.
A man is holding bread out to a group of ducks.
He the ducks.
He's feeding the ducks.
Two children are going up a tree.
They a tree.
They're climbing a tree.
A man is under a car with a spanner.
He his car.
He's fixing his car.
A girl on a train is lifting her hand to someone on the platform.
She to her grandad.
She's waving to her grandad.
Three people are behind a car that will not start, pressing against it.
They the car.
They're pushing the car.
1.2 Each sentence on the left is followed by one on the right. Match them.
Please turn the music down.d
Please turn the music down. I'm trying to sleep.
We should head home soon.
We should head home soon. It's getting dark.
I sold my flat last month.
I sold my flat last month. I'm living with my sister.
Could you shut the window?
Could you shut the window? I'm getting cold.
Their old car finally died.
Their old car finally died. They're looking for a new one.
The shop is doing better now.
The shop is doing better now. Business is improving.
Don't believe a word he says.
Don't believe a word he says. He's telling lies.
Put your boots on.
Put your boots on. It's starting to snow.
1.3 Write a question in the present continuous, using the words in brackets.
What's all that shouting? (what / happen?)
What's happening?
What's all that shouting? What's happening?
You look upset. (why / you / cry?)
You look upset. Why are you crying?
Where's your brother? (he / work / today?)
Where's your brother? Is he working today?
I haven't seen you in months. (what / you / do / these days?)
I haven't seen you in months. What are you doing these days?
Jess is at college. (what / she / study?)
Jess is at college. What's she studying?
Who are those men in the garden? (what / they / do?)
Who are those men in the garden? What are they doing?
I hear you joined a choir. (you / enjoy / it?)
I hear you joined a choir. Are you enjoying it?
There's no rush. (why / you / drive / so fast?)
There's no rush. Why are you driving so fast?
1.4 Put the verb into the present continuous, positive (I'm doing) or negative (I'm not doing).
Could you keep it down? I'm trying (I / try) to concentrate.
Could you keep it down? I'm trying to concentrate.
We can go out now. It isn't raining (it / rain) any more.
We can go out now. It isn't raining any more.
You can switch the telly off. (I / watch) it.
You can switch the telly off. I'm not watching it.
Gemma rang from Portugal. (she / have) a lovely time and has no plans to come home.
Gemma rang from Portugal. She's having a lovely time and has no plans to come home.
Tom joined a night class recently. (he / learn) Italian.
Tom joined a night class recently. He's learning Italian.
Ann and Phil fell out last week, and now (they / speak) to each other.
Ann and Phil fell out last week, and now they aren't speaking to each other.
The roof was leaking already, and now (it / get) worse.
The roof was leaking already, and now it's getting worse.
Sam (work) today. He's taken the day off.
Sam isn't working today. He's taken the day off.
(I / look) for Jo. Have you seen her?
I'm looking for Jo. Have you seen her?
The boiler has been fixed. (it / work) properly now.
The boiler has been fixed. It's working properly now.
(they / build) a new school in the village. It opens next September.
They're building a new school in the village. It opens next September.
Liam is at university, but he isn't happy. (he / enjoy) his course.
Liam is at university, but he isn't happy. He isn't enjoying his course.
(the weather / change). Look at the sky over there.
The weather is changing. Look at the sky over there.
Kev has done the same job for twelve years. (he / start) to get bored with it.
Kev has done the same job for twelve years. He's starting to get bored with it.