[LIST][*]You [B]are watching[/B] TV.[*][B]Are[/B] you [B]watching[/B] TV?[*]You [B]are not watching[/B] TV.[/LIST]
[URL="http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentcontinuousforms.html"]Complete List of Present Continuous Forms[/URL] [/LEFT]
[B]USE 1 Now[/B]
[LEFT][IMG]http://www.englishpage.com/images/verbs/presentcontinuousnow.gif[/IMG]
Use the Present Continuous with [URL="http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/types.html"]Normal Verbs[/URL] to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.
Examples:
[LIST][*]You [B]are learning[/B] English now.[*]You [B]are not swimming[/B] now.[*][B]Are[/B] you [B]sleeping[/B]?[*]I [B]am sitting[/B].[*]I [B]am not standing[/B].[*][B]Is[/B] he [B]sitting[/B] or [B]standing[/B]?[*]They [B]are reading[/B] their books.[*]They [B]are not watching[/B] television.[*]What [B]are[/B] you [B]doing[/B]?[*]Why [B]aren't[/B] you [B]doing[/B] your homework?[/LIST][/LEFT]
[B]USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now [/B]
[LEFT][IMG]http://www.englishpage.com/images/verbs/presentcontinuouslongnow.gif[/IMG]
In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.
Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)
[LIST][*]I [B]am studying[/B] to become a doctor.[*]I [B]am not studying[/B] to become a dentist.[*]I [B]am reading[/B] the book [I]Tom Sawyer.[/I][*]I [B]am not reading[/B] any books right now.[*][B]Are[/B] you [B]working[/B] on any special projects at work?[*][B]Aren't[/B] you [B]teaching[/B] at the university now?[/LIST][/LEFT]
[B]USE 3 Near Future [/B]
[LEFT][IMG]http://www.englishpage.com/images/verbs/simplefuture.gif[/IMG]
Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.
Examples:
[LIST][*]I [B]am meeting[/B] some friends after work.[*]I [B]am not going[/B] to the party tonight.[*][B]Is[/B] he [B]visiting[/B] his parents next weekend?[*][B]Isn't[/B] he [B]coming[/B] with us tonight?[/LIST][/LEFT]
[B]USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always" [/B]
[LEFT][IMG]http://www.englishpage.com/images/verbs/simplepresentusual.gif[/IMG]
The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like [URL="http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepresent.html"]Simple Present[/URL], but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
Examples:
[LIST][*]She [B]is always coming[/B] to class late.[*]He [B]is constantly talking[/B]. I wish he would shut up.[*]I don't like them because they [B]are always complaining[/B].[/LIST][/LEFT]
[B]REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs[/B]
[LEFT]It is important to remember that [URL="http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/types.html"]Non-Continuous Verbs[/URL] cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for [URL="http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/types.html"]Mixed Verbs[/URL] cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use [URL="http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepresent.html"]Simple Present[/URL].
Examples:
[LIST][*]She [B]is loving[/B] this chocolate ice cream. [I]Not Correct[/I][*]She [B]loves[/B] this chocolate ice cream. [I]Correct[/I][/LIST][/LEFT]
[B]ADVERB PLACEMENT[/B]
[LEFT]The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
[LIST][*]You are [B]still[/B] watching TV.[*]Are you [B]still[/B] watching TV?[/LIST][/LEFT]
[B]ACTIVE / PASSIVE[/B]
[LEFT]Examples:
[LIST][*]Right now, Tom [B]is writing[/B] the letter. [I]Active[/I][*]Right now, the letter [B]is being written[/B] by Tom. [I]Passive[/I][/LIST][/LEFT]