Present continuous: form
We use am, are, is + the -ing form of the verb. We use the short form more often than the full form, especially when speaking.
+
I,
you, we, they
she, he, it
(full form)
am
are,
is
working.
I,
you, we, they
she, he, it
(short form)
’m
’re
’s
−
I,
you, we, they
she, he, it
(full form)
am not
are not
is not
working.
I,
you, we, they
she, he, it
(short form)
’m not
’re not or aren’
t’s not or isn’t
? +
Am
Are,
Is
I
you, we, they
she, he, it
working?
? −
(full form)
Am
Are
Is
I
you, we, they
she, he, it
not
working?
(short form)
Aren’t
Isn’t
I, you, we, they
she, he, it
Present continuous: -ing form spelling
For most verbs we add -ing to the base form to make the -ing form:
be → being
eat → eating
order → ordering
cry → crying
fix → fixing
play → playing
do → doing
go → going
For other verbs the spelling changes are (note the underlined syllables are stressed):
verb
-ing form
When the verb ends in -e, we take off the -e and add -ing.
move
moving
face
facing
come
coming
When the verb ends in a vowel followed by a single consonant and if the last syllable is stressed, then the consonant is doubled.
commit
committing
prefer
preferring
rub
rubbing
BUT:
cover
covering
remember
remembering
When the verb ends in a vowel + l, we double the consonant.
travel
travelling*
control
controlling
* American English spelling is traveling.
See also:
Regular verbs
Irregular verbs
Spelling
Present continuous: uses
Events at the time of speaking
We use the present continuous to talk about events which are in progress at the moment of speaking:
A:
What time’s dinner?
B:
I’m cooking now so it’ll be ready in about half an hour.
She’s pressing the button but nothing is happening.
Temporary states
We use the present continuous to talk about temporary states which are true around the moment of speaking:
Her mother’s living with her at the moment. She’s just come out of hospital.
Who’s looking after the children while you’re here?
Repeated temporary events
We use the present continuous to describe actions which are repeated or regular, but which we believe to be temporary:
I’m not drinking much coffee these days. I’m trying to cut down.
She’s working a lot in London at the moment. (She doesn’t usually work in London.)
Change
We use the present continuous to talk about a gradual change:
They’re building a new stand at the football ground.
Maria, 37, is getting better and doctors are optimistic she will make a full recovery.
Recent evidence suggests that the economic situation is improving.
Regular unplanned events
We often use the present continuous with words like always, constantly, continually and forever (adverbs of indefinite frequency) to describe events which are regular but not planned, and often not wanted:
My wife, she’s always throwing things out. I like to keep everything.
I’m constantly spilling things.
Plans and arrangements
We use the present continuous to refer to the future when we talk about plans and arrangements that have already been made:
We’re moving to Cambridge in July.
Sarah isn’t taking Rory to football training later. She hasn’t got the car tonight.
Aren’t you playing tennis on Saturday?
See also:
Future: present continuous to talk about the future (I’m working tomorrow)
4. Они будут поливать растения и пропалывать свои огороды.
5. Если фермеры хотят иметь высокие урожаи зерна, фруктов и овощей они должны иметь плодородную почву.1. Сельскохозяйственные почвы, должно быть, некоторые органические вещества и некоторые минеральные вещества.
2. Культур не может хорошо расти, если не хватает воды, растительной пищи, тепла и воздуха.