Present Continuous Tense, in English, is a real long time. Generates sentences using the auxiliary verb to be (translated as "be" in English) in the form of the present tense and the fourth form of the main semantic verb (with the suffix -ing characteristic for a long time).
Consider the use of present continuouse. Examples of offers:
You are having dinner. - You're having dinner (right now).
I am waiting for you. - I'm waiting for you.
They are traveling in the west. - They travel in the west.
She is writing a letter right know. “She's writing a letter right now.”
We are speaking English now. - We speak English now.
They are reading this boring book now. - They are reading this boring book now.
For reference:
- in spoken English, the word “dinner” means dinner, and “supper” means late dinner in a homely family setting.
Education issue and denial
With the formation of the interrogative sentence in the present long time, the words in it change places. As in any other cases of the English language.
The verb to be moves to the first place - before the subject (pronoun, noun or proper name) in sentences with present continuous. Examples of offers:
Is she reading this boring book now? - She is reading this boring book now?
Are we speaking English right now? “Are we speaking English right now?”
Is she writing the letter now? “She's writing this letter right now?”
When a negative sentence is formed, a negative particle not is added between the form of the auxiliary and semantic verbs together with the semantic verb in present continuous. Examples of offers:
He is not writing. - He does not write.
I am not speaking. - I do not speak.
We are not waiting. “We are not waiting.”
They are not studing. “They are not studying.”
She is not asking. - She doesn't ask.
Moreover, such full forms of denial are rarely used. The spoken language uses abbreviations: isn't in the singular or aren't in the plural.
Important rules for using this time
Using Present continuous. Terms of use:
1. The indicated time is used to express a specific action taking place at the moment or period, that is, right now. This is what the temporary additions to the sentences specifically indicate:
now - now;
at the moment - at the given moment.
But these words are not always present in the sentence. They can only be implied.
He is reading his diploma. - He is reading his diploma (that is, right now).
2. It is usually not used with verbs denoting the state of the subject, and not its effect:
to want - want;
to feel - feel;
to love - to love;
to think - to think;
to like - like, love;
to be - to be;
to live - live;
to hate - to hate;
to stay - to stay;
to hear - to hear;
to remember - remember;
to see - see some other English verbs.
But sometimes the indicated state verbs are still used to emphasize the temporary state in present continuous. Examples of offers:
I know I am being a baby but I can't help it. - I know that I am a child, but I can not do anything about it (that is, I behave like a child just now).
She is wanting to stay at this house and I can't help it. - She wants to stay in this house and I can’t help anything (that is, she wants to stay only now).
3. When the proposal conveys the intention to take an action to indicate future tense, present continuous is sometimes used. Examples of offers:
We are going to the cinema tonight. “We're going to go to the cinema tonight.”
She is leaving by seven-o'clock train. “She leaves with a seven-hour train.”
Present Perfect Continuous Forms
Present perfect continuous or, as it is also called, present perfect progressive in English are original derivatives of the present continuous time.
It can be obtained using the verb to be in the form of the present perfect tense (have been or has been in the 3rd person singular) and the auxiliary verb in the extended tense (with the ending -ing).
Present perfect continuous - sample sentences:
1) Used to indicate an action that began in the past at a certain point in time, continued for some time and lasts for the moment:
I have been walking since 8 o'clock in the morning. - I walk on foot from 8 in the morning.
He has been living in Moscow for six year. - He has been living in Moscow for six years.
2) The usual and constantly occurring action indicating the time period for the continuation of the action. Moreover, if it is not indicated how long (time period) the action lasts, then the present extended time is used.
It has been raining for three days. “It's been raining for two days now.”
It has raining. - It's raining.
He has been studing English for seven years. - He has been studying English for seven years.
He is studing English. - He is learning English (that is, right now).
3) The constructions of the present perfect long time are also used to indicate the duration of action. Moreover, if a fact of perfection of an action is indicated, then another time is used - the present perfect.
I have been living here since 1956. - I have been living here since 1956 (that is, all this time I have been living here).
I have lived here since 1956. - I have been living here since 1956 (that is, an episode of an act that has already happened is emphasized).
4) The present perfect long time, as well as the present long, is not used with English verbs denoting the state of the subject, and not its effect. That is, the verbs - to love - to love, to feel - to feel other similar ones mentioned above (present continuous rules).
5) This time is also used in interrogative sentences to indicate the period that precedes the moment of speech (this moment in time). In this case, the use of appropriate interrogative words and constructions is characteristic - how long - how long, how long; since when - since when, since when.
How long have they been living here? - How long (how long) have they been living here?
Since when has she been sitting there? - Since when (since when) has she been sitting there?
Present continuous passive
The form of the passive voice of the present extended time shows the action in its development, that is, how it continues. This construction is formed as follows:
- the verb to be (am, is, are) + being (that is, an indication of the extended time) + the second form of the semantic verb.
Let's look at present continuous passive, example sentences:
New railway stations are being built. - New railway stations are being built (that is, being built right now).
Delicious supper is being cooked. “A delicious dinner is being prepared.”
If the present in such a pledge changes to the past, then in sentences, since there is no indication of the time frame, only the form of the verb to be changes. It is put in the past tense was - in the singular and were - in the plural.