Examples of Present Continuous sentences. Present continuous tense (The Present Continuous Tense) 2 sentence in the present continuous in English

The main difficulty of English for beginners is tenses. There are only 12 tenses in English, but due to the specifics of some tenses, confusion occurs. In this article I will tell you in detail about the tenses of the English language with an example of use.

From the article you will learn:

English tenses with examples and translation into Russian

In English, 12 tenses are traditionally distinguished. English tenses are divided into 3 groups:

1. Simple (Indefinite),
2. Continuous (Progressive),
3. perfect.

They, in turn, in combination with the main temporary forms Present, Past and Future form the corresponding tenses. Let's start with the Indefinite group.

Present Simple (Presen Indefinite) - Real Simple

How it is formed:

I form of the verb. This form is used in all persons and numbers, except for the singular number of the third person: then the endings are added - s, -es.

When used:

1. The action occurs with a certain frequency. It is used with such adverbs as always (always), rarely (rarely), often (often), usually (usually), never (never), etc., in addition, with the word every (every day, every month, every year etc.)

She never listens to me. She never listens to me.

I always go abroad in summer. In the summer I always go abroad.

He goes to the theater every weekend. He goes to the theater every weekend.

2. The action is scientifically proven.

Water boils at 100 degrees.— Water boils at 100 degrees.

3. The sequence of actions is described.

I get up, wash my hands and face, have breakfast etc.- I get up, wash my face, have breakfast, etc.

Present Continuous - Present Continuous

It should be noted that some English present tenses can denote the future.

How it is formed:

verb to be + I form of the verb + ing ending.

When used: 1. the action is happening at the moment.

I am watching TV now.- I'm watching TV now.

2. the action will take place in the near future, which is planned (!).

I am flying to New York next month. I am flying to New York next month.

Present Perfect - Present Perfect

The peculiarity is that the tenses of the English language of the Perfect group can denote the past, although they are called present.

Education: have / has + III form of the verb.

When to use the present perfect tense:

1. the action happened today, this year, this week, etc., i.e. period has not yet ended.

Has not written 10 books and he is just twenty!- He wrote 10 books, and he is only twenty! (Life is going)

We have met this month.- We saw each other this month (the month has not ended)

He has met me today.“He met me today.

2. with adverbs yet (still), just (only), recently (recently), ever (always), never (never), already (already), etc.

I have just found out about this.“I just found out about it.

I've never been to England.- I have never been to England.

She has already done this work. She has already done this work.

3. Action in the past affects the present state

We have gone to the forest and now he has a cold. We went to the forest and he caught a cold.

Past Simple - Past Simple

How is the past simple tense formed?

II form of the verb, i.e. verb + ending -ed (regular verbs), or II form of an irregular verb.

When used:

1. The presence of a temporary marker yesterday (yesterday), last (past, past) or otherwise.

He visited doctor last week. He was at the doctor's last week.

I met him when I studied at the University. I met him when I was at university.

2. The action happened in the past without any conditions.

I knew you would come.“I knew you would come.

3. Sequence of actions.

He took the taxi, asked to stop at the Time Square, looked through the window etc.- He took a taxi, asked to stop at Times Square, looked out the window, etc.

Past Continuous - Past Continuous

How is the past continuous tense formed?

Verb to be in 2nd form + verb + ing ending.

When used:

1. The process lasted for a long time without interruption.

For example.

He was playing the piano the whole evening. He played the piano all evening.

2. The process was interrupted by another action.

They came in when she was speaking by the phone. They entered while she was on the phone.

Past Perfect - Past Perfect

How it is formed:

2 form of the verb have + 3 form of the verb.

When used:

1. When agreeing on times.

He said that he had not noticed you. He said he didn't see you.

2. One action happened before another.

Example: He had left before I could figure out something. He left before I could understand anything.

3. There is a temporary excuse by.

He had made his decision by summer.— By the summer he made a decision.

Future Simple - Future Simple

How it is formed:

Shall (only used with 1 person) will + I form of the verb.

When used:

The action will take place in the future. Used with time markers tomorrow, next, or a due date.

I will call you tomorrow.- I'll call you tomorrow.

He will visit us in 3 weeks. He will visit us in 3 weeks.

Future Continuous - Future Continued

How is formed.

Auxiliary verb will/shall+be+1 verb form+ing

When used. The process continues into the future.

She will be dancing the whole day tomorrow. Tomorrow she will be dancing all day.

Present Perfect Continuous - Present Perfect Continuous

How it is formed:

Have/has + been + verb+ing

When used:

1. The action lasts from a moment in the past to a moment in the present (translated by the present)

I have been waiting for this moment all my life.“I've been waiting for this moment all my life.

2. with the preposition since (s).

Their family has been owning this castle since the 17th century. Their family has owned this castle since the 17th century.

Past Perfect Continuous - Past Perfect Continuous

How it is formed:

Had + been + verb + ing

When used:

One action is interrupted by another or is its cause.

I had been working hard the whole year, so I was exhausted. “I worked hard all year and was just exhausted.

Future Perfect Continuous - Future Perfect Continued

English tenses such as Future Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous are extremely rare.

How it is formed:

Will/shall + have + been + verb + ing

When used:

The period of the past and the future is affected, the preposition of time by.

For example: I will have been working in this company for 10 years by 1st May.- By May 1, it will be 10 years since I work in this company.

Thus, we examined 10 tenses of the English language (all are built on 3 main ones).

And now we will look at examples of the basics of making simple sentences to express the past, present and future tenses.

Building sentences in the Simple group

affirmative sentences

Let's start with Present Simple. All affirmative sentences are built according to the following scheme:

1. "I" in this example is the subject. Do not confuse it with the object, since the subject performs the action, and it is performed on the object. Moreover, in Russian, the order of words is not important to us, because it is already clear who performs the action. We can freely say: "I eat the cake." But in English, it’s not possible to build a sentence like this, because the one who performs the action must be in the first place, otherwise they will simply laugh at you when you say: “The cake eats me.” Even through the passive voice, such a phrase will sound very strange.
2. In second place should be the predicate, which expresses the action itself. In Russian, there are often sentences with an incomplete grammatical basis, where there is no subject or predicate, or both are absent. In the latter case, we are dealing with an impersonal sentence: "Dark." In English, there must always be a subject and a verb. So, if there is no verb in the Russian sentence, then in English it will definitely appear. Let's take for example a one-part sentence in which there is no predicate: "The phone is on the table." To translate it correctly, we need to use the verb "to be", which will connect the subject with the predicate. As a result, the phrase will literally be translated as: "The phone is on the table."
3. Secondary members of the sentence lined up in third place according to a certain rule: first there is a direct object (answers the question “who?”, “What?”, “Who?”), then indirect (answers the same questions, but with the prepositions “with whom ?”, “to whom?”, etc.). This rule is not always observed and is not strict.

As in Russian, English verbs change depending on the person. The main changes occur in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), where the suffix "s" or "es" is added to the predicate. As a result, we get the sentence: "He goes to school."

Negative sentences

In addition to the affirmation, there is also a negation, the scheme of which is as follows:

In this scheme, all the same components are found, except for the linking verb "do" and the particle "not", which is equivalent to the negative particle "not" in Russian. What is an auxiliary verb and why is it needed? Unlike Russian, where we simply put the “not” particle before the verb, in English, the “not” particle must be preceded by an auxiliary verb. It is different for each tense, and in the case of Present Simple, it will take the form of either “do” or “does”, depending on the number and person of the subject. Example: "She does not go to school".

Interrogative sentences

So, we have considered the affirmation, negation, and we are left with a question, the formation of which also requires an auxiliary verb:

So, we have analyzed with you the basic principles for constructing various types of sentences in Present Simple. Past Simple and Future Simple are built in a similar way, the main differences will be in the form of the auxiliary verb.

Building sentences in the Future Simple

Statement

The scheme for constructing a statement in a simple future tense (Future Simple) is as follows:

The auxiliary verb will indicates that the action takes place in the future tense, and the phrase would be translated as: "I will go to school."

Negation

Negation is built using the particle "not" already known to us and the auxiliary verb "will".

Question

Any question begins with an auxiliary verb, so when building a question, simply put will in first place.

past simple

Statement

When constructing a statement in the past tense of the Simple group, there is a small feature: the suffix "ed" is added to the verb.

I deliberately omitted the school example because it uses an irregular verb. Most verbs form the simple past tense by adding the suffix "ed" to the stem (cook - cooked), but there are about 470 verbs, according to the Oxford dictionary, that form the past tense according to their canons. Our verb “go” also falls into their number, which will change the form to “went”: “I went to school”.

Negation

The negative in the simple past tense is constructed similarly to the Present Simple, with the only difference being that the form of the auxiliary verb "do" acquires the past "did".

Question

The question is also built by analogy with Present Simple. We only change the form of the auxiliary verb to the past.

So we studied the construction of sentences in the entire Simple group. The main thing is to remember the schemes for all three types (statement, denial and question), do not forget about how the word forms of verbs in the 3rd person singular change and memorize the main irregular verbs in order to achieve automatism in speech.

Building sentences in the Continuous group

In the Continuous group, there is always an auxiliary verb “to be”, the change in the form of which will tell us when the action is happening: yesterday, now or tomorrow. In this group, there is also always a participle I, similar to the real participle in Russian. The participle itself is built by adding the suffix "ing" to the verb (go - going).

Statement

We will not deviate from the structure and consider the formation of time in the Present Continuous.

The forms of the verb "to be" video change depending on the person, and here the matter is not limited to changes only in the 3rd person singular. Forms are easy to remember.

In the past tense, the auxiliary verb changes its form to "was" or were "depending on the person and number.

The scheme for constructing a sentence in the Past Continuous will be as follows:

The future tense in this group is formed without any changes, just put the future tense verb “will” before the auxiliary “to be”:

Denial and question

The construction of the negation and the question occurs according to the general scheme for constructing sentences: when negating, we put “not” after the auxiliary verb, and when we ask, we put the auxiliary verb in the first place.

To build the past form, you need to change the form of the auxiliary verb to "had".

To build the future form, we additionally put “will”.

Denial and question

Negation and the question are built in the classical way: the particle not after had (when negating), had in the first place (when asked).

Denial and question

These sentences are given only for the sake of an example, in practice you will hardly find yourself in a situation where you will need to express yourself in Perfect Continuous. It will be much easier and faster to build a phrase from the Simple and Continuous groups.

Simplified table of formation of all types of sentences in all tenses

For those who come across tenses for the first time, this article may seem a little chaotic, so as a result I offer you a ready-made table with the formation of sentences in all tenses, so that it is easier for you to see the whole picture. You can use it as a cheat sheet in the initial stages of studying temporary structures. The table is taken from the Peekaboo resource.

Present continuous tense ( Present Continuous) is formed according to the scheme: to be + present participle of the semantic verb

to be + verb ending ing

Examples:

It is important to understand the difference between simple present and simple continuous.

simple present tense describes habitual actions in the present. Present continuous tense describes actions that occur at the moment of speech or in the period to which this moment refers.

Compare:

Questions with present continuous tense in English.

1. Interrogative sentences requiring a simple yes/no answer.

In questions subject and verb to be change places. Present participle (ing form) costs after the verb to be and the subject.

Scheme:

to be + subject + verb ending in ing

Examples:

Answers can be detailed and short.

2. The use of question words.

The word order in such questions is the same as in simple questions of the previous type. question word put before auxiliary and main verbs:

Wh...+to be+subject+verb with ending ing

Examples:

If the question is why (why), in the answer use the word because (because).

Examples:

If the answer is short, then it includes only the second part of the sentence (beginning with the words "because").

Examples:

Negative with present continuous tense

Negative in present continuous tense formed like this: add to the form of the verb to be particle not.

Here you need to remember short forms: am not = ain't; is not = isn't; are not = aren't.

Example:

She is not working at the moment. She is not working now.

Spelling forms of the present continuous tense.

Typically for education present participles add at the end of the verb ing.

Examples:

There are other cases of the formation of the present participle:

1. If the infinitive ends with "e" and the previous consonant, then when forming participles, "e" is replaced by "ing".

Examples:

imagine imagine imagining imagining

write write writing writing

Exception: verbs that end in ee.

For example:

free flee freeing fleeing

2. In single-syllable verbs that end in a consonant preceded by a vowel, double the consonant before the ending "ing".

Examples:

run run away running running

get receive getting receiving

Exception: consonants are not doubled: x, w, y.

Examples: to fix, to play

3. Verbs of two syllables in which the stress falls on the last double the final vowel before the ending "ing".

Examples:

begin start off beginning beginning

4. If the verb ends with "ie", this ending is replaced with "y", then "ing" is added.

die die dying dying

lie lie lying lying

Use of the present continuous tense.

1. Action taking place at the moment of speech.

Examples:

2. An action covering a certain period of time in the present.

Example:

Nelly is studying at University. Nelly is studying at the university.

3. Emotionally colored characteristic of the face. Usually it's negative.

Example:

She is constantly talking about money. She talks about money all the time.

4. A pre-planned action that will take place in the near future.

Used with verbs of motion: move, come, go, leave, return, start.

Examples:

The show is starting soon. The show starts soon.

Are you moving to the new flat? Are you moving to a new apartment?

5. An action in a process that occurs simultaneously with another action (in the simple past tense). This time is used in subordinate clauses of time and condition after conjunctions: when, while, aslong as, if, in case, unless.

Example:

David always talks when he is eating. David always talks when he eats.

affirmative form Present Continuous (Present Continuous) is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the present tense (am, is, are) and the infinitive without to with the end -ing(Participle I - participle I or present participle). This can be represented as a formula:

to be (changeable part am, is, are) + infinitive without to (speak) + -ing speak+ink=speaking

I am speaking now.
She is speaking now.
They are speaking now.

Note:
Verbs expressing feelings of perception and mental activity, as well as some other verbs, are not used in the Continuous tenses. This: to want - to want, to like- like to love- be in love, to wish - want, to see- see, to hear- hear, to feel - feel, to notice- notice, to remember - remember, to recognize- learn to forget- forget, to seem - seem, to be- to be and etc.

negative form formed by adding a negative not to the auxiliary verb to be.

I am not working. I do not work.
He is not working. He does not work.
We are not working. We do not work.
They are not working. They do not work.

a) the auxiliary verb to be (am, is, are) is reduced, the negation of not remains unchanged.

I'm not working now. I am not working right now.
He's not working now. It doesn't work now.
You're not working now. You are not working now.

b) the negative particle not merges with the auxiliary verb, the letter o drops out:

Not isn't working now. It doesn't work now.
We aren't writing now. We are not writing now.

Interrogative form formed by rearranging the auxiliary verb and the subject - auxiliary verb to be placed before the subject.

Is he writing now? Is he writing now?
Are they reading? They are reading?

If there is a question word, it is placed before the auxiliary verb to be.

What are you doing now? What are you doing now?
Where is he working? Where he works?

Note:
If two verbs in Present Continuous have the same subject and are combined with a union and, then the auxiliary verb before the second, main, verb in Continuous is omitted.

She is sitting on the bench now and talking with Mr. brown.
Now she is sitting on a bench talking to Mr. Brown.

Writing rules

• If the verb ends with one letter -e, then before -ing this -e omitted: hat e-hat ing, so e- so ing.
• If the verb ends in -ee, then there is no change. The ending -ing added to the main verb: see - see ing, agree - agree ing.
• If there is a short vowel before the final consonant, then when adding the ending -ing the final consonant is doubled: run - run n ing, swim-swim m ing.
• If the verb consists of two or more syllables and the last syllable, which consists of one vowel before the final consonant, is stressed, then the final consonant is doubled: begin - begin n ing, admit - admit t ing.

Checkmate:

• enter - entering (the stress on the last syllable does not fall);
• last letter -l after a vowel (if there is only one vowel) in the British version it is always doubled, regardless of the stress: travel - travelling, signal - signaling.

Conjugation of the verbs to work, to write in Present Continuous

Use

Present Continuous is used:

• 1. To express an action that is happening at the present moment of speech, which is implied from the context or expressed by words such as now - now, at (the) present (moment) - at present, at this moment - Currently etc.

What are you doing (now)? - What are you doing now)?
I am cooking. Come and have supper with us. Cooking (in the kitchen). Come join us for dinner.

Note:
In principle, the presence of words denoting the moment of speech in an English sentence is not necessary, since the form of tense itself shows that the action takes place at the moment of speech. In Russian, the coincidence of an action with the moment of speech is either clear from the context, or is specified by the words now, at the moment, etc.

• 2. To express a continued action that does not necessarily occur at the moment of a conversation, but is permanent.

I am reading a novel by K. Simonov.
I am reading a novel by K. Simonov. (Action in progress, extended over time.)
They are learning two foreign languages ​​at the new gymnazium.
In the new gymnasium they study two foreign languages.
Not teaching English and learning French. He teaches English and studies French.

• 3. To express a pre-planned, planned action that will take place in the future, often the nearest.

Are you doing anything tonight? Are you doing anything tonight?
Yes, I am going to my judo class and (I’m) meeting my friends afterwards.
Yes, I go to judo classes, then I meet my friends. (So ​​planned.)
She is leaving at the end of the week. She leaves at the end of the week. (So ​​planned, decided.)

• 4. With an adverb always to express a constantly repeated action that causes irritation, condemnation and even indignation in the speaker.

Not is always going away for weekends. He's always away for the weekend.

Compare:
not always goes away for weekends. He always goes away for the weekend.

The use of Simple Present / Present Indefinite instead of Present Continuous changes the emotional attitude of the speaker to what is happening and is perceived by the latter as a normal normal phenomenon, as a fact of action.

The present continuous is usually not used:

• 1. With verbs expressing feelings of perception: to see - see, to hear- hear, to notice- notice, to smell- smell, to feel - feel, to recognize- learn, to listen (to) - listen, to watch- observe.

But: Present Continuous is used:

a) with the verb to see in the meaning of “meet on business”, in the meaning of “visit” some places associated with tourism, and also in the meaning of “take care of”.

The director is seeing the applicants this morning. The principal is meeting with the applicants this morning.
Is not seeing the sights. He'll be back later. He's sightseeing. He will return later.
Is not seeing about tickets for tonight. He's getting tickets for tonight.

b) with the verbs to listen, to look, to watch and sometimes to smell, if an intentional action is expressed.

Why are you looking at this furcoat? Why are you looking at this coat?
It's far too expensive. I see one in the corner that would suit you much better. She's too expensive. I see a fur coat in the corner that suits you better.
Don't disturb him now, he is listening to the "radio-fact". Don't disturb him, he's listening, radio fact.

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Rules for the formation of affirmative sentences in the present continuous tense

Examples of affirmative sentences in the present continuous tense

I'm working now. I am working now. His sister's reading an interesting book at the moment. His sister is reading an interesting book at the moment. look! John's playing football in the yard! Look! John is playing football in the yard!

Rules for the formation of negative sentences in the present continuous tense

Examples of negative sentences in the present continuous tense

They aren't watching TV. They are not watching TV now. Peter and Alice aren't speaking. Petya and Alice are not talking now. The students aren't listening to the teacher at the moment. Students do not listen to their teacher at the moment.

Rules for the formation of interrogative sentences in the present continuous tense

Examples of interrogative sentences in the present continuous tense

Are the Tuckers swimming in the swimming pool now? Are the talkers swimming in the pool now? Are the students writing a dictation at the moment? Are students writing a dictation at the moment? Is he playing badminton in the garden now? Is he playing badminton in the garden now?

Rules for spelling forms in Present Continuous

Watch video on The Present Continuous Tense