3. Right now

 

The Present Continuous tense

  • To describe an action or situation that is happening at the moment of speaking.
  • To describe photographs or pictures.

 

hombre leyendo Thomas is reading a book.

  • The following time expressions are common in the present continuous tense: now, right now, at the moment...

hombre hablando por telefonoMy dad is talking on the phone right now.

 

  • Verbs that are not usually used in the present continuous tense. Do not use the present continuous tense with these verbs: be, believe, hate, know, like, love, prefer, seem, understand, want... These verbs are called state verbs (they refer to states, rather than actions) and they prefer simple tenses.

My sister isn't wanting the ice-cream. My sister doesn't want the ice-cream.

  • The present continuous tense is formed with the present of the verb BE + -ing form:

hombre en oficinaYou're working very hard!

 Imágenes cortesía de UVIc. Licencia CC

I  am  dancing

You  are  dancing

She/he/it  is  dancing

We  are  dancing

You  are  dancing

They  are  dancing

I am not (I'm not) writing

You are not (aren't) writing

She/he/it is not (isn't) writing

We are not (aren't) writing

You are not (aren't) writing

They are not (aren't) writing

Am I eating? Yes, I am // No, I'm not.

Are you eating? Yes, you are // No, you aren't.

Is she/he/it eating? Yes, he is // No, she isn't.

Are we eating? Yes, we are // No, we aren't

Are you eating? Yes, you are // No, you aren't.

Are they eating? Yes, they are // No, they aren't.