2. Is Paco's English improving? (pres cont. interrogative)

Reflexiona

Read the following presentation to learn about the Present Continuous Interrogative form:

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Importante

Paco and Sonia

As you already know, Sonia sometimes helps Paco study English.

Now she is explaining the Present Continuous Tense to him. Sonia has written down this table for her brother to summarize the affirmative, negative and interrogative patterns in the Present Continuous Tense, so Paco can better recognize  the formation of this verb tense.

 

 

AFIRMATIVA NEGATIVA INTERROGATIVA
I am studying am not studying Am I studying?
You are studying aren't studying Are you studying?
He/She/it is studying isn't studying Is he/she/it studying?
We are studying aren't studying Are we studying?
You (all) are studying aren't studying Are you studying?
They are studying aren't studying Are they studying?

Notice the interrogative pattern with short questions in the Present Continuous Tense:

VERB TO BE + SUBJECT + VERB -ING + OBJECT?

Is Paco studying English with his sister?

Notice the interrogative pattern with WH- questions in the Present Continuous Tense to ask for very general actions or situations:

QUESTION WORD + VERB TO BE + SUBJECT + VERB -ING + OBJECT?

What are Paco and Sonia doing now?

Notice the interrogative pattern with WH- questions in the Present Continuous Tense to ask for more detailed actions or situations:

QUESTION WORD + VERB TO BE + SUBJECT + ANY VERB -ING + OBJECT?

Why is Alex going to play football now?

CLICK HERE FOR EXPLANATIONS IN SPANISH.

Comprueba lo aprendido

Read the paragraph below and fill in the missing words.

 

  1. Peter / to go / to the cinema - ?
  2. they / to play / a game - ?
  3. Sonia / to help / her brother - ?
  4. I / to dream - ?
  5. they / to pack / their bags - ?
  6. you / to improve / your English - ?
  7. we / to talk / too fast - ?
  8. they / to clean / the windows - ?
  9. Paco / to study / the P. Continuous table - ?
  10. you / to pull / my leg - (= tomarle el pelo)



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Comprueba lo aprendido

Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence:

E.g.: Paco is watching CSI- What is Paco watching?

E.g.: Antonio is reading a book- Who is reading a book? (if it's the subject, we don't change the order).

E.g.: David is having a drink.- What is David doing?

1. Ashley is going to a restaurant. -
2. Paco is studying the Present Continuous. -
3. Stacey is playing in the garden. -
4. Sonia is helping her brother with English. - Sonia
5. Paco is doing his homework. -
6. Mandy is leaving at nine. -
7. Joe is repairing his bike. -
8. Amanda is going out with Dan. -
9. They are meeting at two o'clock. -
10. Sandy is looking for Phil. -

 

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Comprueba lo aprendido

Pregunta

Ask for the underlined part.

Example: Sonia is living in Spain. - Where is Sonia living?

Isabel is buying a present at the clothes shop.

Respuestas

Where is Sonia buying a present?

Where Sonia buying a present?

Retroalimentación

Pregunta

Alex is walking his dog.

Respuestas

Who walks his dog?

Who is walking his dog?

Who is his dog walking?

Retroalimentación

Pregunta

She is sitting on the sofa.

Respuestas

Where is she sitting?

What is she sitting?

Retroalimentación

Para saber más

Short answers: al igual que en el presente simple, en las preguntas del tipo yes/no, las respuestas siguen la siguiente estructura:

Yes, pronombre personal + verbo to be (afirmativo)

No, pronombre personal + verbo to be (negativo)

 

Is Mary sleeping? (¿Está Mary durmiendo?)

-Yes, she is (Sí, lo está)

-No, she isn't (No, no lo está)

 

Acuérdate de que en el presente simple, detrás del sujeto colocábamos un verbo auxiliar. En el presente continuo siempre usamos TO BE como auxiliar.

Let's see now some differences between the uses of the Present Simple and the Present Continuous Tenses.