PRESENT PROGRESSIVE OR CONTINUOUS

The present progressive puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action.

The present progressive is used for actions going on in the moment of speaking and for actions taking place only for a short period of time. It is also used to express development and actions that are arranged for the near future.

Present progressive is also known as present continuous.

Use a form of to be and the infinite verb plus -ing.

Use:

• am with the personal pronoun I
• is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or the singular form of nouns)
• are with the personal pronouns you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns)

affirmative                               negative                                            question

I am playing.                      I am not playing.                                Am I playing?

He is playing.                     He is not playing.                                 Is he playing?

You are playing.                 You are not playing.                        Are you playing?

In negative sentences, we put not between the form of be and the verb.

In questions, we simply swop the places of subject and the form of be.