Present continuous tense with practice | 3 main usages of present continuous

Present Continuous Tense

Present continuous or present progressive is another tense frequently used on daily basis. It is used to talk about that action that is happening at the time of speaking, plans that have been made for the future and temporary situations. And it is basically formed by adding –ing to the verbs (be + Ving). Please note that non-action verbs cannot be used in continuous tense. 

Forms

Positive: Sub + am/is/are + Ving………

    Ex. I am reading this article right now.
Negative: Sub + am/is/are + not + Ving………

    Ex. She isn't cooking at the moment.
Yes/No: Am/is/are + Sub + Ving………?

Short answers

• Yes, sub + be.
• No, sub + be not. 

    Ex. Are you checking social media at the moment?
Wh-question: Wh-word + am/is/are + Sub + Ving………?

    Ex. What are you doing right now? 

Usage 1 : In progress action in the present (សកម្មភាពដែលកំពុងកើតឡើង ក្នុងពេលកំពុងនិយាយា)

The Present Continuous Tense is typically used to talk about the action that is happening at the moment of speaking. See the following examples.

        You are reading this article. 

The action of reading is happening now. My mom is cooking dinner in the kitchen. If I go into the kitchen I will see the action of cooking is going on right now. 

- People are travelling on the streets.
- Birds are flying in the sky.
- Dogs are barking people walking nearby.
- Teacher is teaching the students in the class.

Usage 2 : Future plans/ Future arrangement (គម្រោងការក្នុងពេលអនាគត់)

Present continuous can also be used in place of “be going to” to talk about future plans or arrangements that have already been made. See the following examples.

- She is getting married next year. This means that she already got engaged and planned with her family about the marriage.

- We are having a trip next week. We already planned with friends. We talked about where to visit, who to go with where to stay.

- They are playing soccer this weekend. They already talked to their friends about where and what time to play.

- She is visiting Angkor Wat next month.
- My dad is having a business trip in the

Usage 3 : Temporary situation (សកម្មភាពបណ្តោះអាន្ន)

Temporary Actions: This refers to the action that is in progress now into the future for a period of time but the action is not necessarily happening at the time of speaking. See some examples below.

        My friend is taking his master degree the US.

The action of taking master degree in the US is not forever it is just for about two years and he will come back to his home country and the action of studying isn’t necessarily happening at the time of speaking now. It can be Sunday.
- I am living with my sister in Phnom Penh this year.
- They are working on an important project this month.
- We are staying at this hotel for 2 weeks.

Usage 4 : annoying habits (ទម្លាប់ដែលរំខាន)

Present Continuous Tense can also be used to describe the habits there are annoying and it usually used with " always" and it can be in positive and question form.

• He is always talking loudly during the lesson.
• Why are you always asking me about this?
• Why is she always complaining? 

Spelling rules

The verbs used in present continuous must be added with –ing and there are three important rules to keep in mind when changing it.

Rule 1: The verbs that end in –e, we have to drop when before adding –ing. 

• Live > living, 
• love > loving, 
• receive > receiving.

Rule 2: one syllable verb that ends in consonant, vowel and consonant, we have to double the consonant before adding –ing. 

• Plan > planning, 
• spot > spotting, 
• sit > sitting.

Rule 3: if the verbs don’t follow rule 1 and 2, just add –ing. 

• Stay > staying
• cry > crying
• eat > eating
• watch > watching.

Non-Action Verbs

Here is a list of common non-action verbs that can only be used in present simple but not in continuous tense.

Senses or feelings

• look
• feel
• sound
• taste
• smell

Desires

• love
• like
• want
• prefer

Possessions

• have
• own
• belong to
• posses

Opinions

• think
• believe
• consider

Practice

Put the following verbs in the correct tense of present simple or present continuous.

1. She ____ (study) for her exam right now.
2. I ____ (go) to the gym every morning.
3. They ____ (play) football in the park at the moment.
4. He ____ (not/watch) TV right now.
5. We ____ (live) in New York.
6. The children ____ (eat) dinner now.
7. My brother ____ (not/like) broccoli.
8. She ____ (dance) very well.
9. I ____ (read) an interesting book this week.
10. He ____ (drive) to work currently.
11. My parents ____ (visit) us every summer.
12. The cat ____ (sleep) on the sofa at present.
13. She ____ (work) as a teacher.
14. They ____ (not/play) tennis today.
15. I ____ (write) an email at the moment.
16. He ____ (take) the bus to school every day.
17. The sun ____ (shine) brightly now.
18. We ____ (plan) our holiday for next month.
19. My friend ____ (call) me now.
20. The baby ____ (cry) because he is hungry.