♔ THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

1. THE FORM:

'To Be' + VERB + ing

Example with the verb  TO WORK

 2.  THE SPELLING RULES:

The e is left off when the infinitive ends in e:

            make - making

If the verbs of one syllable end with a  consonant + a vowel + a consonant (a C.V.C) , the last consonant is doubled:

            get - getting

If longer verbs end with a single, stressed vowel + consonant,the consonant is also doubled:

            forget - forgetting

            But:

            develop - developing

Exception:  l is doubled regardless of stress:

            travel - travelling

If the infinitive ends with ie, then ie becomes y:

            die - dying

  3.  THE USES:

When it is emphasized that an action is happening now:

            I am very busy; I am working on my new Website.

            Why are you running away?

With the present continuous the activity is usually unfinished and of limited duration:

            I am living in a mobile home at the moment.

            (I am going to move soon)

            The teenagers are playing on the computer now.

            (They are playing on the computer at the moment, but when they have finished they will do something else)

For future events which have been arranged:

            As arranged, we are having a meeting at 9.00 tomorrow morning.

With adverbs like 'always' or 'constantly' to express criticism and/or irritation:

            My colleagues are constantly complaining about our boss.

           My brother is always arguing with his boss.

Compare the following sentences:

            He always rings me up at seven in the morning. (habit)

            He is always ringing me up at seven in the morning. (criticism)

Now you may want to do some exercises, so just click HERE.