Present continuous

Present continous.

SUBJECT + SIMPLE PRESENT "TO BE" + PRESENT PARTICIPLE
I'm freezing

Present continuous NEGATIVE

SUBJECT + SIMPLE PRESENT "TO BE" + NOT + PRESENT PARTICIPLE 
I'm not freezing 

Present continuous QUESTION

SIMPLE PRESENT "TO BE"+  SUBJECT +  PRESENT PARTICIPLE  ? 
Are you freezing? 

Simple Present versus Present Continuous. 

Use of simple present for actions that happen regulary or things that do not often change, like opinions.
Use of present continuous for temporary actions happening now or definite plans for the future.

More about present continuous.

The present continuous tense is formed from the present tense of the verb be and the present participle (-ing form) of a verb:

Use
1. We use the present continuous tense to talk about the present:

• for something that is happening at the moment of speaking:

          I’m just leaving work. I’ll be home in an hour.
          Please be quiet. The children are sleeping.

• for something which is happening before and after a given time:

          At eight o’clock we are usually having breakfast.
          When I get home the children are doing their homework.

• for something which we think is temporary:

          Michael is at university. He’s studying history.
          I’m working in London for the next two weeks.

• for something which is new and contrasts with a previous state:

 These days most people are using email instead of writing letters.
 What sort of clothes are teenagers wearing nowadays? What sort of music are  they listening to?

• to show that something is changing, growing or developing:

         The children are growing quickly.
         The climate is changing rapidly.
         Your English is improving.

• for something which happens again and again:

         It’s always raining in London.
         They are always arguing.
         George is great. He’s always laughing.

         Note: We normally use always with this use.

2. We use the present continuous tense to talk about the future:

• for something which has been arranged or planned:

         Mary is going to a new school next term.
         What are you doing next week?

3. We can use the present continuous to talk about the past:

• When we are telling a story: 

         When we are summarising the story from a book, film or play etc

EXERCISES

Present continuous 1
Present continuous 2
Present simple or present continuous 1
Present simple or present continuous 2

VIDEOS

Present continuous versus Present simple: