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<title>Present continuous</title>
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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Present continuous</span></span>
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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">This article is about a grammatical tense in English. For its use in other languages, see <a href="Continuous_and_progressive_aspects" title="Continuous and progressive aspects">Continuous and progressive aspects</a>.</div>
<p>The <b>present continuous</b>, also called the <b>present progressive</b> or <b>present imperfect</b>, is a verb form used in modern English that combines the <a href="Present_tense" title="Present tense">present tense</a> with the <a href="Continuous_and_progressive_aspects" title="Continuous and progressive aspects">continuous aspect</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is formed by the present tense form of <a href="Copula_(linguistics)#English" title="Copula (linguistics)">be</a> and the <a href="Present_participle" class="mw-redirect" title="Present participle">present participle</a> of a verb. The present continuous is generally used to describe something that is taking place at the present moment and can be employed in both the <a href="Indicative_mood" class="mw-redirect" title="Indicative mood">indicative</a> and <a href="Subjunctive_mood" title="Subjunctive mood">subjunctive</a> <a href="Grammatical_mood" title="Grammatical mood">moods</a>. It accounts for approximately 5% of verbs in spoken English.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Formation">Formation</h2></div>
<p>The present continuous is formed by the present tense form of <a href="Copula_(linguistics)#English" title="Copula (linguistics)">be</a> and the <a href="Present_participle" class="mw-redirect" title="Present participle">present participle</a> (<a href="-ing" title="-ing">-ing</a> form) of the verb.<sup id="cite_ref-uses2_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-uses2-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>For example, you would write the verb <i>work</i> in the present continuous form by adding the -ing suffix to the verb and placing a present tense form of be (am, are, is) in front of it:<sup id="cite_ref-uses2_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-uses2-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<ul><li>I <b>am working</b>.</li>
<li>You <b>are working</b>.</li>
<li>She <b>is working</b>.</li>
<li>We <b>are working</b>.</li>
<li>They <b>are working</b>.</li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Uses">Uses</h2></div>
<p>The present continuous is used in several instances. Its most common use is to describe something that is happening at the exact moment of speech:<sup id="cite_ref-uses2_3-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-uses2-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
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<ul><li>The boy <b>is laughing</b>.</li></ul>
<p>This contrasts with the <a href="Simple_present" title="Simple present">simple present</a>, which is used to refer to something that occurs habitually (i.e. habits, unchanging situations, general truths, and fixed arrangements).<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The present continuous is also used to describe a temporary activity, even if it is not taking place at the exact moment of speech, or a temporary situation:<sup id="cite_ref-uses3_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-uses3-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<ul><li>They <b>are working</b> in Dubai.</li>
<li>I <b>am writing</b> a book.</li>
<li>I <b>am living</b> in Scotland until the end of the year.</li></ul>
<p>This contrasts with permanent activities or situations, which are described using the simple present:<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <i>I live on Main Street.</i>
</p><p>Present continuous can also describe an event planned in the future when combined with a time indicator for the future:<sup id="cite_ref-uses2_3-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-uses2-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-uses3_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-uses3-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
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<ul><li>I <b>am resitting</b> my French exam on Tuesday.</li></ul>
<p>When combined with always, but meaning often, the present continuous can be used to emphasize the frequency of an action in a humorous or hyperbolic way:<sup id="cite_ref-uses3_7-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-uses3-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-uses4_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-uses4-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
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<ul><li>My parents <b>are</b> always <b>making</b> me go to school!</li>
<li>She <b>is</b> always <b>playing</b> with that doll!</li>
<li>He <b>is</b> always <b>eating</b> chocolate!</li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2></div>
<ul><li><a href="Simple_present" title="Simple present">Simple present</a></li>
<li><a href="Uses_of_English_verb_forms" title="Uses of English verb forms">Uses of English verb forms</a></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>
<p><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="https://szkolajezyk.pl/angielski-od-podstaw/present-simple/">[1]</a><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">
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