Present Continuous Tense

​We use the present continuous to talk about:

​Activities at the moment of speaking​

• ​I'm just leaving work. I'll be home in an hour.

• Please be quiet. The children are sleeping.

​Future plans or arrangements

​We do not normally use the continuous with stative verbs.

Stative verbs include:

verbs of thinking and feeling

​At eight o'clock we are usually having breakfast

​Something which is happening before and after a specific time

​Michael is at university. He's studying history

​Something which we think is temporary

​What sort of music are they listening to?

​Something which is new and contrast with a previous state

​The climate is changing rapidly

​​Something which is changing or growing or developing

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​George is great. He's always laughing

​​Something which happens again and again

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​The other day I'm just walking down the street when suddenly this man comes up to me and asks me to lend him some money. Well, he's carrying a big stick and he looks a bit dangerous, so I'm wondering what to do …

​​Telling a story

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​​Harry Potter is a pupil at Hogwarts school. One day when he is playing Quidditch he sees a strange object in the sky. He wonders what is happening …

​Summarizing a book, film or play