Present continuous tense

Present continuous tense

Read the following sentences.

1. Tiya is playing golf.

2. Dikky duck is dancing.

3. Tom is baking cookies.

Present simple & present continuous

We use the Present Simple to talk about things which happen: always, often, generally, usually, normally, every week etc. and we use the Present Continuous to talk about things which are happening at this moment, now.

Example:

1. I often play chess. (Simple present)
2. I am playing chess. (Present continuous)

We use the Present Simple to talk about things which are unchanging for a long time. They are permanent and we use the Present Continuous to talk about things which may change. They are temporary.

Example:

1. I work for a private company. (Simple present)
2. In summers I am doing a government project. (Present continuous)

There are some verbs which we do not use in the Continuous form:

1. smoke ____

2. play ____

3. study ____

4. die ____

5. travel ____

6. take ____

7. stop ____

8. write ____

9. see ____

10. make ____

11. cut ____

12. lie ____