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Will I
have spoken English?
3. The Present Continuous Tense
The Present Continuous Tense expresses an activity that is in progress at the moment of speaking. It is a temporary activity that began in the past, is
continuing at present, and will probably end at some point in the future.
4
According to Ron Cowan, Present Continuous Tense is formed with a Present form of bei.e., am, is, are and the present participle of the main verb
5
, for example:
John is eating bread right not.
I need an umbrella because it is raining
The students are sitting at their desks right now
The formation of preset continuous tense is concluded as bellow:
6
SUBJECT + BE + VERB+ING
Affirmative and negative Interrogative
4
Azar, Understanding …, p. 13
5
Ron Cowan, The Teacher’s Grammar of English, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2008, p.362.
6
Margaret Close Sacco, The Simple Present and Progressive present tense , Ottawa: Canada, 1982,p. 11
Subject Be
Verb+ing He
is
doing She
isnt It
you are
They arent
We Be
Subject Verb+ing
Is He
Doing? Isnt
She It
are you
arent They
We am
I am not
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Furthermore, here are some functions of usage Present Continuous Tense declared by Marianne and Celce and Diana Larsen:
a. Activity in progress:
He is attending a meeting now.
b. Extended present action will end and therefore lacks the permanence
of the Simple Present Tense
I am studying geology at the University c.
A temporary situation:
Phyllis is living with her parent d.
Repetition or iteration in a series of similar ongoing action:
Henry is kicking the soccer ball around the backyard e.
Express future when event is planed; usually with a future – time adverbial
She is coming tomorrow f.
Emotional comment on present habit usually co-occurring with frequency adverb always or forever:
He is always delivering in a clutch situation approving
He is forever acting up at these affairs. disapproving
g. A change in progress:
She is becoming more and more like her father
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In addition, other perceptions of the usage of Present Continuous Tense sated by Ron Cowan are:
h. Giving statement more emotional strength and intensity:
This operation is really costing a lot of money
i. Focusing on behavior as a change from the norm
You are being stubborn
8
7
Marianne Celce Murcia and Diane Larsen Freeman, The Grammar Book, New York: Heine and Heinle publishers, 1999, p.117
8
Ron Cowan, The Teac her’s Grammar of English, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2008, p.363
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B. The Passive Voice.
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