11
2. The Understanding of Present Continuous Tense
The present continuous 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.
11
According to Ron Cowan, present continuous tense is formed with a present form of be i.e., am, is, are and the present participle of the main verb
12
, for example:
John is sleeping right now.
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 below:
13
SUBJECT + BE + VERB+ING
Affirmative and negative Interrogative
Subject Be
Verb+ing He
is
doing She
isnt It
you are
They arent
We I
am am not
Furthermore, here are some functions of usage present continuous tense declared by Marianne and Celce and Diana Larsen:
11
Azar, Understanding …, p. 13
12
Ron Cowan, The Teacher’s Grammar of English, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2008, p.362.
13
Margaret Close Sacco, The Simple Present and Progressive present tense , Ottawa: Canada, 1982,p. 11
Be Be
Verb+ing Is
He
doing Isnt
She It
are you
arent They
We am
I am not
12
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 wearing the glasses approving
He is forever acting up at these affairs. disapproving g.
A change in progress:
She is becoming more and more like her father
14
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
15
3. The Passive Voice of Present Continuous Tense
Kategori