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Engleza

Present continuous

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invata engleza singurPresent Continuous

FORM

[am/is/are + present participle]

Examples:

  • You are watching TV.
  • Are you watching TV?
  • You are not watching TV.

 

USE 1 Now

Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.

Examples:

  • You are learning English now.
  • You are not swimming now.
  • Are you sleeping?
  • I am sitting.
  • I am not standing.
  • Is he sitting or standing?
  • They are reading their books.
  • They are not watching television.
  • What are you doing?
  • Why aren’t you doing your homework?

USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, “now” can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.

Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)

  • I am studying to become a doctor.
  • I am not studying to become a dentist.
  • I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
  • I am not reading any books right now.
  • Are you working on any special projects at work?
  • Aren’t you teaching at the university now?

USE 3 Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.

Examples:

  • I am meeting some friends after work.
  • I am not going to the party tonight.
  • Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
  • Isn’t he coming with us tonight?

USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with “Always”

The Present Continuous with words such as “always” or “constantly” expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like  Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words “always” or “constantly” between “be” and “verb+ing.”

Examples:

  • She is always coming to class late.
  • He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
  • I don’t like them because they are always complaining.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Present.

Examples:

  • She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct
  • She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

  • You are still watching TV.
  • Are you still watching TV?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

  • Right now, Tom is writing the letter. Active
  • Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. Passive

More About Active / Passive Forms

Engleza

Simple Present Forms

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Simple Present Forms

Most Verbs

Most verbs conjugate like the verb “run” below. Notice how you add an “s” to third-person forms. Third-person negative forms and third-person questions are made using “does.”

Positive Negative Question
  • I run.
  • You run.
  • We run.
  • They run.
  • He runs.
  • She runs.
  • It runs.
  • I do not run.
  • You do not run.
  • We do not run.
  • They do not run.
  • He does not run.
  • She does not run.
  • It does not run.
  • Do I run?
  • Do you run?
  • Do we run?
  • Do they run?
  • Does he run?
  • Does she run?
  • Does it run?

Instead of “s,” “es” is added to positive, third-person forms of verbs ending with the following sounds: s, z, sh, ch, j or zs (as in Zsa Zsa). These special “es”-forms have been marked below with an asterisk*.

Positive Negative Question
  • I rush.
  • You rush.
  • We rush.
  • They rush.
  • He rushes. *
  • She rushes. *
  • It rushes. *
  • I do not rush.
  • You do not rush.
  • We do not rush.
  • They do not rush.
  • He does not rush.
  • She does not rush.
  • It does not rush.
  • Do I rush?
  • Do you rush?
  • Do we rush?
  • Do they rush?
  • Does he rush?
  • Does she rush?
  • Does it rush?

To Have

The verb “have” is irregular in positive, third-person forms. This irregular form has been marked below with an asterisk*.

Positive Negative Question
  • I have.
  • You have.
  • We have.
  • They have.
  • He has. *
  • She has. *
  • It has. *
  • I do not have.
  • You do not have.
  • We do not have.
  • They do not have.
  • He does not have.
  • She does not have.
  • It does not have.
  • Do I have?
  • Do you have?
  • Do we have?
  • Do they have?
  • Does he have?
  • Does she have?
  • Does it have?

To Be

The verb “be” is irregular in the Simple Present. It also has different question forms and negative forms.

Positive Negative Question
  • I am.
  • You are.
  • We are.
  • They are.
  • He is.
  • She is.
  • It is.
  • I am not.
  • You are not.
  • We are not.
  • They are not.
  • He is not.
  • She is not.
  • It is not.
  • Am I?
  • Are you?
  • Are we?
  • Are they?
  • Is he?
  • Is she?
  • Is it?

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs behave differently from other verbs. Notice that they do not take “s” in the third person – there is no difference between first-person, second-person or third-person forms. Like the verb “be” described above, modal verbs also have different question forms and negative forms in Simple Present.

Positive Negative Question
  • I should go.
  • You should go.
  • We should go.
  • They should go.
  • He should go.
  • She should go.
  • It should go.
  • I should not go.
  • You should not go.
  • We should not go.
  • They should not go.
  • He should not go.
  • She should not go.
  • It should not go.
  • Should I go?
  • Should you go?
  • Should we go?
  • Should they go?
  • Should he go?
  • Should she go?
  • Should it go?
Engleza

Simple Present

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Simple Present

FORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

  • You speak English.
  • Do you speak English?
  • You do not speak English.

Complete List of Simple Present Forms

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

Examples:

  • I play tennis.
  • She does not play tennis.
  • Does he play tennis?
  • The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
  • The train does not leave at 9 AM.
  • When does the train usually leave?
  • She always forgets her purse.
  • He never forgets his wallet.
  • Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
  • Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate  the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

  • Cats like milk.
  • Birds do not like milk.
  • Do pigs like milk?
  • California is in America.
  • California is not in the United Kingdom.
  • Windows are made of glass.
  • Windows are not made of wood.
  • New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

  • The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
  • The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
  • When do we board the plane?
  • The party starts at 8 o’clock.
  • When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.

Examples:

  • I am here now.
  • She is not here now.
  • He needs help right now.
  • He does not need help now.
  • He has his passport in his hand.
  • Do you have your passport with you?

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

  • You only speak English.
  • Do you only speak English?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

  • Once a week, Tom cleans the car. Active
  • Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. Passive