USES OF PRESENT CONTINUOUS / PROGRESSIVE TENSE

 PRESENT TENSE

Present tense is refers to the present time of the verbs. It is classified in to four forms:

1. Simple Present or Present Indefinite
2. Present continuous or Present Progressive 
3. Present Perfect
4. Present Perfect Continuous / Progressive 

                       Structure

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE 

 2.1. Structure of Affirmative sentences:

   [Subject + is/am/are +v-IV(v-1+ing)+object] 

e.g.
 He is dancing.
 We are going to Sambalpur.
 They are waiting to the doctor.

 I am playing football.

2.2. Structure  of Negative sentences :

 [ Subject + is/am/are +v-IV(v-1+ing) + object ]

e.g.
 She is not dancing.
 He is not playing in the garden.
 I am not going to school.
 We are not standing in the queue.
 They are not coming from market.

2.3. Structure of Interrogative sentences:  

   [ Is/am/are + Subject+ v-IV+ object ? ]
e.g.
 Am I writing a story?
 Are you going there?
 Is she playing in the garden?
 Are they coming to our house?

2.4.Structure of Interrogative Negative sentences:

   [ Is/am/are + subject + not + v-IV + object? ]
e.g.
 Am I not drinking water?
 is not he coming here?
 isn't he coming here?

USES OF PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS :

  Present Continuous tense is used to express:  

1. An action, going on at the time of speaking:

e.g.

 I am speaking.

 He is dancing.

 We are playing.

 She is writing a letter.

 They are reading.

2. An action, that is planned or arranged to take place in the near future:
 e.g.

 My brother is going to Sambalpur.

 The prime minister is arriving tomorrow.

3. Present continuous tense is use with 'always' that may denote an idea which is unreasonable to the speaker:

e.g.

 He is always playing with his friend.

 She is always speaking that word.

4. Stative verb cannot be use in the following categories :

• Verb of perception : 

    e.g.

     smell, hear ,see, taste, feel

• Verb of emotion :

    e.g.

     wish, hope, like, believe, hate, fear, care, desire, want, etc.

• Verb of appearance :

   e.g.

    seem, face, stand, appear, look, resemble etc.

• Verb of possession :

   e.g.

    own, possess, belong, have, contain etc.

• Verb of thinking :

   e.g.

    think, know, mind, consider, understand, agree, remember etc.

* STATIVE VERB- usually refers to a state or condition which is not changing or likely to change.

* DYNAMIC VERB- usually refers to an action that we can take or things that happen.

Look at the following sentences :

    I am thinking. (incorrect)

    I think.(correct)

    I am loving her.(incorrect)

    I love her. (correct)

    We are smelling with our nose. (incorrect)

    We smell with our nose. (correct)

    I am remembering her. (incorrect)

    I remember her. (correct)

    It is feeling like sweet. (incorrect)

    It feels like sweet. (correct)

Note: But these stative verbs can be used in progressive form :

for example:

    She is looking for her bag.

    I am testing the food.

    They are thinking of going to Sambalpur.

    The police man is hearing our complain.