English Tenses : Present Progressive Tense

Definition Of The Present Progressive Tense

 The present continuous tense (also called the present progressive tense) is commonly used in English for actions happening right now, or in the future. This page will explain the rules for forming the tense with regular verbs.

The above story is an example of the present progressive tense.

Functions Of The Present Progressive

As with all tenses in English, the speaker's attitude is as important as the time of the action or event. When someone uses the present continuous, they are thinking about something that is unfinished or incomplete.

Use Of the Present Progressive Tense

·         Happening now 
Example :

·       It is raining

·       I’m eating lunch now

·         Temporary actions

Example : I’m working in New York this week

·         Fixed plans (often in the near future)

Example : I’m meeting my friends after work

·         Longer actions in progress now

Examples :

·       She’s studying to be a doctor

·       He’s training for a marathon

·         Trends 
Example : more and more people are using cell phones to access the internet

Signal Words

·         Now

·         Currently

·         At this time

·         At present

·         At this moment

·         Nowadays

·         Look!

·                              Listen!

Form

to be (am, are, is) + Infinitiv + -ing

Examples

·         Affirmative sentences in the Present Progressive

·         Negative sentences in the Present Progressive

·         Questions in the Present Progressive

References :

Hanafi, Tommy. 2011. Pasti Cepat Bisa 16 Tenses. Jogjakarta : Javalitera.

https://americanenglish.state.gov/

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/pres_pro.htm

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/pcont.htm

http://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/simple-past-tense/