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The ‘Present Continuous’ – Phrases & Use In Everyday Conversation

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How can you use the verb form that many English coursebooks call the ‘present continuous’ or ‘present progressive’ (ie be + base verb+ing)?

The (be) + base+ing form is used where the speaker sees the event that they’re talking about to be:

  • for a temporary or limited period of time
  • in progress at the time of speaking but where this action is not seen as a point in time

How the speaker sees the event that they are talking about is important.* For example, in a football match you might hear these sentences on TV:

Hawthorn are having a great match here today at AFL Park. 
Hodge kicks the ball to Gunston, who goals! 

In both these sentences the action is in progress at the time of speaking,  but in the case of “Hodge kicks..”, the speaker doesn’t see this as a period of time, but rather a ‘point’ in time. That is, maybe Franklin passes it to Hodge, who then kicks it to Gunston, and then Gunston kicks a goal. These are seen as points in time, so we use the present simple here.

So that’s why it’s important to see the event happening as being an action in progress rather than just being a point in time.

Hawthorn are having a great match –  the speaker sees the football match as being in progress, and knows it’s due to end.

Present continuous in action

Let’s take a look at some common ways we use the be + base+ing verb form:

“I see what’s happening as a temporary action which is in progress right now but it’s not a point in time”

  • Think of when you write postcards (you still send a postcard back home to your lovely grandmother or grandfather, I hope):

I’m sitting at this cafe in Edinburgh..
I’m writing to you from the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne…
We’re having a great time here in Belgrade..

Of course if you’re texting or Tweeting, then it’s the same principle. Sometimes we might leave out the pronoun (I, we, you, etc) and even the auxiliary (am, is, are) if it’s clear who or when we’re talking about:

Am having a great time at the party.
Just getting some drinks, will be there shortly.

“The action started before now and I expect it to have an ending in the future”

  • The plans and arrangements you wrote down in your diary are a good example of this. The action started when you first organised a meeting (ie you ‘registered’ the date and time in your diary, iPad, or you just simply remembered it, and the action will end when the meeting itself is over:

I’m catching up with John tomorrow.
I’m seeing Jitka at 6 o’clock.
I’m travelling across Canada next year.

Even a ‘negative plan’ is seen as a temporary action:

I’m not getting up to much this weekend.
I’m not doing much later, why don’t you come and stop by for a drink?

“I am focussing on an action in progress”

  • Trends are a good example of this.

The cost of living is getting out of hand.-Compare:

Inflation rises when there is strong economic growth – this is a general statement about inflation, and not an action in progress.
Inflation is rising and this is creating problems for home buyers – this is something happening now and around now
Also:
Everyone’s watching the new Miley Cyrus song on Youtube.
The new Samsung smart phone is really taking off.

“I see the action not as a point in time or ‘universal time’ but something happening now that makes me react in some way”

When we refer to something which happens regularly, we use the present simple:
I always catch the bus to work.

But compare it with an action that I see as being in progress now or around now, and there’s some kind of emotional response:

She’s always taking care of me, she’s so lovely. [I feel wonderful]
My wife’s always biting her nails, it’s really annoying! [I feel annoyed]

In the textbooks this use of ‘always‘ is presented as an exception, but actually it goes along with the basic rules mentioned above (ie using ‘always’ with be + base+ing form is not with regular points in time, but rather I am commenting from the viewpoint of ‘being inside’ the moment).

“I want to emphasise that a decision I have just made is in fact already a plan”

Usually when you make a decision in the moment, you can use WILL:

“I’ll do it tomorrow, then.”

However, if you made a decision a few seconds ago and now you want to communicate that this is indeed already a plan, then you can use the be + base+ing form:

“They’re selling chocolate cakes half-price?! Alright, I’m getting some!”
“She’s in trouble? Ok, I’m going there right now!”

From my experience, I’ve heard this from Americans than from speakers in other countries. But I’ve heard myself saying this too in recent times.

“I want you to imagine it is happening now”

Imagine you're lying on the beach

 

  • Sometimes it can be good to get a friend or partner to imagine that something is happening right now, as it could help communicate your message more effectively:

“Honey, Thailand is so beautiful, let’s go there.. Just imagine.. We’re walking along the beach, hand in hand..and no one else is around..I’m sure we’ll have a great time!”

  • In a similar way, we describe pictures as though the action is happening now at the moment:

“That’s Abe, my uncle, on the left. I’m not sure why he’s smiling, but it could be because he’s just seen his ex-wife..” 

  • And if we speculate about what we think our friends are doing now, that’s also with the present continuous form:

“What do you think John’s doing now?”
“I bet you Bill’s talking to a girl in some bar right now..”

  • Likewise, when you tell a story about something that’s happened, you can use this be + base+ing form as if it’s happening now:

“I arrived late and didn’t know where to go. I’m at the door, I’m standing there for ages, well it feels like ages when finally Sandra comes along and takes me to my seat..”

To conclude, here are some nice expressions using this verb form:

15 phrases you can use today!

  1. I’m really looking forward to seeing you.
  2. Look, I’m just doing the shopping, can I call you back?
  3. He’s speaking with a client right now, can I take a message for you?
  4. I’m reading a great little book on the history of Belgrade.
  5. I’m studying for my finals so I won’t be able to do much else this weekend.
  6. What are you getting up to tonight?
  7. (Are) You having a good time?
  8. Australia are having a great year, and might even win the next World Cup.
  9. I never thought they’d get on, but I’ve heard that he’s seeing Julia.
  10. It seems like everyone is watching the big game this afternoon.
  11. If you’re heading out, could you get me some bread..?
  12. Jimmy’s working hard and making a lot of progress this term.
  13. You going to the concert? How about we meet up in front of Shiass Hotel?
  14. Things are getting better, thanks.
  15. Just coming now, will be there in a sec..

* Credit Michael Lewis for highlighting this.

You might also like:

Expressing future time
The present simple in everyday conversation

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jana says

    December 14, 2013 at 14:27

    Hello David,

    “Australia ARE having…”, it’s plural because the meaning is “Australians”?

    Jana

    Reply
    • David Sweetnam says

      December 14, 2013 at 14:40

      Hi Jana

      Nice to see you here. “Australia ARE” – here I’m referring to the Australian cricket team, for example. Some people say ‘team are’, some say ‘team is.’

      It’s just like ‘family’ and ‘company’. It depends if you see the team as a single unit (“is”) or a group of individuals. As well, if you’re in the team, you’d say “WE are”..

      In short, either is fine though everyone has their preferences 🙂

      Reply
  2. Sergio Rodrigues says

    December 14, 2013 at 20:50

    For us, Brazilians. it is hard not confuse the present perfect with the present continious, because both are used in actions thar start in the past and continues in the present. Is the temporary duration that makes the difference?

    Reply
    • David Sweetnam says

      December 14, 2013 at 21:18

      Hi Sergio

      That’s a really good question. I was thinking of it too when I was writing, but I’d had already written quite a bit.

      My short answer is that the present perfect continuous is “until now” [eg “I’ve been living in Brno for 8 weeks”] whereas the focus of the present continuous is on the action in progress [eg “I’m going out with Jitka, she’s really cute and interesting”]

      As Michael Lewis writes (btw I recommend his book ‘The English Verb’), it’s also how we see events.

      What we want to focus on in our communication is important. For example, I’m only now beginning to call Brno home, so before this week I was probably saying to people “I’m living in Brno now.”

      I’ll see what other questions come up and write a follow up post later on 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jana says

    December 15, 2013 at 21:30

    All right! Got it, thanks. 😉

    Reply
  4. Martina says

    December 16, 2013 at 12:05

    Hello David,
    I’ve just find a few minutes (hurááá:-) ) and I read your tips about present perfect. I have to say GREAT… Very very usefull tips and mainly very comprehensible explanation. Thanks a lot David!

    Martina

    Reply
    • David Sweetnam says

      December 16, 2013 at 13:10

      Hi Martina

      Thanks for popping in. If you’re at home more these days, pls feel free to go over some of the recent posts.

      And see you soon!

      David

      Reply
  5. Paolo says

    December 19, 2013 at 09:55

    Hello David!

    Thank you so much for your great work. That’s always easy to comprehend the meaning of all of your posts.

    I’ll appreciate if you will write a proper post about the difference between present progressive and present perfect (present perfect progressive)

    Thank you in advance!

    Reply
    • David Sweetnam says

      December 23, 2013 at 23:31

      Hello Paolo

      Thank you for your comment, I’ll be very happy to write more on this in the New Year 🙂
      In the meantime I’ll have some other posts after Christmas and hope you can jump back on board.
      Best wishes

      David

      Reply
  6. Richy kamupinda says

    February 24, 2014 at 04:17

    Helpful

    Reply
    • David Sweetnam says

      February 24, 2014 at 10:03

      Thanks for visiting!

      Reply

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Welcome to Get Into English. I’m David, an English teacher, traveller & language enthusiast from Melbourne Australia.
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Older posts were written while I was in Europe, newer ones are from Australia.

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