00:01Welcome to lesson 2 of our English grammar series.
00:04In this lesson, we are going to learn the present continuous tense.
00:08This is one of the most commonly used tenses in everyday English.
00:12We use it when we talk about actions that are happening right now, at this very moment.
00:17By the end of this lesson, you will know how to form positive sentences, negative sentences,
00:21and questions using the present continuous tense.
00:24So let us get started.
00:26So what exactly is the present continuous tense?
00:28We use this tense when something is happening now, or at this very moment.
00:33We also use it to talk about ongoing actions and temporary actions.
00:37For example, I am drinking coffee.
00:39She is reading a book.
00:41They are listening to music.
00:42Notice how each sentence describes an action that is in progress right now.
00:46That is the key idea behind the present continuous tense.
00:49Now, let us look at the structure of the present continuous tense.
00:52The formula is simple.
00:54Subject plus am is or are plus the verb with ing plus the object.
01:00Here is how you choose the right helper verb.
01:03With I, we always use am.
01:06For example, I am drinking coffee.
01:08With you, we, and they, we use are.
01:12For example, you are drinking coffee.
01:14With he, she, and it, we use is.
01:17For example, he is drinking coffee.
01:20This is very important to remember.
01:21Am goes with I, is goes with he, she, and it.
01:26Are goes with you, we, and they.
01:28Now, how do you know when to use the present continuous tense?
01:31There are some signal words or clue words that help you identify the tense.
01:36These words include now, right now, at present, presently, at the moment, today, nowadays,
01:43these days, this month, just, still, for the time being and currently.
01:48When you see any of these words in a sentence, it is a strong hint that the present continuous
01:53tense should be used.
01:55For example, I am reading a book right now.
01:58She is cooking dinner at the moment.
02:00They are studying hard nowadays.
02:02He is still working on the project.
02:05Notice the signal words in each of these sentences.
02:08Let us now look at the first use of the present continuous tense.
02:11Use number one is for actions that are happening right now, at this very moment.
02:15Here are some examples.
02:17I am drinking coffee at a cafe right now.
02:20I am writing a leave letter to my teacher.
02:22I am watching a movie on TV right now.
02:24I am doing my homework now.
02:26She is having breakfast at the moment.
02:28He is listening to Hindi songs online.
02:31They are looking for jobs in Chennai.
02:33We are learning spoken English at present.
02:35All of these actions are happening right now, in the present moment.
02:39Use number two is for longer actions that are in progress.
02:43Sometimes, we use the present continuous tense for actions that are ongoing over a longer
02:47period.
02:48These actions might not be happening at this exact second, but they are still in progress.
02:54For example, I am studying BTEC now.
02:57This does not mean I am studying at this exact moment.
03:00It means I am currently a BTEC student.
03:04Another example, I am working in a bank now.
03:07This means my current job is at a bank.
03:10And here I am, he is teaching at the university now.
03:14This means his ongoing job is teaching at the university.
03:18So remember, the present continuous can describe longer ongoing situations too.
03:24Use number three is a very interesting one.
03:26We can actually use the present continuous tense to talk about future actions that are already
03:31planned or arranged.
03:32For example, I am coming to Chennai tomorrow.
03:35I am going to the party tonight.
03:37He is buying a new mobile tomorrow.
03:39I am leaving for Delhi tomorrow morning.
03:41I am flying to the USA tomorrow morning.
03:44Notice that these sentences talk about the future, but we are using the present continuous
03:48tense because these actions are already planned and arranged.
03:52Use number four is a special one.
03:54We use the present continuous tense with the word always or constantly to express annoyance
04:00or frustration about repeated actions.
04:02For example, she is always shouting at me.
04:05This shows that the speaker is annoyed by the shouting.
04:08He is constantly calling me.
04:11Again, this shows frustration.
04:12He is always complaining about me.
04:15I am always losing my house keys.
04:17I am always fighting with my brother.
04:19In all these examples, the word always with the present continuous shows that the action
04:24happens repeatedly and usually the speaker is not happy about it.
04:28Now let us practice making positive or affirmative sentences.
04:32With I, we use am.
04:34I am reading the newspaper.
04:36I am having breakfast at the moment.
04:38I am learning spoken English.
04:40I am looking for a job in Chennai.
04:42With you, we use are.
04:44You are learning English hard.
04:46You are doing your homework.
04:48You are leaving for Delhi tomorrow.
04:50With he and she, we use is.
04:52He is drinking coffee right now.
04:55She is writing a leave letter.
04:57He is listening to songs online.
05:00With we and they, we use are.
05:03We are watching a movie now.
05:04They are having breakfast.
05:06They are looking for jobs.
05:08Practice making your own positive sentences with each of these subjects.
05:12Now let us learn how to make negative sentences using the present continuous tense.
05:17The structure is simple.
05:18Subject plus am not, is not, or are not, plus the verb with ing plus the object.
05:25We can also use contractions.
05:27Is not becomes isn't.
05:29Are not becomes aren't.
05:31Am not becomes very jack am not.
05:34Here are some examples.
05:36With I, we say, I am not reading the newspaper now.
05:40I am not having breakfast at the moment.
05:42I am not watching a movie on TV right now.
05:45With he and she, we say, he isn't drinking coffee right now.
05:49She isn't leaving for Delhi tomorrow.
05:51He isn't looking for a job currently.
05:53With you, we and they, we say, you aren't doing your homework now.
05:57We aren't listening to songs online.
05:59They aren't studying in class 10.
06:01Practice these negative sentences with different verbs.
06:04Now let us learn how to form questions using the present continuous tense.
06:09For yes or no questions, we move the helper verb to the front of the sentence.
06:14The structure becomes, am, is, or are, plus the subject, plus the verb with ing, plus the object and then
06:22a question mark.
06:23With I, we say, am I leaving for Delhi tomorrow morning?
06:27Am I talking to Mr. John on the phone?
06:29With you, we say, are you reading the newspaper now?
06:33Are you having breakfast at the moment?
06:35Are you learning spoken English?
06:37With he and she, we say, is he drinking coffee right now?
06:41Is she writing a leave letter?
06:43With it, we and they, we say, is it playing with the ball now?
06:47Are we watching a movie now?
06:49Are they learning English?
06:51Notice how the helper verb comes before the subject in questions.
06:56We can also form negative questions using the present continuous tense.
07:00The structure uses the contracted negative form.
07:03Isn't or aren't, plus the subject, plus the verb with ing, plus the object and a question mark.
07:09Here are some examples.
07:11Aren't I leaving for Delhi tomorrow morning?
07:13Aren't you reading the newspaper now?
07:15Isn't he drinking coffee at a cafe right now?
07:18Isn't she learning spoken English at present?
07:21Isn't it playing with the ball now?
07:23Aren't we watching a movie on TV right now?
07:26Aren't they doing their homework now?
07:27Aren't they listening to Hindi songs online?
07:30These questions expect a yes or no answer, and they usually imply surprise or confirmation.
07:36Now let us learn how to ask WH questions using the present continuous tense.
07:40WH questions use question words like what, when, where, who, and why.
07:47The structure is, WH word, plus EM, is, or are, plus the subject, plus the verb with ing, plus a
07:55question mark.
07:56With what, we can ask, what work are you doing right now?
07:59What hotel are they staying at now?
08:01With when, we ask, when are you leaving for Mumbai?
08:04When is he leaving for Mumbai?
08:06With where, we ask, where are you working at the moment?
08:09Where is your brother working?
08:11With who, we ask, who is driving your car now?
08:14Who is coming to dinner tonight?
08:16And with why, we ask, why are you laughing at me?
08:19Why aren't they playing tennis now?
08:21Practice forming your own WH questions, with different verbs.
08:25Here are some commonly used sentences in daily life using the present continuous tense.
08:30I am eating a banana now.
08:32I am cooking chicken biryani today.
08:34I am getting ready for college now.
08:36I am coming to see you tomorrow.
08:38I am searching for my wallet now.
08:40I am driving to Chennai tomorrow.
08:42I am cleaning my room at the moment.
08:44I am cutting vegetables right now.
08:46I am buying a new car next week.
08:48I am just kidding you.
08:50I am preparing for my final exams.
08:52I am packing my luggage now.
08:54I am waiting for my exam results.
08:56I am improving my English day by day.
08:58I am trying to fix my computer now.
09:00I am going to the dentist tomorrow.
09:02These are everyday sentences that you can start using right away in your conversations.
09:07Here are some miscellaneous sentences organized by category.
09:11For weather and nature, we can say, it is raining heavily in Bengaluru now.
09:16The wind is blowing strongly here now.
09:19It is getting dark outside right now.
09:21For changes and progress we say, my English is getting better and better.
09:26My health is improving little by little.
09:29Petrol price is increasing day by day.
09:31For animals and things we say, the dogs are barking outside now.
09:36The cows are grazing in the field now.
09:39My mobile phone is working well now.
09:41For transport and movement we say, the train is leaving the station now.
09:45The train is arriving at platform 6.
09:48The circus is coming to the city next month.
09:51Notice how the present continuous tense can be used in so many different situations.
09:56Let us now quickly summarize everything we have learned in this lesson.
10:00The present continuous tense has four main uses.
10:03Use 1 for actions happening right now.
10:06For example, I am reading a book right now.
10:09Use 2 for longer actions that are in progress.
10:12For example, I am studying BTEC now.
10:15Use 3 for arranged future actions.
10:18For example, I am coming to Chennai tomorrow.
10:21Use 4 for annoying repeated actions with the word always.
10:25For example, she is always shouting at me.
10:28Here is an important practice tip.
10:30Take the verbs from this lesson and practice making sentences with all the subjects.
10:35Use I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.
10:40Also practice making negative sentences and questions with those same verbs.
10:44The more you practice, the more natural this tense will become for you.
10:49Keep practicing and see you in the next lesson.
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