GRAMMAR FOCUS - PRESENT PROGREESSIVE TENSE

Present Progressive Tense

The present progressive verb tense is used often in English to communicate actions that are happening now. This tense is also used to express actions that are in progress or will occur in the near future.

Present Progressive Examples:

• I am swimming. (happening now)
• I am reading an excellent book. (in progress)
• I am going to the park on Saturday. (near future)

Forming the Present Progressive

To form present progressive verbs, follow this formula:

• Subject + am/is/are + present participle (and “-ing” to end of the verb)

Present Progressive Tense Examples:

• Verb: to clean

·         We are cleaning the garage on Sunday.

·         Note: simply add “-ing” to the end of a verb that ends in a consonant that does not have a short vowel sound

• Verb: to run

·         He is running the race well.

·         Note: Most verbs that end in short vowel sounds will require an extra consonant before adding “ing”

• Verb: to motivate

·         Your speech is motivating me to take action.

·         Note: A verb that ends in a “silent e” will drop the “e” before adding “ing”

• Verb: to work

·         In the real world, Guttenberg is working on a sitcom with Jon Lovitz, which he describes as a “sort of spy vs. spy, two nemeses, with Jon as a loudmouth Rodney Dangerfield type and me as the Alan Arkin, uptight fellow.” –New York Post

Uses of the Present Progressive

The present progressive (continuous) tense can be used to express a few different situations. Here are the most common ways to use this verb form with diagrams to illustrate their meaning.

The present progressive is used to express:

1. Actions happening now

These actions are occurring at the moment of speech. For example,

• I am watching television.
• You are frustrating me.
• He is finishing his homework.

2. Actions in progress

These actions are in progress but are not necessarily happening at the moment of speech. These are oftentimes longer actions that can take place over days, weeks, or months, so in the above graph, you can see the time frame is lengthened.

• My dad is working on a solution to fix the leak.
• They are trying to solve the problem.
• I am training for a marathon.

3. Actions that will occur in the near future

These actions will happen soon. They also use “going” as the present participle and are followed by a prepositional phrase

• She is going to the party this weekend.
• We are going on vacation this summer.
• They are going out for drinks later.

Dynamic

"Dynamic" is an adjective which means something is moving or changing.

In English grammar a "dynamic verb" means that the verb describes an action rather than a state. Dynamic verbs are sometimes known as "action verbs."

"Joe is chasing the bus."

"Joe is chasing the bus."

Stative

"Stative" is an adjective which describes something as having a state, or existing (this is a very uncommon adjective).

In English grammar a "stative verb" means that the verb describes a state rather than an action.

Stative verbs are sometimes known as "state verbs."

"Kevin wants some ice-cream."

"Kevin wants some ice-cream."

So now you know the meaning of the terms, let's look at some examples!

First, here is a list of some dynamic verbs. You can see that they are all used to describe an action, change, or process. Most of them are used to describe an activity which has a start and an end.

Examples of dynamic verbs:

eat

walk

learn

grow

sleep

talk

write

run

read

become

go

These words can all be used in the progressive form.

Example sentences with dynamic verbs:

"I can't talk right now, I'm eating dinner."

Present progressive used to describe an action happening now.

"Sorry, I'm out of breath because I've been running."

Present perfect progressive used to describe an action that started in the past, continued for some time and has results now.

"I didn't steal the necklace! I was sleeping when someone broke into the shop!"

Past progressive used to talk about an action that was happening at a particular time in the past.

Here is a list of some of the stative verbs. Some of these describe relationships between things or people (for example, own) and some describe emotions or states of mind.

Examples of stative verbs:

love

hate

like

prefer

doubt

seem

know

own

understand

Here are some examples, showing that these words cannot be used in the progressive form.

Correct: "I like chocolate, but I prefer cake."

Incorrect: "I'm liking chocolate but I'm preferring cake."

Correct: "I don't understand you when you speak quickly."

Incorrect: "I'm not understanding you when you speak quickly."

There are also some verbs that can be either dynamic or stative, depending on their meaning and context in the sentence. I'm sure you know by now that there are many words in English that can have more than one meaning!

Examples of verbs that can be either dynamic or stative:

think

mind

have

smell

sound

Let's look at some examples of how these verbs are used differently.

Example sentences:

"I think it is wrong to hit children."

Here, think is a stative verb. It means "to have an opinion" and it cannot be used in the progressive form in this case.

BUT

"I'm thinking about buying a new car."

Here, thinking is describing a process, or an action. This is something that is happening, rather than simply being. So here we can use the progressive form.

"I don't mind if we watch a movie tonight."

Here, mind means "be bothered by", which is a state of mind, not an action. Therefore, it is stative.

BUT

"I'm not being nosy. I'm minding my own business!"

Here, minding means "looking after" and is therefore a process and a dynamic verb.

"I have three brothers."

Have here talks about the family relationship the speaker has with her brothers and is therefore stative.

BUT

"I'm having a bad day today. I'll call you when things are better."

Having in this sentence means the speaker is going through the process of a bad day. It is therefore dynamic.

Present progressive with future meaning
GRAMMAR 
When we use the present continuous with this meaning it is necessary to add a time reference ("tomorrow, tomorrow evening, on/next Sunday") so we know it refers to the future and not to the present.
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.
He is playing tennis on Monday afternoon.
He is going to the dentist on Tuesday morning.
He is having dinner with Kate on Friday.
I am not going to the party tonight.
She is not playing tonight
I am not going to the party tonight.
We're not going anywhere tomorrow.

REMEMBER
Certain verbs, actions or situations in sentences cannot be used with the present continuous with future meaning because they are not part of a plan, an arrangement or an intention. The present continuous tense for the future can only be used when an action or situation can logically be planned in advance:

AFIRMATIVE: 
NEGATIVE:
INTERROGATIVE: 

Is she seeing him tomorrow?
Are they playing tennis this afternoon?
Are we playing tonight? 
What is Kim doing on Monday evening?

For future actions or situations using the present continuous, all the common future time words and phrases can be used:
this afternoon
tonight
tomorrow
tomorrow morning / afternoon/ evening / night, etc.
next week / month/ December / year, etc.
the day after tomorrow
the week / month / year, etc. after next
in ___ hours / days / weeks / months, etc.
___ hours / days / weeks / months, etc. from now

NOMINAL AND VERBAL FUTURE TENSE (WILL VS GOING TO)

The Basics: Future with Will:

The future in English can be rather confusing. There are two future forms used in most conversations: the future with 'will' and the future with 'going to'. The main difference between the two forms is that 'going to' is used for plans and intentions made before the moment of speaking, and the 'will' to speak about the future at the moment of speaking. Study these basic forms and then use the referenced resources to practice these forms.

There are two basic future tenses used to describe things that happen in the future. The first future tense is the future with 'will'. Use the future with will to talk about an event in the future that you have just decided to do, for predictions and for promises.

I think I'll go to that party next week.
The economy will get better soon.
Yes, I will marry you.

The Basics: Future with Going to:

The future with 'going to' is used to express events you have already planned in the future and your intentions for the future. We sometimes also use the present continuous for planned events in the near future.

She's going to attend university and study to become a doctor.

We're going to make the presentation next week.

Future with Will Structure:

Positive

Subject + will + verb

I, You, He, She, We, They will come to the party.

Negative

Subject + will + not (won't) + verb

I, You, He, She, We, They won't have time tomorrow.

Questions

Question word + will + subject + verb

What will he, she, you, we, they do?

 Future with Going to Structure:

Positive

Subject + to be + going to + verb

I am going to attend the meeting.
He, She is going to attend the meeting.
You, We, They are going to attend the meeting.

Negative

Subject + to be + not + going to + verb

I'm not going to visit Rome next year.
He, She isn't going to visit Rome next year.
You, We, They aren't going to visit Rome next year.

Questions

(Question word) + to be + subject + going to + verb

Where am I going to stay?
Where is she, he going to stay?
Where are you, we, they going to stay?