The present continuous (progressive) tense

It is formed by means of the Present indefinite of the auxiliary verb “to be” and Participle I of the notional verb. In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. In the negative form the negative particle ‘not’ is placed after the auxiliary verb.

I am reading.

He is not reading.

Are you reading?

The contracted forms are:

I am = I’m

he is = he’s

you are = you’re

is not = isn’t

are not = aren’t

Participle I is formed by adding the suffix –ing to the stem of the verb: open-opening.

The following spelling rules should be observed:

1. The final mute “e” is dropped: take – taking

2. The final consonant is doubled if we need to “close” the syllable: stop – stopping

3. The final “y” preceded by a consonant/vowel isn’t changed: study – studying, play – playing

4. “ie” changes into “y” before “ing”: lie – lying, die – dying, tie – tying.

The use of the present continuous

1. We use the Present Continuous to express an action going on at the present moment:

I’m writing a letter now.

2. We can use it to express actions which are happening around the time of speaking but not necessarily exactly at the moment of speaking or when we talk about a period around the present (today, this season, this term):

(At the café) I’m reading an interesting book at the moment. I’ll lend it to you when I’ve finished it.

You are working hard today. – Yes, I have a lot to do.

3. We use the Present Continuous when we speak about changing situations:

Is your English getting better?

4. The Present Continuous is used to express planned actions which will take place in the near future due to one’s previous decision:

He is having dinner with her tonight.

5. It can be used in adverbial clauses of condition, concession and time:

I’ll be playing while you are cooking.

6. Sometimes we use this tense to convey the attitude of the speaker to the listener. And such expressions have negative emotional characteristics (always, constantly):

You are always talking at my lessons.

Note! am/is/are + being means behaviour that is not typical in general:

You’re being impolite! I can’t recognize you!

“You are being clever” -“But I am”.

The past simple (indefinite) tense

It is formed by adding “-ed/d” to the stems of regular verbs or by changing the rout vowel or some other ways for irregular verbs: I worked, she left the room, he bought bananas.

The following rules of pronunciation should be observed. It is pronounced as:

1. [t] after voiceless consonants: looked, dressed

2. [d] after voiced consonants: opened died

3. [id] after [t], [d]: ended pointed

The following spelling rules should be observed:

1) a final “-y” is changed into “i” plus ending “-ed” if it is preceded by a consonant: to study – he studied, to try – she tried.

2) a final “-y” is not changed into “i” if it is preceded by a vowel: to play – she played.

3) a final consonant is doubled if a word ends in a short vowel plus consonant (a short vowel + a consonant): stop – stopped, plan – planned, rub- rubbed.

4) a final consonant is doubled if the final syllable is stressed: prefer – preferred, regret – regretted, permit – permitted.

5) a final “l” is doubled in the British English: travel – travelled, cancel – cancelled