Learn and practise the present continuous tense in English.
A Study this example situation:Sarah is in her car. She is on her way to work.
She’s driving to work. (= She is driving …)
This means: she is driving now, at the time of speaking.
The action is not finished.
am/is/are + —ing is the present continuous:
- Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying to work. (not I try)
- ‘Where’s Mark?’ ‘He’s having a shower.’ (not He has a shower)
- Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more. (not It doesn’t rain)
- How’s your new job? Are you enjoying it?
- What’s all that noise? What’s going on? or What’s happening?
Sometimes the action is not happening at the time of speaking. For example:
Steve is talking to a friend on the phone. He says:
Steve says ‘I’m reading …’ but he is not reading the book at the time of speaking. He means that he has started reading the book, but has not finished it yet. He is in the middle of reading it.
Some more examples:
- Kate wants to work in Italy, so she’s learning Italian.
- Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope to finish it next summer.
(but perhaps she isn’t learning Italian at the time of speaking)
- You’re working hard today. (not You work hard today) — Yes, I have a lot to do.
- The company I work for isn’t doing so well this year.
getting, becoming, starting,
beginning, changing, improving,
increasing, rising, falling, growing
- Is your English getting better? (not Does your English get better)
- The population of the world is increasing very fast. (not increases)
- At first I didn’t like my job, but I’m starting to enjoy it now. (not I start)