PRESENT CONTINUOUS (action/non-action verbs)

Elena R.

 Use the present

continuous for actions happening now, at this moment.

BE+verb+ING
Im working Youre working Hes working Shes working Its working Were working Youre working Theyre working

Im not working You arent working He isnt working She isnt working It isnt working We arent working You arent working They arent working

Are you working? Yes, I am; No, Im not. Is he working? Yes, he is; No, he isnt.

Hes having a shower.

They are playing football

SPELLING RULES FOR THE ING FORM:

Add ing to the base form of most verbs:

COOK COOKING; When the base form ends in e, delete e and add ing: WRITE- WRITING; RIDE-RIDING Consonant + y: STUDY- STUDYING Vowel + y: ENJOY- ENJOYING

One-syllable verbs: consonant + vowel + consonant= double final consonant RUN-RUNNING; ROB-ROBBING

Do not double verbs ending in w, -x SEW-SEWING; MIX-MIXING

If the verb has two syllables and the final syllable is stressed, double the final consonant
OCCUR-OCCURRING; ADMIT- ADMITTING

If the verb has two syllables and the final syllable is not stressed, do not double the final consonant.
LISTEN-LISTENING; OPEN-OPENING
* Verbs not used in the present continuous: like, want, need, have (possess).

ACTION/NON-ACTION VERBS

Action verbs (verbs which describe actions) can be used in the present simple or continuous: - She is reading an epic novel - She reads The Times everyday

ACTION/NON-ACTION VERBS

Non-action verbs (state verbs) describe states or feelings and are never or hardly ever used in the continuous form.
-

I like this music (NOT: Im liking this music) Common non-action verbs are: seem, suppose, love, like, hate, agree, be, believe, forget, hear, matter, mean, belong, prefer, realize, recognize, depend, need.

VERBS WHICH ARE NOT USED IN THE CONTINUOUS FORM

-Verbs of the senses: see, hear, smell, notice, recognise. -Verbs of emotion: want, desire, refuse, forgive, care, hate, like, adore, dislike. -Verbs of thinking: think(when opinion is expressed), feel(think), realise, understand, know, mean, suppose, believe, expect, remember, recollect, forget, recall, trust (believe), mind. -Verbs of possessing: own, owe, belong, possess. -Seem, signify, appear(seem), contain, consist, keep(continue), concern, matter.

ACTION/NON-ACTION VERBS

However, some verbs have an action and a non-action meaning: - What are you thinking about? - What do you think of the government? (think= have an opinion). - Im seeing Leslie tomorrow. - I see what you mean (see= understand)
Elena R.