Present continuous
used for:
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- Temporary actions, not finished yet. The action may be happening right now, while speaking, or around now. The action haven’t ended. It is IN PROGRESS.
Ex. I am drawing a car [now in this moment] - In the case of habits during a temporary situation. A habit that happens over a short period of time. (A time expression is necessary) or a repeated temporary actionEx. Whenever I see Mary she’s always smoking
Ex. You are always borrowing money from me
- Temporary actions, not finished yet. The action may be happening right now, while speaking, or around now. The action haven’t ended. It is IN PROGRESS.
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- Some time expressions which are very common when using the present continuous are: currently, at the moment, now, just or still. Other expressions that can be used to emphasize a particular fact are: always, constantly, continually, forever etc. They can help us express that we are unhappy about that situation.Ex. I am currently working as a freelance (in this moment)
- Some time expressions which are very common when using the present continuous are: currently, at the moment, now, just or still. Other expressions that can be used to emphasize a particular fact are: always, constantly, continually, forever etc. They can help us express that we are unhappy about that situation.Ex. I am currently working as a freelance (in this moment)
Apart from the previous differences of use existing between the present simple and the present continuous, you should also pay attention to the following remarks:
Some verbs are not normally used in the continuous form. They are known as ‘state verbs’. These are some examples:
Be, believe, cost, depend, have, hear, know, matter, smell, suppose, taste, think, understand.
Some of them can be used in the continuous form, but notice the changes in meaning:
Ex. Tom is being rather difficult at the moment (behave)
Ex. I’m having breakfast (eat)