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Grammar Reference Unit 3

Present continuous Present continuous & present simple

Affirmative Negative Make sure you use the correct present tense.
I’m doing homework. I’m not doing homework. We use the present continuous to talk about temporary
You’re doing homework. You aren’t doing homework. situations.
He’s doing homework. He isn’t doing homework. We’re staying in a really big hotel by the beach.
She’s doing homework. She isn’t doing homework. My sister is studying in Mexico for a year.
We’re doing homework. We aren’t doing homework. We also use the present continuous to talk about temporary
They’re doing homework. They aren’t doing homework.
actions which are happening around the time of speaking, if
Questions Short answers not exactly at that moment.
I’m studying for a Maths exam at the moment.
Am I doing homework? Yes, I am. / No, I’m not. My sister’s cold because she’s wearing a T-shirt.
Are you doing homework? Yes, you are. / No, you aren’t.
Is he doing homework? Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t. We use the present simple to talk about regular actions, such
Is she doing homework? Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t. as habits and routines, and to describe permanent situations
and facts. Compare the sentences.
Are we doing homework? Yes, we are. / No, we aren’t. Do you speak French?
Are they doing homework? Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.
You’re speaking loudly – please be quieter.

We form the present continuous with be + -ing form of the Everyone studies Science and History at school.
main verb. In the negative form, we can also say you’re not, I’m studying Spanish and English this year.
he’s not, she’s not, we’re not, they’re not.
He's not listening to music. I’m not reading a book.
Does it rain much here?
Look, it’s raining!
SPELLING RULES -ing forms
The -ing form is the main verb + -ing.
● If a verb ends in -e, we normally omit it in the -ing form:
make – making write – writing
● If a one-syllable verb ends in consonant + vowel +
consonant, we usually double the final consonant:
run – running swim – swimming sit – sitting
● We do the same with two syllable verbs with the stress
on the last syllable: begin – beginning prefer – preferring

We use the present continuous to talk about activities in
progress at the time of speaking.
We’re eating dinner. They’re watching TV.

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