Continuous Present

El presente continuo generalmente se refiere a situaciones o acciones que se están

realizando en el momento y, como en el español, aprender este tiempo verbal es
indispensable para tener fluidez y expresión en toda conversación en inglés.

Usos para el present continuous

El presente continuo tiene 5 usos principales:

1. Explicar claramente acciones que suceden en el mismo momento en el que se

describen. Por ejemplo: He is learning English = Él está aprendiendo inglés

2. Proveer contexto al expresar situaciones de la actualidad. Normalmente estas oraciones

se acompañan de adverbios como recently, currently o lately, entre otros. Por ejemplo:
She is crying a lot lately = Ella ha llorado mucho últimamente
3. Expresan con certeza eventos o acciones del futuro. Por ejemplo: We are going to the
cinema next Friday = Iremos al cine el próximo viernes

4. Describir acciones o hechos momentáneos. Por ejemplo: Right now he’s talking, but
yesterday he was unconscious = Ahora está hablando pero ayer estaba inconsciente

5. Indicar situaciones que suceden con frecuencia. En estas oraciones es necesario

adicionar adverbios como forever, always, constantly, entre otros, para reforzar su
contexto.Por ejemplo: He is always running at 6 am = Él siempre está corriendo a las 6 am

Estructura del presente continuo en inglés

Veamos la estructura correcta para usar el present continuous del inglés en sus modos
afirmativo, negativo e interrogativo.

Modo afirmativo del present continuous

Sujeto + verbo to be + verbo en gerundio + complemento

Modo negativo del present continuous

Sujeto + verbo to be + not + verbo en gerundio + complemento
Modo interrogativo del present continuous
Verbo to be + sujeto + verbo en gerundio + complemento ? (Y/N) Questions
Wh-question + Verbo to be + sujeto + verbo en gerundio + complemento ? (Info)
Questions

Conjugación del present continuous y ejemplos

Afirmativa Negativa Interrogativa

 I am singing in the I am not singing in the Am I singing in the rain?

rain rain

 You are singing in You are not singing in Are you singing in the

the rain the rain  rain? 

 He is singing in the  He is not singing in the Is he singing in the

rain rain rain? 

 It is singing in the  It is not singing in the  Is it singing in the

rain rain rain?

We are singing in the We are not singing in Are we singing in the

rain the rain rain? 

They are singing in They are not singing in  Are they singing in the

the rain the rain rain?

Activity

1. Write the -ing form of the verbs below

 Example: play - playing
a. Wash Washing
b. Swim Swimming.
c. Have Having
d. Sit Sitting
e. Dance Dancing

2. Complete using continuous present

Example: Tom ______ (play) the guitar – Tom is
playing the guitar

a. Carmen is waiting (wait) for the school bus

b. They are cycling(cycle) with their friends
c. Conny is moving (move) to New Zealand next week
d. Look! The rice is cooking (cook)
e. My friends and I am having(have) tea right now

3. Negate the sentences

Example: The girls are riding their bikes - The girls are
not riding their bikes

a. He is taking out a book

He is not taking out a book
b. I am washing my hair
I am not washing my hair
c. The baby is crying
The baby isn`t crying
d. The dog is running after the cat
 The dog is not running after the cat
e. She is sitting on the chair
She isn`t sitting on the chair

4. Write a question in continuous present for the answer

Example: Where is Mr. Brown helping? Mr. Brown is
helping in the shop

a. What is Claire doing in the living room? Claire is

touching the screen
b. Where is he in the house? He is sitting on the sofa
c. Where is Claire going in the center? Claire is buying
at the shop
d. What are they playing in the neighborhood? They
are playing baseball
e. What is Anne doing out of the house? Anne is
walking her dog

5. Use contracted or short form in continuous present

Example: We are whispering – We’re whispering

a. I am writing three e-mails –

I’m writing e-mails
b. It is disappearing
It`s disappearing
c. He is working at the supermarket
He`s working at the supermarket
d. We are carrying buckets
We`re carrying buckets
e. You are listening to music
You`re listening to music