Grade 9 Grammar Lesson 4 Present continuous

What is the structure of present continuous tense?
When do we use the present continuous tense?
What are state verbs? Are they written in the simple tense or in the continuous tense?
What are action verbs? Are they written in the simple tense or in the continuous tense?

We use the present continuous:

• To say that we are in the middle of an action i.e. something is happening at the time of speaking.
• For an unfinished action i.e. we are in the middle of an action but it isn’t actually happening now
• For future arrangements
• For things changing over a long period of time We also use the present continuous for a routine or situation that is temporary but a present tense when the situation or routine is permanent.

Verbs can be classified as state and action verbs. State verbs generally don’t have -ing forms. We use a present tense instead.

We also use the present continuous for a routine or situation that is temporary but a present tense when the situation or routine is permanent.

When we express a permanent quality we use be form, and be being for a temporary behaviour.

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