Module code: 1534

📚 Present Continuous Foundation Course (A1)

Actions in Progress Now: Present Continuous

Core PathWay

A1Grammar

1 Habits or Actions in Progress?

You know Present Simple. Present Simple is for habits. Things you do every day. Every week. Every month.

Look at this: I leave work at 6pm. This is a habit. You do this every day. You say this with Present Simple.

Now look at this: It is 6pm now. I am leaving work now. This is different. This is an action in progress. It is happening NOW. Right now. At this moment. You say this with Present Continuous.

Present Simple = habits. Present Continuous = actions in progress now. This is very important.

2 How to Make Present Continuous

Present Continuous has two parts. You need am, is, or are. And you need the -ing form of the verb.

Look at the pattern. It is easy. Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing. This shows an action in progress now.

Focus

Use am with I
Use is with he, she, it
Use are with you, we, they
Add -ing to the verb

Rules

I am working (not I working, not I work now)
She is eating lunch (not She eating, not She eats now)
They are talking (not They talking, not They talk now)
The verb always has -ing at the end

Examples

I am drinking coffee now.
He is writing an email at the moment.
We are having a meeting right now.

Common mistake

Many learners forget am/is/are. They say ‘I working’ or ‘She eating’. You must use am/is/are every time. Also, learners sometimes say ‘I work now’ for an action in progress. This is wrong. Say ‘I am working now’.

3 In the Office Right Now

It is 10am. The office is busy. Everyone is working.

Look at Sam. Sam is making coffee in the kitchen. The coffee machine is on.

Look at Alex. Alex is talking on the phone. Alex is happy. The call is good.

Look at Jordan. Jordan is writing a report. The computer is open. Jordan is typing fast.

Look at Chris. Chris is reading emails. There are many emails today.

And look at Taylor. Taylor is photocopying papers. The photocopier is very loud.

Everyone is busy. These are actions in progress now. Right now. At this moment.

Key Terms

making creating something, preparing something

talking speaking to someone

writing putting words on paper or computer

typing using a keyboard to write on computer

reading looking at words and understanding them

photocopying making paper copies with a machine

action in progress something happening right now at this moment

4 Practice: Describe the Picture

Now you practice. Look at the picture below. What are the people doing? Write sentences.

✍️Writing TaskPresent Continuous affirmative statements (am/is/are + verb-ing)

Look at the picture below. It shows people in an office. What are they doing right now? Write 5-8 sentences. Use Present Continuous (am/is/are + verb-ing). Describe different people and their actions.

0 words / ~60 target

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Sentence Scrambler

Present Continuous Introduction and overview for A1 learners – Sentence Scramble

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