Why Use the Present Continuous?
Revise what you have already learned about Present Continuous — formation, usage and speling rules!
We use Present continuous when:
Something is happening now, at this moment.
I am reading a book.
She is eating lunch.
We talk about a temporary situation, something that is not permanent.
I am living in Riga this year.
(Because I'm studing at LU. Riga is not my permanent place of residence. Maybe next year I will live somewhere else.)
A situation is changing or developing around now.
The weather is getting colder.
My English is improving.
For a near future plan or arrangement (when we already decided).
I am meeting my friend tomorrow.
We are leaving at 6 pm tonight.
For repeated actions expressing annoyance (usually with "always")
You are always losing your keys!
You are always losing your keys!
The structure of the Present Continuous is:
Use the verb “to be” (am / is / are) + base verb + -ing.
I am working now.
She is watching TV.
They are playing football.
For negative: add not after “am / is / are”.
I am not sleeping.
He is not reading.
For questions: invert “to be” and subject.
Are you working now?
Is she sleeping?
Example:
I am watching a game.
They are interviewing the players.
Watch this video to understand how to use the ending -ing better!
Spelling rules for using the ending -ing:
Most verbs:
Just add –ing.
play — playing, read — reading
Just add –ing.
play — playing, read — reading
Verbs ending in silent “e”:
Drop the e and add –ing.
make — making, write — writing
Exceptions: be — being, see — seeing
Drop the e and add –ing.
make — making, write — writing
Exceptions: be — being, see — seeing
Short vowel + consonant (CVC):
If the verb has a short vowel and ends with one consonant, double the consonant.
run — running, sit — sitting
If the verb has a short vowel and ends with one consonant, double the consonant.
run — running, sit — sitting
British English – “l” doubling:
In British English, l is usually doubled, even if the stress is not on the last syllable.
travel — travelling, cancel — cancelling
In British English, l is usually doubled, even if the stress is not on the last syllable.
travel — travelling, cancel — cancelling
Do NOT double w, x, y:
snow — snowing, fix — fixing, play — playing
snow — snowing, fix — fixing, play — playing
Read these key points to understand better:
1. Use the Present Continuous for actions occurring at the moment of speaking;
2. Use it for future arrangements (e.g., "I am meeting my friends tomorrow").
3. It is often used with time expressions like "now," "currently," "right now," etc.
The influence of media is very big in sports nowadays. We are seeing more and more different sports on television. Many matches are broadcast live so we can watch them at home. Athletes often do an interview after the game. Companies sponsor many sports teams and events. They show commercials during the games. Publicity is very important for sports teams, now they are becoming popular. The popularity of a sport can change quickly. Newspapers always have a big headline about important sports events. Right now, many sports stars are using social media to talk to their fans. Some sports teams are using social media to promote their events. Football teams are using social media to broadcast their results. More and more people are watching sports, so sponsors are happy. There is more and more online content about this. The influence of the commercials and social media is increasing. Sports shows are now often available on many different platforms.
Word bank:
broadcast — ['brɔːdkɑːst] — to transmit programmes or information on television or radio, raidīt
Example: The football match was broadcast live on Sky Sports.
commercial — ['kɒmɜːʃ(ə)l] — related to making money by buying and selling things, komerciāls
Example: The film was made for commercial reasons.
headline — ['hedlaɪn] — the title of a newspaper or magazine article, virsraksts
Example: The headline in the newspaper said, "Local Team Wins the Cup!"
influence — ['ɪnfluəns] — the power to affect someone or something, ietekme
Example: My mum's a very good cook. She had a big influence on my eating habits.
interview — ['ɪntəvjuː] — a meeting in which someone is asked questions to gather information, intervija
Example: I read an interview with the famous actor in the newspaper.
popularity — [ˌɒpjuˈlærɪtɪ] — the state of being liked or well-known, popularitāte
Example: The new phone has gained a lot of popularity because it is cheap.
publicity — [pʌ'blɪsɪtɪ] — information intended to attract public interest, publicitāte
Example: The band did a lot of publicity before their concert to sell tickets.
social media — ['səʊʃ(ə)l ˈmiːdɪə] — websites and applications that enable users to create and share content, sociālie mediji
Example: She posts all her holiday photos on social media.
sponsor — ['spɒnsə] — a person or company that supports an event or activity financially, sponsors
Example: The local bakery is a sponsor of the school's sports day.
Atsauce:
Video: Ending -ing: English With Nassrin / Youtube
Commercial: Artography / Shutterstock
Headline: Hadrian / Shutterstock
Interview: Vlad1988 / Shutterstock
Popularity: photoyh / Shutterstock
Publicity: Victor Velter / Shutterstock
Social media: Hadrian / Shutterstock
Sponsor: Radu Razvan / Shutterstock