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
