The present continuous tense is used to talk about an action going on at the time of speaking.
- The baby is sleeping.
- The children are playing.
- It is raining.
- The students are reading.
The present continuous tense can also be used to talk about a temporary action which may not be actually happening at the time of speaking.
- I am reading ‘David Copperfield’. (But I am not reading at this moment.)
Planned future events
The present continuous tense can be used to talk about an action that has already been arranged to take place in the near future.
- My father is arriving tomorrow.
- We are going to the cinema tonight.
We have already seen that the simple present tense is used to talk about habitual actions. But to refer to a particularly obstinate habit we often use the present continuous tense with an adverb like always, continually, constantly etc.
- My dog is very silly; he is always running after cars.
Verbs not used in the present continuous tense
The following verbs are not normally used in the present continuous form: see, hear, smell, notice, recognize, appear, look, seem, want, wish, desire, feel, like, love, hate, think, suppose, believe, consider, remember, forget etc.
When have means possess, it is not normally used in the continuous form.
- Incorrect: These grapes are tasting sour.
- Correct: These grapes taste sour.
- Incorrect: I am thinking you are wrong.
- Correct: I think you are wrong.
- Incorrect: She is seeming upset.
- Correct: She seems upset.
- Incorrect: She is having a dog.
- Correct: She has a dog.
- Incorrect: I am liking it.
- Correct: I like it.
Note that many of these verbs can be used in the continuous form with a change of meaning.
- I am thinking of writing a novel.
- She is tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt.
- They are having lunch.
