Sentence structure: Present continuous

In this chapter

• When do we use it?

  For an action happening right now or a temporary situation these days. It is made with am / is / are + verb-ing.

• Present continuous

  right now

  Pattern: Subject + am/is/are + verb + -ing

  Example: Look! It is snowing.

  Example: The kids are playing in the yard right now.

• Formula

  Positive: He is drawing a picture. · Negative: He isn't drawing a picture. · Question: Is he drawing a picture? · Short answer: Yes, he is. / No, he isn't.

• Color-coded examples

  Turkish uses -iyor; English uses is + -ing.

  Example: Mom is cooking dinner in the kitchen.

  Example: We are not watching TV right now.

• Turkish equivalents

  Example: I am reading a book now.

  Example: Ali is swimming right now.

• Tip

  Most common mistake: forgetting am/is/are. Not “I playing” but I am playing. Also, state verbs like know, like and want usually don't take -ing: I know (not “I am knowing”).