Present Continuous Tense/ Present Progressive

Summary

The video explains the Present Continuous tense, also known as Present Progressive. It covers how this tense is used to describe actions happening right now or around the current moment. The speaker highlights key time signals like 'now,' 'at this moment,' and 'this semester,' and explains the structure: subject + to be (am/is/are) + verb + ing. It contrasts Present Continuous with the Simple Present tense, emphasizing that the former refers to ongoing actions, while the latter refers to general facts. Special attention is given to non-continuous verbs, which do not use the 'ing' form.

Takeaways

• 📘 The Present Continuous tense, also known as Present Progressive, is used to describe actions that are currently happening.
• ⏳ This tense is used when an action is happening at the moment of speaking or during the current period of time.
• 🔑 The keyword for Present Continuous is 'now', often accompanied by time signals like 'right now', 'at this moment', or 'at present'.
• 🗣️ Example: 'You are listening to my explanation.' The action is ongoing at the moment of speech.
• 📅 Present Continuous can also describe longer ongoing actions, such as 'We are learning general English this semester'.
• 💡 The structure for Present Continuous is: subject + to be (am, is, are) + verb + ing.
• 🚫 Some verbs (like 'love', 'hate', 'know', 'need', etc.) are not commonly used in the continuous form, as they describe states or facts.
• 📏 The negative form is created by adding 'not' after the to be verb, like 'I am not drawing'.
• ❓ Questions in Present Continuous are formed by inverting the subject and to be verb, like 'Are you listening?'
• 📝 The Present Continuous is distinct from Simple Present, which describes habitual actions or facts, while Present Continuous is for actions happening at this very moment.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the present continuous tense?

The purpose of the present continuous tense is to describe an action that is currently happening at the moment of speaking or over a longer period of time.

What are the key time signals used in present continuous tense?

Key time signals include 'now', 'right now', 'at this moment', 'at present', and longer durations like 'this year' or 'this semester'.

How is the present continuous tense formed?

It is formed using a subject + the verb 'to be' (am, is, are) + the base form of the verb + '-ing'. For example, 'You are listening' or 'We are learning'.

Can the present continuous tense be used for non-continuous verbs?

No, non-continuous verbs like 'hate', 'love', 'like', 'need', 'know', etc., are not typically used in the present continuous tense. Instead, simple present tense is preferred.

What is an example of using the present continuous tense with a longer duration of time?

An example is 'We are learning general English this semester', where the action is ongoing but not limited to the exact moment of speaking.

How can you form a negative sentence in the present continuous tense?

You add 'not' after the verb 'to be'. For example, 'Mr. Smith is not sitting beside me' or 'I am not drawing a concept'.

How is a question formed in the present continuous tense?

In questions, the verb 'to be' comes before the subject, followed by the verb + '-ing'. For example, 'Are you listening?' or 'Is Mr. Smith sitting beside you?'

What is the difference between the present continuous tense and the simple present tense?

The present continuous describes actions happening at the moment of speaking, while the simple present describes habitual actions or facts, not necessarily occurring now.

Can the present continuous tense be used to describe temporary actions?

Yes, it can describe temporary actions, such as 'This year, I am living in Jakarta', even if the action is happening over a longer period.

How do you translate the present continuous tense in English to Indonesian?

In Indonesian, the present continuous tense is typically translated with the word 'sedang' to indicate that the action is happening at the moment.