Let's Learn: Present Continuous Tense | With Ms. Rindi

Summary

In this video, Miss Rindi introduces the concept of the present continuous tense in English. She explains when it's used—to describe actions happening right now or temporary situations—and how to form positive, negative, and question sentences. The video covers the structure of the present continuous tense, including subject-verb agreement and the use of 'am,' 'is,' and 'are.' It also explores common time expressions like 'now,' 'currently,' and 'this week.' Additionally, Miss Rindi walks viewers through spelling rules when adding '-ing' to verbs, such as changing 'e' to 'ing' and doubling consonants. The video concludes with a practical dialogue using the present continuous tense.

Takeaways

• 😀 Present continuous tense is used to talk about actions happening right now or temporary actions.
• 😀 Examples of present continuous tense include: 'They are playing with dolls' and 'I am visiting my grandparents this week'.
• 😀 The structure of positive sentences in the present continuous tense is: subject + to be (am/ is/ are) + verb + ing.
• 😀 To form negative sentences in the present continuous tense, add 'not' after the verb to be (e.g., 'I am not sitting').
• 😀 In questions, the word order changes: start with 'am/ is/ are', followed by the subject and then the verb + ing (e.g., 'Is she eating?').
• 😀 Common time expressions used with present continuous include: 'now', 'right now', 'at the moment', 'currently', 'this week', 'this month', and 'this year'.
• 😀 The basic rule for adding 'ing' to verbs is to add 'ing' to the base form (e.g., 'play' becomes 'playing').
• 😀 If the verb ends in 'e', drop the 'e' before adding 'ing' (e.g., 'make' becomes 'making').
• 😀 If a one-syllable verb ends in consonant + vowel + consonant, double the final consonant before adding 'ing' (e.g., 'run' becomes 'running').
• 😀 If a verb ends in 'i', change 'i' to 'y' before adding 'ing' (e.g., 'tie' becomes 'tying').
• 😀 Verbs ending in 'c' add 'k' before adding 'ing' (e.g., 'picnic' becomes 'picnicking').

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the present continuous tense in English grammar.

When do we use the present continuous tense?

We use the present continuous tense to talk about actions happening right now or temporary situations.

Can you give an example of the present continuous tense describing an action happening now?

An example is 'They are playing with dolls,' which shows an action occurring at the moment.

How is the present continuous tense formed in positive sentences?

The structure is: subject + 'to be' (am, is, are) + verb + 'ing'. For example: 'I am playing,' 'He is playing,' 'They are playing.'

How do we form negative sentences in the present continuous tense?

To form negative sentences, we add 'not' after the verb 'to be.' For example: 'I am not sitting,' 'He is not sitting,' 'They are not sitting.'

How do we ask questions using the present continuous tense?

To form questions, we change the word order by starting with the verb 'to be' (am, is, are), followed by the subject and then the verb + 'ing'. For example: 'Am I eating?' 'Is she eating?' 'Are they eating?'

What are some common time expressions used with the present continuous tense?

Some common time expressions include 'now,' 'right now,' 'at the moment,' 'this week,' 'this month,' and 'this year.'

What is the general rule for adding 'ing' to verbs in the present continuous tense?

For most verbs, you simply add 'ing' to the base form of the verb, like 'do' becomes 'doing,' 'play' becomes 'playing,' and 'study' becomes 'studying.'

Are there any special spelling rules for adding 'ing' to verbs?

Yes, there are special spelling rules: if the verb ends in 'e,' drop the 'e' before adding 'ing' (e.g., 'make' becomes 'making'); if the verb ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern, double the final consonant (e.g., 'sit' becomes 'sitting'); and if the verb ends in 'i,' change 'i' to 'y' (e.g., 'die' becomes 'dying').

What is an example of a verb that follows the 'consonant-vowel-consonant' pattern for doubling the final consonant?

An example is 'run,' which becomes 'running' when following the consonant-vowel-consonant pattern.