Present Continuous Tense
The present continuous describes something in progress rather than something generally true. It is built from the present of be plus the -ing form of the main verb, and it covers four main ideas: happening now, temporary, changing, and already arranged for the future.
Learning objectives
- Build the tense with am / is / are + verb-ing.
- Use it for actions now, temporary situations, trends and future arrangements.
- Apply the -ing spelling rules.
- Recognise the stative verbs that do not normally take this form.
Meaning and usage
| Use | Example | Typical marker |
|---|---|---|
| Happening at this moment | She is reading a book. | now, right now |
| Around this period | I'm studying for my exams. | these days, this week |
| Temporary situation | He's staying with friends. | at the moment |
| Changing or developing | Prices are rising. | more and more |
| Future arrangement | We're meeting at eight. | tomorrow, on Friday |
| Irritating repetition (with always) | He's always losing his keys. | always, constantly |
The form
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I'm working | I'm not working | Am I working? |
| you | you're working | you aren't working | Are you working? |
| he / she / it | he's working | he isn't working | Is he working? |
| we | we're working | we aren't working | Are we working? |
| they | they're working | they aren't working | Are they working? |
Short answers use be, not do: Yes, I am. / No, she isn't.
Spelling rules for -ing
| Ending | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| most verbs | add -ing | work → working; play → playing |
| silent -e | drop the e | make → making; write → writing |
| one vowel + one consonant, stressed | double the consonant | sit → sitting; run → running; begin → beginning |
| -ie | ie → y | lie → lying; die → dying |
| -ee, -ye, -oe | keep the e | see → seeing; agree → agreeing |
| British -l after a vowel | double the l | travel → travelling (US: traveling) |
Stative verbs
Verbs of thinking, feeling, possession and the senses normally avoid the continuous: know, believe, understand, want, need, like, love, hate, prefer, own, belong, seem, contain, cost.
Some verbs change meaning between the two forms:
| Verb | Simple (state) | Continuous (action) |
|---|---|---|
| think | I think you're right. (opinion) | I'm thinking about it. (mental activity) |
| have | She has a car. (possession) | She's having lunch. (eating) |
| see | I see what you mean. (understand) | I'm seeing the doctor. (meeting) |
| taste | It tastes good. (quality) | He's tasting the soup. (action) |
Signal words and time expressions
now, right now, at the moment, currently, today, this week, these days, still, at present, look!, listen!
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| She working now. | She is working now. | be is required |
| I am go to school. | I am going to school. | the -ing form is required |
| He is writting. | He is writing. | drop the silent e, no doubling |
| I am wanting a coffee. | I want a coffee. | stative verb |
| Do you working? | Are you working? | the auxiliary is be |
| I am studing. | I am studying. | y is kept before -ing |
Learning tips
- Describe a photograph aloud. Every sentence will naturally be present continuous.
- Memorise the doubling rule with three examples: sitting, running, beginning.
- Whenever you write a continuous form, check the verb is not stative.
Summary checklist
- Is there a form of be before the -ing verb?
- Is the -ing spelling correct?
- Is the verb dynamic rather than stative?
- Do my questions and short answers use be, not do?
Shpjegim në gjuhën shqipe
Rregulli i anglishtes, i shpjeguar në shqip
Kjo kohë ndërtohet me foljen be në kohën e tashme (am, is, are) plus foljen kryesore me mbaresën -ing. Folja ndihmëse është be, prandaj pyetja bëhet me përmbysje dhe mohimi me not, kurrë me do.
Drejtshkrimi i -ing ndjek disa rregulla: shumica e foljeve e marrin drejtpërdrejt; foljet që mbarojnë me -e të pazëshme e humbin atë (make → making); foljet njërrokëshe me një zanore dhe një bashkëtingëllore e dyfishojnë bashkëtingëlloren (sit → sitting); foljet me -ie e kthejnë atë në y (lie → lying).
Koha përdoret për katër kuptime: veprim që po ndodh tani; situatë e përkohshme rreth kësaj periudhe; ndryshim ose zhvillim; dhe marrëveshje e caktuar për të ardhmen.
Ashtu si më lart, foljet e gjendjes nuk e marrin këtë formë. Disa folje e ndryshojnë kuptimin midis dy formave, si have, think, see dhe be.
Ekuivalenti në gjuhën shqipe
Kjo është një nga rastet ku dy gjuhët përputhen shumë mirë. Forma angleze am / is / are + verb-ing i përgjigjet gati saktësisht ndërtimit shqip me pjesëzën po + folja në kohën e tashme.
| Anglisht | Shqip |
|---|---|
| I am reading. | Po lexoj. |
| She is working. | Ajo po punon. |
| They are waiting. | Ata po presin. |
| It is raining. | Po bie shi. |
Ekuivalenti më i afërt në gjuhën shqipe është pra pjesëza po. Ekziston edhe ndërtimi jam duke lexuar, i cili është më i rëndë dhe përdoret më rrallë në ligjërimin e përditshëm.
Përdorimet dhe ekuivalentët
| Përdorimi | Anglisht | Shqip |
|---|---|---|
| Tani | She is reading a book. | Ajo po lexon një libër. |
| Rreth kësaj periudhe | I'm studying for my exams. | Këto ditë po përgatitem për provimet. |
| Gjendje e përkohshme | He's staying with friends. | Ai po rri te shokët. |
| Ndryshim në zhvillim | Prices are rising. | Çmimet po rriten. |
| Marrëveshje për të ardhmen | We're meeting at eight. | Takohemi në orën tetë. |
Kujdes: te rasti i fundit shqipja nuk e përdor po. Marrëveshja për të ardhmen shprehet me kohën e tashme të thjeshtë ose me do të. Prandaj We're meeting at eight nuk përkthehet me po takohemi.
Foljet që nuk marrin formën e vazhduar
Anglishtja i ndalon foljet e gjendjes në këtë formë. Shqipja e lejon po me shumicën e foljeve, prandaj ky kufizim duhet mësuar posaçërisht.
| Shqip | Anglisht e saktë | Gabimi tipik |
|---|---|---|
| E di përgjigjen. | I know the answer. | I am knowing |
| Dua një kafe. | I want a coffee. | I am wanting |
| Më pëlqen kjo këngë. | I like this song. | I am liking |
| Ai ka një makinë. | He has a car. | He is having a car |
Disa folje e ndryshojnë kuptimin: He is having lunch është e saktë, sepse aty have do të thotë «ha», jo «zotëron» — në shqip po ha drekë.
Gabime të zakonshme të folësve të shqipes
| Gabimi | E saktë | Pse |
|---|---|---|
| She working now. | She is working now. | folja be është e detyrueshme |
| I am go to school. | I am going to school. | kërkohet forma me -ing |
| Do you working? | Are you working? | ndihmësja është be, jo do |
| Every day I am going to work. | Every day I go to work. | zakoni kërkon të tashmen e thjeshtë |
| He is writting. | He is writing. | bie e-ja, pa dyfishim |
