Present Continuous

+	Am/is/are + Verb + ing	He’s living in Thailand.
--	Am/is/are not + verb + ing	He isn’t living in Thailand.
?	Am/is/are … + verb + ing?	Is he living in Thailand?

We use the Present Continuous

· for actions taking place at or around the moment of speaking. The kids are playing video games in the living room.

· for temporary situations. They are painting the house.

· for fixed arrangements in the near future. I am going to a party tonight.

· for currently changing and developing situations. The rivers are becoming more and more polluted.

· with adverbs such as always to express anger or irritation at a repeated action. She is always biting her nails when someone talks to her.

Note: The verb enjoy can be used in continuous tenses to express a specific preference.

Bob really enjoys going to the cinema, (general preference)

The time expressions we use with the present continuous are: Now, at the moment, at present, these days, nowadays, still, today, tonight, etc

State Verbs are verbs which describe a state rather than an action, and so do not usually have a continuous tense. These verbs are:

· verbs of the senses (appear, feel, hear, look, see, seem, smell, sound, taste, etc). She seems really worried.

· verbs of perception (agree, assume, believe, forget, hope, know, realise, remember, understand, etc). I believe what he says.

· verbs which express feelings and emotions (adore, desire, despise, detest, dislike, enjoy, hate, like, love, mind, prefer, want, etc). Jane hates eating spicy food.

· and some other verbs (appear, be, belong, contain, cost, fit, have, include, keep, matter, mean, need, owe, own, resemble, seem, want, weigh, wish, etc). This house belongs to a very rich man.

!!! Some of these verbs can be used in continuous tenses, but with a difference in meaning.

THINK I think he's a very good actor. (= believe)

We are thinking about moving to a new house. (=are considering)

HAVE She has hundreds of books. (= own, possess)

Everyone is having a great time at the party. (= experiencing)

He is having a bath. (= taking) They are having lunch. (= eating)

SEE You can see my house from up here. (= it is visible)

I see what he means. (= understand)

I'm seeing the dentist this evening. (= am meeting)

TASTE This pie tastes delicious. (= it is, has the flavour of)

Ann is tasting the soup to see if it's spicy enough. (= is testing)

SMELL His perfume smells very good. (= has the aroma)

He is smelling the flowers. (= is sniffing)

APPEAR She appear s to know where she's going. (= seems to)

He is appearing in a play at the Rex. (= is performing)

FIT The skirt fits her perfectly. (= it's the right size)

John is fitting a new lock on the front door. (= is attaching/installing)