Questions tagged [present-continuous]
It is used to express a continued or ongoing action at present time. It expresses an action which is in progress at the time of speaking. Using the suffix '-ing'
605
questions
1
vote
2
answers
50
views
Present continuous vs present perfect continuous to express annoyance
Is there a difference in meaning between these two sentences?
He's always leaving his dirty socks on the floor.
He has been leaving his dirty socks on the floor.
The book that I use only says that ...
- 17.3k
1
vote
1
answer
137
views
Mix of present simple and continuous
An average user of social media feels that he is underperfoming and his self-esteem is constantly decreasing.
I used tenses in this sentence instinctively, and after I had finished I started to ...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
42
views
Continuous and perfect infinitives
What is the difference between continuous and perfect continuous infinitives while referring to the future. Don't they convey the same meaning? For instance
I want you to be doing your homework when ...
- 17.3k
0
votes
2
answers
31
views
Ok to use simple present tense after now? | "Now, we look at one more."
A British speaker, who teaches English on youtube, is telling about some usages for socializing. He gives examples, tells about differences, etc. Before he moves on to another one, he says:
"Now, ...
- 8,081
1
vote
1
answer
6k
views
"I live in ..." vs "I'm living in ..."
Let's consider the following two sentences:
I live in Moscow and I'm a software developer.
I'm living in Moscow and I'm a software developer.
Do these sentences have some slight difference in the ...
CommunityBot
- 1
5
votes
3
answers
65k
views
"We plan" versus "we are planning"
Is there a semantic difference between the following two sentences?
In the future, we are planning to migrate our tool to the Z3 solver.
In the future, we plan to migrate our tool to the Z3 ...
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
375
views
Usage of the present perfect simple and present perfect continuous tenses
I tried this exercise:
Make the present perfect - it could be positive, negative or question.
(you / keep a pet for three years)
but I can't find the correct answer to the first question.
I thought ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
127
views
Is “Are they planning to fly to New York? Is it next week?” right to use the continuous present followed immediately by the simple present?
Please consider:
Are they planning to fly to New York? Is it next week?
Why is that combination of present tense forms used to indicate a future event, first the continuous one and then the the ...
- 79
0
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Using present continuous in sentence
There is the sentence:
Do you usually cook at weekends?
Can i use present continuous?
Are you usually cooking at weekends?
I found this example of using present continuous on internet.
At ...
CommunityBot
- 1
4
votes
4
answers
754
views
Can present continuous mean "should"?
We are not having this conversation at all (Rose said, in the movie Titanic.)
Usually this sentence suggests the speaker is denying the fact that they are having this conversation, which doesn't make ...
- 1,294
0
votes
2
answers
50
views
I am requesting or I request Mr David to come on / up to the stage. Which expression is correct in the native context?
While inviting the guests to the stage, In India, it is usually said that now I request Mr David to come on to the stage. Some professors I know say that it should be come up to the stage.
My point is ...
- 4,533
1
vote
2
answers
811
views
Is there any difference between "what time should I expect your call" and "what time should I be expecting your call"?
Is there any difference between what time should I expect your call and what time should I be expecting your call? For example:
Person A: I'll call you tomorrow and we'll talk about the trip.
Person ...
- 6,143
4
votes
2
answers
72
views
Choosing between simple present & present continuous
If I intend to ask about somebody's major of study, should I use
Simple presents: what do you study?
or
present continuous: what are you studying?
I understand that the simple present tense is used ...
- 26
0
votes
1
answer
85
views
Present continuous plus "when"
When I work out I drink a lot.
It's a simple sentence with a simple meaning that during my workouts I drink a lot
When I'm working out I drink a lot.
Same meaning we just emphasize that "...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
28
views
"…while the English speaking world becomes/is becoming ever more complacent"
Millions of people ______ (discover) how to bridge cultures, while the English-speaking world
______ (become) ever more complacent and ____ (cut) down on foreign language learning programmes.
The ...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
What is is difference between "As long as I am selling" and "As long as I can sell"?
I am reading a book. It says there is a bakery owner who wants everyone will be hungry for one thing - his donuts! So he invented a special donut recipe. As result, his donuts are turning people into ...
CommunityBot
- 1
-1
votes
1
answer
66
views
Looking for reference of present continuous and simple past in story telling?
The sentence being: After pulling the fisherman to safety, the groomsmen returned for more wedding photos on the jetty – this time in their underwear, dripping wet and a little battered and bruised.
...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
3
answers
557
views
which one is correct, "looking forward to hear" OR "looking forward to hearing"
From my understanding, 'to' is not followed by 'continuous form'. So the latter version "looking forward to hearing" looks incorrect to me.
However, when I type that in gmail, it first auto ...
- 883
0
votes
1
answer
105
views
Present Progressive or Simple Present
I have a question about using present tenses;
would it be said that:
Robots are being developed
Robots are developed
I would say it is present progressive because the process is not ...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
35
views
Does "by the time" mandate perfect constructions?
Consider this sentence:
I'm planning to do it by the time she comes.
I think that that is wrong and that I need to say:
I'm planning to have done it by the time she comes.
Am I right?
I think so ...
- 2,587
1
vote
3
answers
4k
views
Present Continuous vs. Present Simple
My thought process:
We all know that progressive tenses are, to put it simply, used to talk about an action in progress:
I'm having a dinner at 2:00. (eating dinner is in progress at 2:00)
I ...
- 2,176
2
votes
2
answers
225
views
Present Simple/Continuous
Can we use both present simple and continuous in this sentence?
I've got a high temperature. I think i am coming/come down with a flu.
Continuous - when we consider this to be as a process -> we ...
- 2,176
5
votes
2
answers
88
views
Present simple vs present continuous when describing a video
Person A: Let's watch this video now kids.
[plays the video]
[the dog in the video starts to bark at someone]
Person A: What is the dog doing?
A child: He's barking at someone.
In this exchange the ...
- 2,176
0
votes
1
answer
80
views
Why did the writer choose future continuous instead of present continuous
Quick reminder as we go into the weekend that I'll be closing the order book for the new design T-shirt at noon on Sunday.
I would like to know if it would have been possible to write "am ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
289
views
Present Simple or Present Continuous?
Can we use the Present Simple in this sentence : As you know, I try to learn Chinese. Or is it better to use the Present Continuous?
- 281
0
votes
1
answer
42
views
John and I [have planned]/[are planning]/[plan] to go
Suppose John and Sarah are going to go to the beach today. They don't want to go alone, so they're calling their friends and asking them if they would like to join them. So they call Bob, he picks up, ...
- 9,821
-1
votes
2
answers
119
views
Why don't we use Present Continuous in example
I know that we should use Present Simple when we talk about things in general and Present Continuous when we talk about something incomplete that is happening around time of speaking. I also know that ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
6k
views
How to use must, may, might for future and for present continuous?
Can I use them for Future tense? For example
"I must/may/might go to New York tomorrow".
and can they be used in Present continuous form as well?
For example
”He must/may/might be having ...
- 281
2
votes
2
answers
121
views
When to use present continuous
If something is planned you have been imposed, can that be considered as an arrangment to use present continuous?
For example, you received an email saying there will be some work in 3 weeks along ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
48
views
Why present simple for a temporary state
Many students are not going to school at the moment . They are practising and studying at in their houses . Their teachers send them videos and activities every day.
Why "send" is not ...
- 4,533
0
votes
1
answer
24
views
As John steps out of the car
I provided the following context for one of my earlier questions:
John's life has been hectic recently, so he's driven to a remote village to take a break from city life. Peter, an inhabitant of that ...
- 4,533
-1
votes
2
answers
64
views
Is the expression "I'm wearing shorts and sandals in the morning" correct?
The time expression "In the morning" can imply a different moment, not necessarily something which is happning at the moment of speaking.
idea
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
31
views
can I say ' Baz has just seen a wreck and. he was swimming towards it '?
Is it correct to use present perfect 'yet or just' with past continuous in the same sentence??
Or I have to use present continuous??
' Baz has just seen a wreck he is swimming towards it' ??
- 228k
1
vote
2
answers
710
views
I work vs I am working (Present Simple vs Present Continous)
I have doubts when it comes to deciding if I should use the Present Simple or the Present Continous tense. Below are the examples:
I have worked for 4 companies so far. Now I work/I am working for X ...
CommunityBot
- 1
3
votes
1
answer
948
views
Is there any difference in meaning between "do you follow me?" and "are you following me?" when are you asking someone if they understand you?
Can you please tell me if there is there any difference in meaning between do you follow me? and are you following me? when you asking someone if they understand you? For example:
I've heard both used ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
182
views
"Let me know how you <get on> <are getting on> at your new job."
from english.stackexchange.com:
(1a) I hear you've got a new job. How do you get on? — incorrect
(1b) I hear you've got a new job. How are you getting on? — correct
from thefreedictionary.com:
(2a) ...
- 20.9k
0
votes
1
answer
118
views
What is the difference between “always tells” and “is always telling”?
I was doing Destination C1 and C2 grammar and vocabulary exercises when I came across this:
My dad ———————(always/tell) jokes, they’re mostly rubbish, though.
I thought the answer is "always ...
- 281
1
vote
1
answer
154
views
present perfect continuous does not mean something started in the past and continues to the FUTURE
A teacher said what the present perfect continuous talks about has to be ongoing NOW. I don't think so.
For instance, I started to work on a report at 8 o'clock AM this morning. I continued to work ...
- 281
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What's the difference between "You're so deserving of it" and "You deserve it"?
What's the difference between "You're so deserving of it" and "You deserve it"? This is in the context of winning an award
- 281
1
vote
3
answers
637
views
do you see/are you seeing
A: Why don't you just focus on making the best of it for yourself as well as for your children?
B: Maybe that's what I'm trying to do.
A: But then why do you only see / are you only seeing them a ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
75
views
present continuous in this case
I am flying to Spain tomorrow and am staying/will stay there one week.
What is the best solution I think both are valid.
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
316
views
Nicky is thinking of giving up her job
Nicky is thinking of giving up her job
In this sentence why have give+ing? I know give up means release.
I want to know why in this sentence uses "giving up"?
2
votes
1
answer
355
views
Why is present perfect used here?
We have been waiting for Nancy for the last 2 hours, but she still hasn't arrived.
It's really confusing for me that why they used present perfect at the end of sentence when the first part of the ...
- 15.8k
0
votes
2
answers
48
views
Am having or have in this case
Imagine I am trying to connect my smartphone to the net. The problem is that I am sitting in a train and the connection is not working .
What can I say " I am having difficulties to be connected ...
CommunityBot
- 1
-1
votes
1
answer
41
views
while + present continuous and present perfect [duplicate]
Good evening,
Are correct the following?
While I'm writing to you, I've packed my stuff.
As I'm writing to you, I packed my stuff.
The meaning is that while writing I sometimes stopped to pack my ...
- 3,294
0
votes
3
answers
88
views
In British English, can I use "be" in the past/present/future continuous tenses, like in "you are being selfish"? [closed]
According to the Oxford dictionary, be is not used in the Past /Present /Future Continuous tenses, so in terms of standard British grammar I cannot say "You are being selfish". According to ...
- 76.5k
0
votes
3
answers
734
views
'I wouldn't lie' vs 'I wouldn't be lying'
Is there any difference between those two forms:
I wouldn't be lying
I wouldn't lie
For example:
I wouldn't be lying if I said this is the best evening in my life!
I wouldn't lie if I said this is ...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
28
views
correct tenses: [I am doing something.] or [I have done something.]
I have made up the sentences below.
(Suppose that I HAVE started cleaning the street.)
(a) I said to John, "Today is the six day I have cleaned the street.
(b) I said to John, "Today is ...
- 12k
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
Is it correct to use continuous without the auxiliary verb "to be?"
I am working on a project, and I am faced with a sentence that I am unsure is correct. I can make it correct with proper punctuation, but it just made me curious to learn how to use such sentences ...
- 18.8k
0
votes
1
answer
16
views
Future with will or present continuous
I would like to know if I using a present continous would be correct in this example:
"Are you going home now? In that case, I.....with you".
The book key just gives "Will leave" ...
- 59k