| AFFIRMATIVE : | NEGATIVE: | INTERROGATIVE: | ||
| S+TO BE+ V-ing | S+TO BE+ NOT + V-ing | TO BE+ S + V-ing? |
| Long form | Short form | |
| I am reading | I′m reading | |
| You are reading | You′re reading | |
| He is reading | He′s reading | |
| She is reading | She′s reading | |
| It is reading | It′s reading | |
| We are reading | We′re reading | |
| You are reading | You′re reading | |
| They are reading | They′re reading |
| Long form | Short form | |
| I am not reading | I′m not reading | |
| You are not reading | You aren′t reading | |
| He is not reading | He isn′t reading | |
| She is not reading | She isn′t reading | |
| It is not reading | It isn′t reading | |
| We are not reading | We aren′t reading | |
| You are not reading | You aren′t reading | |
| They are not reading | They aren′t reading |
| Am I reading? |
| Are you reading? |
| Is he reading ? |
| Is she reading ? |
| Is it reading ? |
| Are we reading ? |
| Are you reading ? |
| Are they reading ? |
RULE | EXAMPLE |
Most verbs take –ing. | I go – he is going |
Verbs ending in -e, drop the –e and take–ing. | I dance- he is dancing. |
But! | see – seeing agree – agreeing be – being |
Verbs ending in one stressed vowel between two consonants double the final consonant and take –ing. | I run – he is running But prefer – preferring (final stressed syllable) I offer – offering |
Verbs ending in –l double the final consonant and take –ing. | I travel – he is travelling |
Verbs ending in –ie drop the –ie and take –y+-ing. | I lie – he is lying |
1. ACTIONS HAPPENING NOW, AT THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING often with adverbs of such as:
| now | I am going to work now. |
| at the moment | I am speaking on the phone at the moment. |
| these days | They are working for a new project these days. |
| at present | He is working in this department at present. |
| today | We are driving to work today. |
| tonight | They are having a party tonight. |
| this week / month / year | I am going on holiday this week. |
| still. | I am still working in Buzău. |
2. TEMPORARY ACTIONS HAPPENING AROUND NOW, but not at the actual moment of speaking | Mike is building a house. |
3. WITH ALWAYS FOR ANNOYING ACTIONS HAPPENING TOO OFTEN: | You are always interrupting me! |
4. FIXED ARRANGEMENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE: | He is flying to Germany in an hour. |
5. WITH VERBS DESCRIBING CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT | It is getting worse. |
