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The Present Progressive Tense :: Grammar File

Created by: Nikita Kovalyov
Updated: January 2004

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The Present Progressive and Present Indefinite Tenses

We use the Present Progressive tense to speak about things which are happening now or things which are temporary.

I am not working now. I am on holiday.
Sally is listening to a new CD.
Who are you phoning?
The Present Indefinite tense describes usual, repeated and permanent things - for example, always, usually, often, sometimes, never.

I work as an accountant.
John doesn't know German.
How often do you play tennis?
Compare how these two tenses are used.

Why are you walking to work? Don't you usually go by bus?
I live in Kharkiv, but now I am living in Moscow.
Usually we have dinner at 7, but today we are having it at 9.
Some verbs are not normally used in the Progressive Tense. Here are some of them:

like dislike love hate

prefer remember forget believe

mean seem understand want

need know belong own
The verbs think and believe can be used to talk about actions. But when think means believe, and when have means possess, we don't use them in the Progressive Tense.

I think you made a mistake.
think = believe

I am thinking about my mum now.
think = mental process

I have two cars.
have = possess, own

I am having my lunch now.
have = eat

I am having a shower.
have = take

Practice

Put the verb in brackets in the correct form, either the Present Indefinite Tense or the Present Progressive Tense.

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