USE 2 Now (actions in progress at the moment of speaking)

The Present continuous is used to talk about the situations which are not permanent. They are temporary and soon will change.

USE 1 Temporary situations

To appear

· Donna appears confused. (Donna seems confused)

· My favorite singer is appearing at the jazz club tonight. (My favourite singer is giving a performance at the jazz club)

to have:

· I have a dollar now. (I possess a dollar).

· I am having fun now. (I am experiencing fun now)

to look:

· Nancy looks tired. (She seems tired).

· Farah is looking at the pictures. (She is looking with her eyes).

to see:

· I see her. (I see her with my eyes).

· I am seeing the doctor. (I am visiting or consulting a doctor. It is also used with “dentist” and “lawyer”)

to smell:

· The coffee smells good. (The coffee has a good smell).

· I am smelling the flowers. (I am sniffing the flowers to see what their smell is like).

to taste:

· The coffee tastes good. (The coffee has a good taste).

· I am tasting the cake. (I am trying the cake to see what its taste like).

to think:

· He thinks the test is easy. (He considers the test to be easy).

· She is thinking about the question. (She is pondering the question, going over it in her mind).

to weigh:

· The table weighs a lot. (The table is heavy).

· She is weighing herself. (She is determining her weight)

to feel:

• The cat’s fur feels soft. (It is pleasant to touch)
• She is feeling the cat’s fur. (She is in the process of touching it)

Some verbs can be especially confusing:

to be:

· Joe is American. Statal Verb (Joe is an American citizen).

· Joe is being very American. Actional verb (Joe is behaving like a stereotypical American).

· Joe is being very rude. Actional verb (Joe is behaving very rudely. Usually he is not rude).

· Joe is being very formal. Actional verb (Joe is behaving very formally. Usually he is not formal).

NOTICE: Only rarely is "to be" used in a continuous form. This is most commonly done when a person is temporarily behaving badly or stereotypically. It can also be used when someone's behavior is noticeably different.

to feel:

· The massage feels great. Statal Verb (The massage has a pleasing felling).

· I don't feel well today. Sometimes used as Statal Verb (I am a little sick).

· I am not feeling well today. Sometimes used as Actional verb (I am a little sick).
NOTE: The second meaning of "feel" is very flexible and there is no real difference in meaning between "I don't feel well today" and "I am not feeling well today."

Examples:

· They are staying at the Park Hotel at the moment.

· I am living with my friends until I can find a flat.

· I am learning to drive.

We use the Present Continuous to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment.

Examples:

• You are learning English now.
• Are you sleeping?
• I am not standing.
• Is he sitting or standing?
• They are not watching television.
• Why aren't you doing your homework?

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