Grammar: A2 - ⚙️ Verbs in Depth: ⏳ Past & Future Tenses (Basics) - Lesson 6: Present Continuous (Actions happening now - am/is/are + verb-ing) - Review & Expansion

✨ Lesson 6: The Present Continuous (Actions Happening Now)

We have learned to use the Present Simple for habits and facts (e.g., "I work every day"). Today, we will learn a new tense¹: the Present Continuous².

We use the Present Continuous to talk about actions that are happening now³, right at this moment. Look for signal words like "now," "right now," or "at the moment."

The Structure: 'be' + Verb-ing

To form the Present Continuous, we always use two parts: the verb 'to be' (am, is, are) and the main verb with an '-ing' ending.

Subject + [am/is/are] + [Verb-ing]

• I am talking on the phone.
• He is driving a tuk-tuk.
• They are visiting Angkor Wat right now.

Spelling Rules for '-ing':

• Most verbs: add -ing (go → going)
• Verbs ending in silent -e: drop the 'e', add -ing (drive → driving)
• Short C-V-C verbs: double the last letter, add -ing (sit → sitting)

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

This is a very important difference in English.

Tense	Use	Example
Present Simple	Habits & Facts	He drives a tuk-tuk. (It's his job)
Present Continuous	Action Happening NOW	He is driving a tuk-tuk. (Look! He's doing it right now)
Present Simple	Habits & Facts	She speaks English. (She knows how)
Present Continuous	Action Happening NOW	Please be quiet. She is speaking on the phone.

🧠 Practice Quiz: Choose the Correct Tense

Choose the correct verb form for each sentence.

1. She (eats / is eating) lunch at the moment.
2. He usually (works / is working) on Saturdays.
3. Please be quiet, the students (take / are taking) a test.
4. I always (read / am reading) a book before I go to sleep.

📝 Homework: What Are They Doing?

Imagine you are sitting at a cafe on Pub Street. Describe three actions that are happening now. Use the Present Continuous.

Example: A man is playing the guitar. Some tourists are taking photos.

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1: ___________________________________

2: ___________________________________

3: ___________________________________

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Tense (grammar): (Noun) - កាល (kal) - A form of a verb that shows the time an action happened (e.g., present, past, future). ↩
2. Present Continuous: (Noun) - បច្ចុប្បន្នកាលបន្ត (păch'chŭb'bân'nâ'kal bân'tɔɔ) - The verb tense used for actions happening at the moment of speaking. ↩
3. Happening Now: (Phrase) - កំពុងកើតឡើង (kâmpung kaet laeung) - Occurring at this exact moment. ↩