Guide de grammaire

Qu'est-ce que c'est ?

Le Present Continuous est utilisé pour parler d'actions qui se déroulent maintenant ou autour du moment présent.

Il se forme avec le présent de to be et un verbe se terminant par -ing.

Exemples :

• I am working.
• She is reading.
• They are playing outside.

Les formes contractées sont courantes en anglais de tous les jours.

• I am → I'm
• he is → he's
• she is → she's
• it is → it's
• we are → we're
• you are → you're
• they are → they're

Quand l'utiliser

Utilisez le Present Continuous pour :

• des actions qui se déroulent maintenant : She is talking on the phone.
• des actions qui se déroulent autour du moment présent : I am reading a new book this week.
• des situations temporaires : He is staying with friends.
• des situations en train de changer : The weather is getting colder.
• des projets futurs planifiés : We are meeting them tomorrow.
• des actions répétées qui sont agaçantes, souvent avec always : He is always losing his keys.

Structure

Phrases affirmatives

Utilisez :

sujet + am/is/are + verbe-ing

Phrases négatives

Utilisez :

sujet + am/is/are + not + verbe-ing

Exemples :

• I'm not sleeping.
• He isn't listening.
• We aren't waiting.

Questions

Utilisez :

Am/Is/Are + sujet + verbe-ing ?

• Am I speaking too quickly?
• Is she working today?
• Are they coming with us?

Réponses courtes

• Are you studying? — Yes, I am.
• Is he sleeping? — No, he isn't.
• Are they waiting? — Yes, they are.

Orthographe des formes en -ing

Exemples

1. I am writing an email.
2. She is cooking dinner.
3. They are playing in the garden.
4. We aren't watching television.
5. He isn't working today.
6. Are you waiting for the bus?
7. Is your brother sleeping?
8. The weather is getting warmer.
9. I am staying with my parents this week.
10. We are meeting Sarah tomorrow evening.

Exceptions

Certains verbes ne sont normalement pas utilisés aux formes continues car ils décrivent des états, des pensées, des sentiments, la possession ou les sens.

Les exemples courants incluent :

• know
• believe
• understand
• want
• need
• like
• love
• hate
• own
• belong

Utilisez le Present Simple avec ces significations.

• Correct : I know the answer.
• Incorrect : I am knowing the answer.
• Correct : She wants some water.
• Incorrect : She is wanting some water.

Certains verbes peuvent être utilisés sous les deux formes lorsque leur sens change.

• I think he is right. — C'est mon opinion.
• I am thinking about the problem. — C'est une activité mentale qui se déroule maintenant.

Erreurs courantes

1. Incorrect : She working now. Correct : She is working now. Explication : Utilisez am, is ou are avant le verbe en -ing.

2. Incorrect : I am work today. Correct : I am working today. Explication : Utilisez la forme en -ing après am.

3. Incorrect : They is playing outside. Correct : They are playing outside. Explication : Utilisez are avec they.

4. Incorrect : He is play football. Correct : He is playing football. Explication : Ajoutez -ing au verbe principal.

5. Incorrect : Are she studying? Correct : Is she studying? Explication : Utilisez is avec she.

6. Incorrect : I don't working now. Correct : I'm not working now. Explication : Utilisez am not, pas don't, dans les négations au Present Continuous.

7. Incorrect : Does he sleeping? Correct : Is he sleeping? Explication : N'utilisez pas does dans les questions au Present Continuous.

8. Incorrect : She is makeing dinner. Correct : She is making dinner. Explication : Supprimez le -e muet avant d'ajouter -ing.