Guida grammaticale

Cos'è?

Il Present Continuous si usa per parlare di azioni che stanno accadendo ora o intorno al momento presente.

Si forma con la forma presente di to be e un verbo che termina in -ing.

Esempi:

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

Le forme contratte sono comuni nell'inglese di tutti i giorni.

• 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

Quando si usa

Usa il Present Continuous per:

• azioni che stanno accadendo ora: She is talking on the phone.
• azioni che stanno accadendo intorno al momento presente: I am reading a new book this week.
• situazioni temporanee: He is staying with friends.
• situazioni in cambiamento: The weather is getting colder.
• accordi futuri pianificati: We are meeting them tomorrow.
• azioni ripetute che risultano fastidiose, spesso con always: He is always losing his keys.

Struttura

Frasi affermative

Usa:

soggetto + am/is/are + verbo-ing

Frasi negative

Usa:

soggetto + am/is/are + not + verbo-ing

Esempi:

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

Domande

Usa:

Am/Is/Are + soggetto + verbo-ing?

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

Risposte brevi

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

Ortografia delle forme in -ing

Esempi

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.

Eccezioni

Alcuni verbi non sono normalmente usati nelle forme continue perché descrivono stati, pensieri, sentimenti, possesso o sensi.

Esempi comuni includono:

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

Usa il Present Simple con questi significati.

• Corretto: I know the answer.
• Scorretto: I am knowing the answer.
• Corretto: She wants some water.
• Scorretto: She is wanting some water.

Alcuni verbi possono essere usati in entrambe le forme quando il loro significato cambia.

• I think he is right. — Questa è la mia opinione.
• I am thinking about the problem. — Questa è un'attività mentale che sta accadendo ora.

Errori comuni

1. Scorretto: She working now. Corretto: She is working now. Spiegazione: Usa am, is o are prima del verbo in -ing.

2. Scorretto: I am work today. Corretto: I am working today. Spiegazione: Usa la forma in -ing dopo am.

3. Scorretto: They is playing outside. Corretto: They are playing outside. Spiegazione: Usa are con they.

4. Scorretto: He is play football. Corretto: He is playing football. Spiegazione: Aggiungi -ing al verbo principale.

5. Scorretto: Are she studying? Corretto: Is she studying? Spiegazione: Usa is con she.

6. Scorretto: I don't working now. Corretto: I'm not working now. Spiegazione: Usa am not, non don't, nelle frasi negative del Present Continuous.

7. Scorretto: Does he sleeping? Corretto: Is he sleeping? Spiegazione: Non usare does nelle domande al Present Continuous.

8. Scorretto: She is makeing dinner. Corretto: She is making dinner. Spiegazione: Elimina la -e muta prima di aggiungere -ing.