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1. Uses of the present continuousIn English, the Present Continuous tense is usually used to express continuing, ongoingactions which are taking place at the moment of speaking or writing. In the examplesgiven below, the verbs in the Present Continuous tense are underlined.e.g. Right now I am cooking supper.At the moment the plane is flyi ng over the Gulf of st. Lawrence.The Present Continuous tense is often used in conversation.e.g. ·What are you doi ng?""··1 am worki ng on my English assignment.··Occasionally, the Present Continuous tense is used to refer to a future event.e.g. We are leavi ng tomorrow.2. Formation of the present continuousThe Present Continuous tense of any verb is formed from the Simple Present of theauxiliary to be, followed by what is generally referred to as the present participle ofthe verb.The present participle of a verb is formed by adding ing to the bare infinitive. Forinstance, the present participle of the verb to work is working.Thus, the Present Continuous tense of the verb to work is conjugated as follows:I am worki ngyou are worki nghe is workingshe is workingit is workingwe are workingthey are worki ngSee Exercise 1.3. Spelling rules for the formation of the present participleSome verbs change their spelling when the ending ing is added to form the presentparticiple.