Present continuous – grammar
1. Form
Le present continuous se forme avec l’auxiliaire to be (au présent) + le verbe en -ing.
Affirmative
| Sujet | be (présent) | Verbe + -ing | Exemple |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am | working | I am working. |
| You / we / they | are | eating | They are eating. |
| He / she / it | is | playing | She is playing. |
Negative
| Sujet | be + not | Verbe + -ing | Exemple |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am not | sleeping | I am not sleeping. |
| You / we / they | are not / aren’t | listening | We aren’t listening. |
| He / she / it | is not / isn’t | reading | He isn’t reading. |
Interrogative
| Forme | Exemple |
|---|---|
| Am I + V-ing ? | Am I dreaming ? |
| Are you / we / they + V-ing ? | Are they coming ? |
| Is he / she / it + V-ing ? | Is she studying ? |
2. Spelling rules (verbe + -ing)
| Cas | Règle | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| Verbe en -e | Supprimer -e + ing | make → making |
| Verbe CVC (1 syllabe) | Doubler la dernière consonne + ing | run → running |
| Verbe en -ie | -ie → -y + ing | die → dying |
| Autres cas | Ajouter simplement -ing | play → playing |
3. Use
Action en cours (now / today / at the moment)
I’m studying right now.
She’s talking on the phone.
Action temporaire
He’s working in London this week.
We’re staying at a hotel.
Changement ou évolution
The weather is getting colder.
English is becoming easier.
Plans personnels (futur proche avec intention)
I’m meeting John tomorrow.
We’re leaving at 8 am.
4. Remarques
- ❗ Certains verbes (états mentaux, sentiments, possession) ne sont pas utilisés au present continuous → ce sont les non-continuous verbs :
- like, want, know, believe, need, understand, have (possession)…
- I want a coffee. I am wanting a coffee.
- Le present continuous insiste sur le fait que l’action est en train de se passer, contrairement au present simple qui parle d’habitude.