How to Teach the Present Continuous Tense

This article explains how to teach the present continuous tense (also called the present progressive tense). It also explains the difference between that tense and the simple present tense.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. The present continuous tense (also called the present progressive tense) describes actions that occurs now, in this moment. The simple present tense describes an action that occurs on a regular or daily basis.

2. Ask your students what you are doing? They should answer with something similar as, "You are teaching.", "You are speaking.", "You teach." etc. On one side of the board write "I am speaking.", on the other side of the board write "I speak."

3. Ask your students what they are doing? They should answer with something similar as, "We are learning.", "We are listening." On one side of the board write, "We are learning.", on the other side of the board write "We learn."

4. Jump up and down. Ask your students what you are doing? On one side of the board write, "The teacher is jumping up and down.", on the other side of the board write "The teacher jumps up and down."

5. Ask the class what is the difference between the sentences that you wrote on both sides of the board. A common answer will be, "The verbs in the first column end in "ing"." Underline the "ing" for each of these verbs.

6. The goal is to see if one or some of the students see that the present continuous tense is describing an action that occurs right now, in this moment. If not, on one side of the board write, "I am brushing my teeth.", on the other side of the board write "I brush my teeth." See if the students notice the difference.

7. Tell the students that the sentences with the "ing" verbs describe an action that occurs now, in this moment. The sentences in the other column describe actions that occur daily or on a regular basis. For example, "I am brushing my teeth." means that I am brushing my teeth right now, in front of this class. The sentence, "I brush my teeth" means that I brush my teeth daily.

8. Present Continuous Tense = the verb to be + verb in present tense + ing.

9. "Verb To Be" Review - I am, you are, he, she, it is, we are, they are.

10. Have students write sentences that use the present continuous tense. You may also want to create some exercises. To highlight the difference between the present continuous and the simple present tense, have the students write sentences that describe things they do daily or on a regular basis.