Happening Right Now
Present Continuous
To express what is happening at the present moment in time use the present continuous. The present continuous is also sometimes referred to as the present progressive.
You are not getting the portfolio adjusted this week.
Our short-term debt is running low this quarter.
The Federal Reserve are reviewing the official discount rate.
Another use of the present continuous is to express what is happening around the current period of time. This is often used in work settings when discussing a project that is currently in progress.
They are trying to keep the account from being in the red.
Positive Form:
Subject + to be + verb + ing + (object(s))
I am going to the bank to get a signature verification for my stock certificates.
Negative Form:
Subject + to be + not + verb + ing + (object(s))
Consumers are rapidity growing discouraged with the complicated, and in most cases, costly card holder agreement's associated with credit cards.
Question Form:
(Wh-) + to be + verb + ing?
NOTE: Common time expressions used with the present continuous include:
at the moment
currently
this week
today
now
Example:
At the moment, I am going into the vault to open her safety deposit box.
The company's lower book value is forcing its liquidation this month.
Stative Verbs
Stative verbs express a state. Action verbs express an action, or task that someone performs.
Stative are never used in continuous forms. Here is a list of common stative verbs:
believe
understand
think (opinion)
want
hope
smell
taste
feel
sound
look
seem
appear
Example:
The transaction seems to be below market rate today.
He sounds less than enthused about it.
He feels like the price is not negotiable.