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.
We're manufacturing the sound bite for the six o'clock news on Tuesday.
When are you pitching for the sponsorship?
We're gathering at the corporate funded dinner party for lobbyists at nine o'clock on Tuesday.
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 hiring a consultant since they don't want to do the work themselves.
Positive Form:
Subject + to be + verb + ing + (object(s))
She's investigating the entire financial sector for fraud and crime.
Negative Form:
Subject + to be + not + verb + ing + (object(s))
Scalia isn't paying attention to his own conflict of interest, but is instead enjoying the duck hunt."
Question Form:
(Wh-) + to be + verb + ing?
How is Thomas teaching conflict resolution this month?
NOTE: Common time expressions used with the present continuous include:
at the moment
currently
this week
today
now
Example:
We are developing a scholarship for continuing education programs at the moment.
Robert is pursuing an alternative social outcome at the moment.
Gene is only making one contribution 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 blogosphere promises political change this year.
She feels stymied by the guidelines.
The Grassroots Support Organization connects political and methodological preoccupations to local communities.