PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Actions viewed at some point before beginning and end, the implications being:
- the action has begun but has not yet finished,
- the duration of the action is limited.
1) actions and situations regarded as incomplete and temporary
a) actual "now": Hurry up! We're all waiting for you.
temporary activity over a more extended period of time to refer to a more general situation which, however, is not
considered permanent (unlike1b above): Do you think I look any thinner? I'm slimming.
a series of actions of limited duration, sth viewed as a temporary (not permanent) arrangement = habitual activity
over a limited period of time (cf. 2a above): We're eating in the kitchen during this cold weather.
I'm seeing a lot of Monika these days.
d) developing or changing situations: The weather is getting better and better.
Britain's railway system is gradually being improved.
2) future
definite arrangement in the near future (most usual way of expressing one's immediate plans), the time expression must always be mentioned except for "come" and "go"; What are you doing tomorrow night?
3) to talk about sth that may be going on at any time:
with a point in time to indicate an action which begins before this time and probably continues after it, used only in
descriptions of daily routine, At six o'clock I am bathing the baby.
b) in a more general way: You I don't like to be disturbed when I am working.
look lovely when you are smiling.
4) stories, commentaries
for background situations and longer actions in dramatic narrative and in descriptions of daily routine.
5) attitudes:
a) with always, forever, continually, constantly to talk about irritating and annoying things that happen frequently:
She is always borrowing money and forgetting to pay you back.
b) with always when we want to say that sth happens often and (probably) unexpectedly/by accident
I am always meeting Henry in the Red Lion (we meet there often by accident)
I always meet Henry in the Red Lion (that is our regular meeting place)
for an action which appears to be continuous, it does not have to annoy the speaker, possibly in a tone of approval
She is always giving people little presents.
My grandfather is always forgetting things.