The Present Continuous Tense
（現在進行形）

Meaning and Use

Present Continuous Tense: Form, Meaning and Use
(現在進行形: 形、意味と使い方)
 
In one of my recent classes, I was asked about how we use Present Continuous tense. Today I'll show, with simple examples, the form, meaning and use of this grammar point.

See and study the following examples below:
 
A:   Form (形と語順）
 
See the table at the bottom (以下の表を参考）:

B: Meaning and Use
 
 
1. We often use  present continuous to talk about activities or process that is happening at the moment of speaking:
（現在時に出来事が起こっていることを表します。）
 
Joe: What are you doing
Ann: I'm studying for my test.
 
2. The activity or process does not have to be happening precisely at the moment of speaking. We use the continuous to describe activities that stop and start during longer time periods that include the present time, such as these days, this semester, this year etc:
（ある程度広い時間帯：この頃、今学期、今年など）
 
Ken: What is your doing these days?
Mary: He is coaching the neighbourhood kid’s football team.
 
3. Adverbs and adverbial phrases such as now, right now and at this / the moment frequently occur with present continuous. They help emphasise the event is in progress:
 
Jon: It's raining hard right now.
 
4. Notice that even the expressions now, right now do not always mean at the moment of speaking:
 
Marie runs into Chris on the bus:
Marie: Are you working now?
Chris: No, but I'm looking for a job at the moment.

 Form (以下は形と語順）