Unit 1. Present Continuous (I am doing)

I am doing something = I'm in the middle of doing something; I've started doing it and haven't finished yet.

• Please don't make so much noise. I'm working. (not I work)
• Let's go out now. It isn't ranning any more. (not it doesn't rain)

But the action is not necessarily happening at the time of speaking.

Tom and Ann are talking in a cafe.
Tom says:
    I'm reading an interesting book at the moment.
    I'll lend it to you whe I've finised it.

Tom is not reading the book at the time of speaking.
He means that he has started it but not finished it yet.
He is in the middle of reading it.

 

• Catherine wants to work in Italy, so she is is learning Itailian. (but perhaps she isn't learning Itailian exactly at the middle of speaking)
• Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope it will be finished before next summer.

We use the present continuous when we talk about things happening in a period around now ( for example, today/this week/this evening etc.)

• You're working hard today? / Yes, I have a lot of do. (not 'you work hard today')
• Is Susan working this week? / No, she's on holiday.

We use the present coninuous when we talk about changes happening around now.

• The population of the world is rising ver fast. (not 'rises')
• Is your English getting better? (not 'does your English get better)