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THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

340

Events in progress at the time of speaking

340a

The present progressive is used to refer to events which are in progress or

happening at the moment of speaking.

Compare:

[someone on the telephone whilst being given directions]

Well er, I

’m looking across the road now and all I can see is a chemist’s shop.

I 

look at catalogues. I always read so many catalogues on the train.

(a regular event, but not necessarily happening at the moment of speaking)

Compare:

Why 

is he smiling like that? It all looks a bit suspicious.

She’s changed the way she 

smiles, hasn’t she?

(reference to her general behaviour, not necessarily what she is doing at the

moment)