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English grammar

Continuous forms that show an attitude

C1 · Advanced Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

The continuous is not only about time. With always, constantly, forever or continually, the present or past continuous signals irritation or surprise at a repeated habit: He’s always leaving the door open complains, while He always leaves the door open simply reports. be being + adjective describes behaviour at a particular time rather than a permanent quality (You’re being very quiet today, She’s being difficult) and often hints at criticism; it cannot be used for fixed facts such as height or age. The continuous also makes a plan tentative (I’m thinking of moving). The future continuous (Will you be using the car tonight?) asks about plans without seeming to push, because it presents the event as already arranged rather than as a request.

Pattern

be + always / constantly / forever + -ing (irritation) · be being + adjective (behaviour now) · be thinking of + -ing (tentative plan) · will be + -ing? (neutral question about plans)

Examples

  1. She is always borrowing my charger and never giving it back.

  2. You are being very quiet this evening; is something wrong?

  3. Will you be using the car tomorrow, or can I take it?

  4. He was forever changing his mind about the wedding.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: He is always leaves his dishes in the sink.

    Right: He is always leaving his dishes in the sink.

    Irritated always takes the continuous: be + always + -ing.

  • Wrong: She is being tall for her age.

    Right: She is tall for her age.

    be being is for behaviour, not for fixed qualities like height.

  • Wrong: They are forever to argue about money.

    Right: They are forever arguing about money.

    forever + -ing: an exasperated way of saying all the time.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the speaker feel?

    My flatmate is always leaving the heating on.

    1. Pleased by a habit
    2. Worried about one mistake
    3. Annoyed at a habit
    4. Curious about the heating
    Show answer

    Answer: C Annoyed at a habit

    Continuous + always = a complaint about a repeated habit.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. He always interrupting me in meetings.
    2. He is always interrupt me in meetings.
    3. He always is interrupting me.
    4. He is always interrupting me in meetings.
    Show answer

    Answer: D He is always interrupting me in meetings.

    Word order: be + always + -ing.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    You _____ very generous today — what do you want?

    1. have being
    2. are been
    3. is being
    4. are being
    Show answer

    Answer: D You are being very generous today — what do you want?

    be being marks behaviour at this moment, often with a hint of suspicion.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    Which question sounds least pushy?

    You want to borrow your sister’s laptop tonight.

    1. You will not use your laptop tonight, right?
    2. Will you be using your laptop tonight?
    3. Are you going to let me use your laptop?
    4. Will you use your laptop tonight or not?
    Show answer

    Answer: B Will you be using your laptop tonight?

    The future continuous asks about plans neutrally, so it does not sound like pressure.

  5. 5Change the sentence.

    Turn it into a complaint.

    She often loses her keys.

    1. She always loses her keys often.
    2. She has always been lost her keys.
    3. She is always losing her keys.
    4. She is often lose her keys.
    Show answer

    Answer: C She is always losing her keys.

    be + always + -ing turns a report into a complaint.

  6. 6This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    He is being very tall for a ten-year-old.

    1. He being very tall for a ten-year-old.
    2. He is very tall for a ten-year-old.
    3. He is been very tall for a ten-year-old.
    4. He is being very tall as a ten-year-old.
    Show answer

    Answer: B He is very tall for a ten-year-old.

    Height is not behaviour, so be being does not fit.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I am thinking about to change jobs next year.
    2. I think of changing jobs next year.
    3. I am thinking of changing jobs next year.
    4. I am think of changing jobs next year.
    Show answer

    Answer: C I am thinking of changing jobs next year.

    be thinking of presents a plan as tentative, still being considered.

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    What is the difference?

    A: He always forgets my birthday. B: He is always forgetting my birthday.

    1. B sounds irritated; A simply reports.
    2. A is about the past; B is about now.
    3. They mean exactly the same.
    4. A sounds irritated; B reports.
    Show answer

    Answer: A B sounds irritated; A simply reports.

    The continuous with always adds the speaker’s irritation.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    They were _____ arguing about whose turn it was to cook.

    1. constantly
    2. constancy
    3. constantly to
    4. constant
    Show answer

    Answer: A They were constantly arguing about whose turn it was to cook.

    constantly + -ing: an exasperated all the time.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    Will you be coming to the meeting tomorrow

    Show answer

    Answer: Will you be coming to the meeting tomorrow?

    The future continuous asks about plans without inviting or pressing.

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