Present Progressive/Continuous - Use

The Present Progressive is used when we talk about something which is happening now. It is also called Present Continuous. Have a look at the following examples:

1) actions happening at the moment of speaking (now, at the moment)

Peter is reading a book now.
She’s listening to the radio.

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2) fixed plan in the near future

She is going to Basel on Saturday.

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3) temporary actions

His father is working in Rome this month.
Note:
We do use verbs which express states and are normally not used with the Present Progressive. Watch the difference in meaning.
They love being together. (They are not together now.)
They are loving being together. (They are together now.)

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4) actions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions)

My friend is preparing for his exams.

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5) trends

More and more people are using their computers to listen to music.

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6) repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Andrew is always coming in late. (I don't like it.)
Simple Present:
Andrew always comes late. (Here I don't give a comment.)

Present Progressive - Spelling

Be careful with some words when adding -ing to the infinitive.

1) consonant after a short, stressed vowel at the end of the word

Double the consonant.

sit – he is sitting
put - he is putting
If the consonant is not stressed, we do not double it:
benefit - benefiting (Here we stress the first 'e', not the 'i'.)
In British English we double one -l at the end of the word:
travel - travelling

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2) one -e at the end of the word

Leave out the -e.
write – he is writing
take – he is taking
BUT:
double –e: add -ing
see – he is seeing

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3) verbs ending in -ie

Change 'ie' to 'y'.
lie - he is lying

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4) verbs ending in -c

Change 'c' to 'ck'.
picnic - he is picnicking