### Continuous Forms Thus far, we have learned that the Swedish present tense covers both the English simple present (e.g. *'I eat'*) and the English present continuous (*'I am eating'*). While this is correct, we are going to nuance this a little bit. In Swedish, there are certain constructions emphasizing a continuous action - and which correspond to the English present continuous (i.e. the *-ing* form). håller på is used when the continuity is strong and we want to emphasize this. It can be followed by an infinitive (+ *att*) or by the present tense (+ *och*): Jag håller på och äter. 'I am (busy) eating.' Jag håller på att lära mig svenska. 'I am (in the process of) learning Swedish.' If the emphasis is less strong, but the markedness is still desired, we can use one of the verbs sitter/ligger/står together with another present tense verb. This is equal to the English present continuous, but different in the sense that not only does it mark continuity, it also marks the position of the subject. Jag ligger och läser. 'I am (lying and) reading.'  Jag sitter och tittar på teve. 'I am (sitting and) watching television.'  Jag står och lagar mat just nu. 'I am (standing and) cooking right now'