Progressive with always, etc

We can use always, continually and similar words with a progressive form to mean ‘very often’.

• I’m always losing my keys.
• Granny’s always giving people little presents.
• I’m continually running into Oliver these days.
• That cat’s forever getting shut in the bathroom.

This structure is used to talk about things which happen very often (perhaps more often than expected), and which are unexpected or unplanned. Compare:

• When Alice comes to see me, I always meet her at the station. (a regular, planned arrangement)
  I’m always meeting Mrs Bailiff in the supermarket. (accidental, unplanned meetings)
• When I was a child, we always had picnics on Saturdays in the summer. (regular, planned)
  Her mother was always arranging little surprise picnics and outings. (unexpected, not regular)

The structure is often used in critical remarks.

• He’s always scratching himself in public.