Present Continuous Tense in English

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The Present Continuous tense is used to talk about actions happening right now or around now. It can also describe future plans or arrangements.

  • Now: “I am studying English.” (happening at the moment)
  • Temporary actions: “She is working on a project this week.”
  • Future arrangements: “We are meeting our friends tomorrow.”

How to form the Present Continuous:

  • Positive: Use am/is/are + verb-ing.
  • Negative: Use am not/is not (isn’t)/are not (aren’t) + verb-ing.
  • Question: Use am/is/are at the beginning + subject + verb-ing.

Table of Forms

PersonPositiveNegativeInterrogative
II am reading a book.I am not reading a book.Am I reading a book?
YouYou are listening to music.You are not listening to music.Are you listening to music?
HeHe is playing football.He is not playing football.Is he playing football?
SheShe is writing an email.She is not writing an email.Is she writing an email?
ItIt is raining outside.It is not raining outside.Is it raining outside?
WeWe are studying English.We are not studying English.Are we studying English?
TheyThey are watching TV.They are not watching TV.Are they watching TV?

Modern Examples

Positive:

  1. I am learning to cook this month.
  2. She is texting her friend right now.
  3. They are playing a new video game.

Negative:

  1. I am not checking my phone at the moment.
  2. He is not helping with the housework today.
  3. We are not going to the park now.

Interrogative:

  1. Are you watching the football match?
  2. Is she working from home this week?
  3. Are they studying for their exams?

Present Continuous: Tests

Here’s a good Present Continuous test:

https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-continuous-exercise-1.html

Here are two great tests to check if you know when to use the Present Continuous, and when to use the Present Simple tense:
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-simple-present-continuous-1.html

https://elt.oup.com/student/solutions/preint/grammar/grammar_01_012e?srsltid=AfmBOoqqlJAq3T4gWpZHgdCvrtukBuzB9G2lrLbCDLoGfn7V2fK18BKz&cc=rs&selLanguage=en