Present Continuous Exercises, Quiz, Worksheet

Present Continuous - Exercises and Quiz

These exercises focus on using Present Continuous to talk about ongoing actions.

When Do We Use the Present Continuous?

For actions happening right now (at this moment):

Example: I am writing a letter.
For actions happening around this time, but not necessarily at this exact moment:

Example: She is studying for her exams these days.
For temporary situations:

Example: They are living in New York for a few months.
For future plans (with a specific time):

Example: We are going to the cinema tonight.

How to Form the Present Continuous

To make the Present Continuous tense, we use:

The correct form of "to be" (am, is, are).
The base verb + -ing.

Subject Pronoun	To Be (am / is / are)	Base Verb + -ing	Example Sentence
I	am	playing	I am playing soccer.
He / She / It	is	eating	She is eating lunch.
You / We / They	are	studying	They are studying English.

Spelling Rules for Verbs Ending in -ing

For most verbs, just add -ing.

Example: play → playing

For verbs ending in -e, remove the -e and add -ing.

Example: write → writing

For short verbs with a consonant + vowel + consonant, double the last consonant and add -ing.

Example: run → running

Negative Sentences in the Present Continuous

To make a negative sentence, add not after am, is, or are.

Subject	Positive Sentence	Negative Sentence
I	I am watching TV.	I am not watching TV.
He / She / It	He is reading a book.	He is not reading a book.
We / They	We are playing soccer.	We are not playing soccer.

Short Forms (Contractions) for Negatives:

am not = am not (no contraction)
is not = isn’t
are not = aren’t

Examples:

I am not sleeping.
She isn’t eating.
They aren’t coming.

Questions in the Present Continuous

To ask a question in the present continuous, switch the order of am, is, or are and the subject.

Positive Sentence	Question Form
I am reading a book.	Am I reading a book?
He is working right now.	Is he working right now?
They are cooking dinner.	Are they cooking dinner?

Short Answers:

Yes, I am / No, I’m not.
Yes, she is / No, she isn’t.
Yes, they are / No, they aren’t.

Common Time Expressions with Present Continuous

When we use the Present Continuous, we often add time expressions that show something is happening now or around now.

Right now: I’m talking to you right now.
At the moment: She’s reading a book at the moment.
Today: We’re studying English today.
This week / this month: He’s working from home this week.

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

Forgetting the verb "to be":

Incorrect: I going to school.
Correct: I am going to school.

Using the wrong form of "to be":

Incorrect: He are sleeping.
Correct: He is sleeping.

Forgetting to add -ing:

Incorrect: They are play football.
Correct: They are playing football.

Everyday Use of the Present Continuous

Here are some examples you can use in daily conversations:

I am eating breakfast right now.
She is listening to music.
They are watching a movie at the moment.
We are learning English this month.

FAQ

When do I use the Present Continuous?

Use the Present Continuous to talk about actions happening right now or around this time. For example: "I am studying English right now."

How do I form the Present Continuous?

Use am, is, or are + the -ing form of the verb. Example: "She is running."

How do I make a negative sentence?

Add not after am, is, or are. Example: "They are not playing."

How do I ask a question in the Present Continuous?

Switch am, is, or are and the subject. Example: "Are you listening?"

What time expressions do I use with the Present Continuous?

Use time expressions like now, right now, at the moment, and this week to show that something is happening at this time.