Present Continuous

The Present Continuous Tense is used to talk about actions happening right now or things that are happening around this time. It’s also called the Present Progressive tense.

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.