present continuous tense presentation

Your browser is not supported

Sorry but it looks as if your browser is out of date. To get the best experience using our site we recommend that you upgrade or switch browsers.

Find a solution

• Skip to main content
• Skip to navigation
• Macmillan English
• Onestopenglish
• Digital Shop

• Back to parent navigation item
• Sample material
• Amazing World of Animals
• Amazing World of Food
• Arts and Crafts
• Mathematics
• Transport and Communication
• Teaching Tools
• Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship
• Support for Teaching Children
• Vocabulary & Phonics
• Spelling Bee Games
• Phonics & Sounds
• The Alphabet
• Onestop Phonics: The Alphabet
• Alphabet Booklet
• Interactive Flashcards
• Warmers & Fillers
• Young Learner Games
• Stories and Poems
• Fillers & Pastimes
• Fun Fillers
• Ready for School!
• Topics & Themes
• Young Learner Topics
• Young Learner Festivals
• Festival Worksheets
• Art and Architecture
• Business and Tourism
• Geography and the Environment
• Information Technology
• Science and Nature
• Topic-based Listening Lessons
• Cambridge English
• Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET)
• Cambridge English: First (FCE)
• Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
• General English
• News Lessons
• Topics and Themes
• Beyond (BrE)
• Beyond: Arts and Media
• Beyond: Knowledge
• Go Beyond (AmE)
• Go Beyond: Arts & Media
• Go Beyond: Knowledge
• Impressions
• Macmillan Readers
• A Time to Travel
• Life & School
• Skills for Problem Solving
• Digital Skills for Teens
• Support for Teaching Teenagers
• Games Teaching Materials
• Business and ESP
• Business Lesson Plans
• Business Skills Bank
• Business Top Trumps
• Elementary Business Lessons
• HR Management
• Business News Lessons
• ESP Lesson Plans
• Career Readiness
• Professional Communication Skills
• Cambridge English: Business (BEC)
• Everyday Life
• Celebrations
• Live from...
• Live from London
• Discussion Cards
• Writing Lesson Plans
• Life Skills
• Support for Teaching Adults
• Vocabulary Lesson Plans
• Language for...
• Vocabulary Teaching Materials
• Macmillan Dictionary Blog
• Vocabulary Infographics
• Kahoot! Quizzes
• Blog Articles
• Professional Development
• Lesson Share
• Methodology: Projects and Activities
• Methodology: Tips for Teachers
• Methodology: The World of ELT
• Advancing Learning
• Online Teaching
• More from navigation items

Grammar: Present continuous with PowerPoint

By Danica Krapez

Teaching English in computer classes or using multimedia. Introducing the present continuous tense.

Materials: You will need Microsoft PowerPoint. The presentation will also play in your web browser - just click your mouse to move from slide to slide.

Grammar: Present continuous with PowerPoint: Worksheet

Grammar: present continuous with powerpoint: teacher's notes.

• Lesson Plan / Teacher's Notes
• Pre-Intermediate
• Up to 30 mins
• Whole Class

Related articles

Business News Lessons: Go where the smart money is

By Engeli Haupt

Read about how Meta’s move to start paying dividends could lead to a switch in investor mindset.

Game Cards: Months of the Year

Introduce and practise the months of the year to your students with this set of Game Cards.

My daughter and I missed out on tickets to Taylor Swift – but I’m not sorry

By Tim Bowen

Can music help bridge the gap between generations and give us unforgettable moments?

1 Reader's comment

Only registered users can comment on this article., more from grammar, team competition: will.

By Jill Hadfield

A team competition to practise will for promises and predictions.

Guessing game: Must, mustn’t, needn’t, don’t have to

A small-group card guessing game to practise must , mustn’t , needn’t and don’t have to.

Pairwork: First conditional

A pairwork game to practise the first conditional.

Join onestopenglish today

With more than 700,000 registered users in over 100 countries around the world, Onestopenglish is the number one resource site for English language teachers, providing access to thousands of resources, including lesson plans, worksheets, audio, video and flashcards.

• Connect with us on Facebook
• Connect with us on Twitter
• Connect with us on Youtube

Onestopenglish is a teacher resource site, part of Macmillan Education, one of the world’s leading publishers of English language teaching materials.

• Privacy Policy
• Cookie policy
• Manage cookies

©Macmillan Education Limited 2023. Company number: 1755588 VAT number: 199440621

Site powered by Webvision Cloud

• English Grammar
• Present tense

Present continuous

Level: beginner

The present continuous is made from the present tense of the verb be  and the –ing form  of a verb:

We use the present continuous to talk about:

• activities at the moment of speaking :

I 'm just leaving work. I'll be home in an hour. Please be quiet. The children are sleeping .

Matching_MTYyNzM=

GapFillTyping_MTYyNzQ=

• future plans or arrangements:

Mary is going to a new school next term . What are you doing next week ?

Plans for next month

2nd (Sat.) – my birthday. Party! 4th – day off 10th (Sun.) – flight OS462 15.40 11th, 12th, 13th – conference, Vienna 15th – dentist 3 p.m. 22nd – Mum & Dad arrive, evening 23rd – Toni's Restaurant (make reservation!) 25th – Mum & Dad > home 29th – payday

TrueOrFalse_MTYyNzU=

GapFillTyping_MTYyNzY=

Present continuous questions

We make questions by putting am , is or are in front of the subject :

Are you listening? Are they coming to your party? When is she going home? What am I doing here?

ReorderingHorizontal_MTYyNzg=

GapFillTyping_MTYyNzk=

Present continuous negatives

We make negatives by putting not (or n't ) after am , is or are :

I 'm not doing that. You are n't listening. (or  You ' re not listening. ) They are n't coming to the party. (or  They ' re not coming to the party. ) She i s n' t going home until Monday. (or  She 's not going home until Monday. )

GapFillDragAndDrop_MTYyODA=

GapFillTyping_MTYyODE=

Stative verbs

We do not normally use the continuous with stative verbs . Stative verbs include:

• verbs of thinking and feeling :
• verbs of the senses:

We normally use the simple instead:

I understand you. (NOT I am understanding  you. ) This cake tastes wonderful. (NOT  This cake is tasting wonderful. )

Level: intermediate

We also use the present continuous to talk about:

• something which is happening before and after a specific time :

At eight o'clock we are usually having breakfast. When I get home the children are doing their homework.

• something which we think is temporary :

Michael is at university. He 's studying history. I 'm working in London for the next two weeks.

• something which is new and contrasts with a previous state:

These days most people are using email instead of writing letters. What sort of clothes are teenagers wearing nowadays? What sort of music are they listening to?

• something which is changing, growing or developing:

The children are growing up quickly. The climate is changing rapidly. Your English is improving .

• something which happens again and again :

It 's always raining in London. They are always arguing . George is great. He 's always laughing .

Note that we normally use always with this use.  

Matching_MTYyNzc=

Level: advanced

We can use the present continuous to talk about the past  when we are:

• telling a story :

The other day I 'm just walking down the street when suddenly this man comes up to me and asks me to lend him some money. Well, he 's carrying a big stick and he looks a bit dangerous, so I 'm wondering what to do …

• summarising a book, film or play:

Harry Potter is a pupil at Hogwarts school. One day when he is playing Quidditch he sees a strange object in the sky. He wonders what is happening …

The train is leaving in ten minutes' time. Is it correct ? 

Or we must say the train leaves in ten minutes' time.

• Log in or register to post comments

Is it correct to use the present contineous to talk about our daily routine , like "...,when I’m not writing, I’m cooking and cleaning ...."? if it is valid, which of the P.C tense uses  mentioned above applies to this sentence ?

Hello lemmongrab,

Yes, that's correct. The present continuous describes a state of being, meaning the situation you're in at a given moment. In your example the speaker is saying that they are constantly busy and at any given moment if they are not busy doing one thing then they are busy doing another. It uses the idea of constant activities in progress to show how busy they are, so it's not really talking about a routine so much as a state of being busy constantly.

Does that clarify it for you?

The LearnEnglish Team

Could you tell me why the verb be doesn't drop the -e?

Because we say:

She's being a very good student

Instead of:

She's bing a very good student

Thank you so much.

Hi fernandesrafah,

It's because of how the word sounds. 

The "e" at the end of a verb is dropped if it is silent (e.g. live --> living; love --> loving; write --> writing). But in "be", the "e" is not silent. It has a sound, so the "ing" is added to it, rather than replacing it. "Being" has two syllables (be-ing) while the word "bing" would only have one syllable. Other verbs are similar (see --> seeing; agree --> agreeing).

I hope that answers your question?

LearnEnglish team

Hello teachers,

Is this sentence 'She is very careful' called a nominal sentence?

And if I want to use the sentence in present progressive form, which one is correct "She is very careful" or "she is being very careful"? Do they have different meanings?

Thank you very much in advance.

Hi Risa warysha,

No, it's not a nominal sentence. It's a verbal sentence, because it includes a finite verb ("is"). A nominal sentence has no finite verb (e.g. The faster, the better. / How interesting! )

About your second question, they are both correct. Yes, they have different meanings. "She is being very careful" means that she is doing the current action carefully (but it does not say anything about whether she is generally careful or not, in other actions). On the other hand, "She is very careful" is about her actions in general.

I hope that helps.

Can I say " She is lazy." for present progressive form because I think that "be" is a state verb?

And can I also say "She has been busy for the last 2 weeks." instead of "She has been being busy for the last 2 weeks."?

"Be" is a state verb, that's right. "She is lazy" is a perfectly good sentence but it's a present simple sentence, not the present progressive, because the present progressive is formed by be + - ing verb. The present progressive would be "She is being lazy", which also means a state but a temporary one, as mentioned above.

About your second question, it's very unusual to say "been being busy". The present perfect "She has been busy" already indicates a state that is temporary.

Hi Peter 1- can I use adverbs of frequency with Present continuous for ( temporary and changing, growing or developing and around now )

OR just I can use adverbs of frequency with Present continuous for (before and after a specific time and again and again ) ?

2- Is this grammatical or informal ? I use Present simple for future with (Instructions and directions) ? example - where do I pay ? - You take the train into the city centre and then you take a number five bus

Re: 1, if I understand you, I'd say adverbs of frequency aren't generally used with these meanings. But could you please give some specific examples? Just so we can be sure that we're talking about the same thing. 

Re: 2, yes, these sentences are good examples of the present simple for instructions or directions. I wouldn't say there's any future sense here because in general, instructions were valid in the past, are valid now, and will be valid in the future.

All the best, Kirk LearnEnglish team

why my answers consider wrong i put is not instead of isn't . well does't they consider the same thing ?

Hi ashley_20,

Yes, right! "Is not" is the same as "isn't".

But if you are looking at the exercise "Present continuous negatives 2", the instruction says:  Use contractions . That's why only "isn't" is accepted.

Why use "- ing" in this sentence? I usually say "I'll go...". How does "- ing" work?

Shall I pick up the laundry for you? Oh, no, don’t make a special journey. It’s OK. I'll be going to the shops anyway.

Hello again Jembut,

The form 'will be verb-ing' is often used when an action is seen as part of our day's itinerary. It's a little less formal than some other forms and is quite common in speech.

I don't get the: "something which happens again and again". Isn't Present Simple the tense which we use to phrase repetitive, routine actions?

Hello Prodykcja,

You are right in thinking that we generally use the present simple to talk about routine actions. If we use the present continuous to talk about habitual actions, another layer of meaning is added.

Typically, it's one of two or three additional meanings. First, it can show that we're thinking of actions that continue for a specific period of time. For example, if you ask me to go running with you at 7 p.m., I might say, 'I'm sorry, but I'm just getting home from work then. I can't.' The specific period of time is the time it would take to go for a run starting at 7 p.m. Note that in this case, I could also answer using the present simple, but using the present continuous shows I'm not thinking so much of a schedule as what I'm normally doing at that time. This is not particularly important most of the time; it's more just how people sometimes think.

The second additional meaning the present continuous can express is an attitude of annoyance. We very often use time adverbials such as 'always' and 'all the time' when we want to express this meaning. The sentences in the explanation above are good examples of this.

The third (though not necessarily last) meaning expresses some kind of change. For example, let's say that for years your brother has had the habit of going running two days a week. Now he is training for a marathon, so you could tell your friends 'He's running every day now'.

As I've mentioned, there are other possible meanings -- you can see more on our Continuous aspect page -- but I'd say these are the most common ones.

Best wishes, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Hi, I learned that we can use the present continuous with some state verbs, but most of the time, those verbs describe ‘actions’ rather than ‘states.’ However, there is one example that baffles me, it is ‘Ella’s with us at the moment. The children are loving having her here.’ The state verb here describes emotion rather than action. And there is an explanation that the state verb in the aforementioned sentence emphasizes the situation for a period of time around the present. But, I am still confused about that. I think the present simple would be more proper, it should be ‘Ella’s with us at the moment. The children love having her here.’

Would you mind giving me further explanation about this case? As what I have been taught was that the state verb without ‘action’ meanings should be used in present simple to describe the states or feelings which are true at present.

Hello Bao Quach,

You certainly could use the present simple here, and there's really very little difference between the simple and continuous forms in this case. The use of  continuous aspect here is very subjective and can communicate different things.

It could, for example, show that the speaker is trying to emphasise the temporary nature of the event, or it could be that it surprises her -- perhaps she expected the children not to enjoy having Ella at home. In this case, it would also be possible to use the simple 'don't like having her here' too, so it could again be a more emphatic way of saying it.

The continuous form is less matter-of-fact. If it were a simple observation about the children that isn't particularly important, the simple form would be the form the speaker would undoubtedly use. The fact they use the continuous form adds a more emotional or subjective flavour. I know that's very abstract, and I hope it's not confusing! It really depends on the speaker's intentions (which of course I don't know) and is difficult to describe.

But I hope that helps a little.

Thank you so much for your clear and insightful explanation; it helps a lot.

I have heard people say "I'm agreeing with you" or "I'm disagreeing with you". The word "to agree" or "to disagree" is a stative verb. Why is it used with the progressive?

Hello Selet,

As you say, these words are usually stative. However, if a person is in the middle of speaking and is interrupted then they might use them in a progressive form. For example:

John: I thought that film was really boring!

Sue:  She's a really good director...

John:  I know you'd argue!

Sue:  Let me finish - I'm actually agreeing with you here! I was going to say that she's a really good director but this was a really bad film, not like her at all.

In a context like this the progressive is possible.

Can I ask a question using the question word "how long" in present continuous? How long are you doing this? Or How long have you been doing this? Which one would be correct?

Hello renu,

There might be a particular context in which the first sentence (with present continuous) is possible, but in general it's not correct. If you see someone doing something that they started doing sometime in the past, generally speaking 'How long have you been doing this?' is the correct question because we use this tense to speak about something that began in the past and is still relevant to the present.

This is a challenging point for many people learning English.

Can I mention a long period with the present continuous example this company is working in air port for 100 years

this company is working now

No, if you want to say  for 100 years  (or  for  + any time period), it should be the present perfect continuous:  This company has been working in the airport for 100 years . You can read more about this on our Present perfect continuous page (linked) . I hope you find it useful. 

I'm reading a book about AI. This sentence doesn't necessarily mean I'm reading the book at the moment of speaking, Could you check this pls?

Hi Khangvo2812,

Yes, that's right. We understand "reading a book" as an activity that can stop and start, but still all be the same activity. This includes at the moment of speaking. Even if you are not reading the book right now, if you have already started reading it and you intend to continue reading it in the future, then you can still say "I'm reading the book". 

Hello, Sir! I wanted to know if the word "now" can be used with the present simple (excluding state verbs). I found an exercise where,I think, the options should have contained the present continuous form: - Melissa......... in a very busy office now. A. works B. has worked C. was working The answer is A (works). I think the sentence is about the action happening now. I was wondering why the present simple is used here. Thank you very much for your time. Best Wishes!

Hello Sokhomkim,

It's fine to use the present simple here provided you are describing a change to a permanent (or long-term) state. For example:

1. Melissa used to live in London, but now she lives in Madrid. 2. Melissa was living in London, but now she's living in Madrid.

The first sentence describes a change in Melissa's permanent/stable home; the second a change in her temporary living location.

I got it. Thanks you so much for your time, Sir. :)

Good morning teachers

When writing a sentence with for example “always, constantly, continually, forever” it means that something is irritating about the other people and more than normal? And can I use this form with “I”?

For example: A) My son is always staying up late. (Irritating for me and more than normal) B) My daughter is constantly studying. ( it is not irritating for me, but it’s more than normal)

C) I am forever losing my keys. (Irritating and more than normal)

Moreover, can I use this form to indicate an irritating behavior even if it doesn’t happen more than normal? For example: A) He is always play on his phone.( not more than normal, but irritating me)

So, these sentences are fine? Also, can I use other adverbs like(often, sometimes ) to give the same idea of always, forever and the other adverbs of this kind(always, constantly, endlessly…etc).

Thank you for your help and patience.

Hello khaledAl5,

The present progressive with always (forever, constantly etc) is often used for irritating habits but it can be used in other ways too. For example, it can be used to show something we find endearing or worrying as in your example B. It's context-dependent, of course, and the tone of voice or comments like 'it's so funny' signal the speaker's intent.

It's fine to use this form in the first person. Your example is a very good one.

Other adverbs of frequency like often, sometimes and so on are used with simple aspect rather than progressive. They don't have the same suggestion of impatience or irritation.

Hi, could you elucidate further about present continuous can be used for something which is happening before and after a specific time?

Hi nadiayunos,

For example, if you say:

At eight o'clock we are usually having breakfast.

It doesn't mean that the action happened only at eight o'clock, lasting for that moment only. The idea is that the action is ongoing at that specific moment - it started some time before eight o'clock, and went on after that moment.

Does that make sense?

Hello! I'm a bit confused with the irritating meaning of present continuous. Would you be so kind to explain these situations: 1. We can use always and some other words like constantly or continuously when we want to express irritation, but can we use words like never, rarely etc. ? 2. How can I express that someone doesn't do their homework using present continuous? Would it be correct to say 'You are always doing no homework!' or 'You are always not doing your homework!'?

Hello msh4x,

As far as I'm aware, this use of the present continuous is only used in the affirmative, not the negative. I certainly can't think of an example with 'never' or 'rarely' that sounds right to me.

The best form to use in general is the present simple. The present continuous is used when the action we're talking about is happening around the time of speaking, or at least the situation being described has just been discussed or is somehow relevant now.

Given all this, I'd recommend 'You never do your homework!' If you really wanted to use a continuous form, you could change it a bit and say something like 'You're always coming up with excuses for not doing your homework!'

Hope this helps.

Good point. One very common way we would express that meaning would be “You keep forgetting to”. You keep missing deadlines. You keep forgetting to turn in the work. You keep neglecting to do it. Etc.

Hi. I want to know the difference between: He don't play golf now. He is not playing golf now. Are both correct? or just one of them? Why?

Hi Darelia_1325,

The first sentence should be  He doesn't play golf now  (not don't).

We use the present simple ( He doesn't play... ] to describe habits. For example, I can say about myself that  I go running . It doesn't mean I'm running right now but rather that running is my hobby - I do it regularly.

We use the present continuous ( He isn't playing ) to describe an activity right now. For example, I can say about myself that  I am typing on my computer . It's what I am in the middle of right now.

Both sentences are possible:

He doesn't play golf now means that it was his hobby in the past but it's not his hobby any more.

He is not playing golf now means that he's doing something else - maybe he's at work or maybe he's driving his car.

He doesn’t play golf now = This is not a routine he has now. He no longer does this activity. He used to play golf but he doesn’t play any more because he has other hobbies or he isn’t able to play any more etc. But: “He is not playing golf now”” = He is not playing golf at this moment. For example “Can he come to the phone or is he playing golf?” “No, he isn’t playing golf. I will get him for you.” Do/Does play” is the simple present tense and describes routines or general facts. “Be + playing” is progressive and means at the moment/in progress.

Hello! It’s mentioned above that “We do not normally use the continuous with stative verbs”.

I thought I’d seen some words being used in that sense.

I don’t have the exact examples at the moment, but I strung some sentences together to show what I mean. I use the verbs ‘love’, ‘hate’, and ‘smell’.

• I’m loving it (LOL it’s McDonald’s but apart from that, I feel I’ve seen structures like this, as in, “I am not loving this moment right now”. • I’m hating this too much now to process any rational thoughts. • I was smelling the flower before a bee emerged from it and stung me.

Please advise, thank you!

Hello Elle_Y,

Yes, the explanation says 'normally' because there are exceptions. If you read through the comments below, you'll see many people have asked about this. Please have a look through the first few pages; I think our responses there should answer your questions. If not, please feel free to ask us again.

Yes, there are exceptions. We sometimes use stative verbs in the progressive to emphasize a currently changing or developing condition. For example: Kids grow fast. (General fact.) But “The kids are growing so fast!” Or “She often feels sick after eating sweets. (General or habitual condition.) But “I’m feeling a bit sick” emphasizes a change. “He is a bit temperamental.” (General routine or habit.) He is being especially difficult today. (Emphasizes deliberately acting in a particular way at the moment.)

We are not running tomorrow morning. Is that phrase right? If yes, could you explaing?

Hello Izabely Graebin,

Yes, that can be correct. If you regularly go running with a friend every morning, for example, then you could say this.

We very often use the present continuous to speak about future events that we've made some agreement or arrangement about. You can see more about this on our Talking about the future page, which explains the verb forms we use to speak about the future and their differences in meaning.

Hello,Sir. I was wondering if the sentence is right. e.g., More roads are being built every year. (Is it possible to use this sentence to talk about a process of changing?) Thank you for your precious time. Best Wishes!

Hello KimKH,

Yes, that sentence is perfect! 

Hi guys. I have heard that the Present Continuous tense has way more importance in its action than the Present Simple tense regarding the speaker. Do you know why?

Hello leo15722,

I'm afraid I don't really understand what that statement means. I'm not saying it's wrong, but without understanding it or seeing an example of it, I don't know what to say!

All the best, Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

Online courses

Group and one-to-one classes with expert teachers.

Learn English in your own time, at your own pace.

One-to-one sessions focused on a personal plan.

Get the score you need with private and group classes.  

The Present Continuous Tense (Present Progressive)

Table of Contents

Introduction.

The present continuous tense is one of the first things you learn when you start studying English. It’s a simple tense that helps you talk about what’s happening right now.

In this post, we will explore how to form and use the present continuous. We’ll also include example sentences to illustrate its usage.

What Is The Present Continuous Tense?

The present continuous tense , also known as the present progressive , is a grammatical tense that describes both events happening at the time of speaking and future planned actions .

Here is an example that illustrates the present continuous tense :

John is heading to work. At this very moment, he’s driving to work.

“ He’s heading ” and “ he’s driving ,” show the present continuous tense. They describe what’s happening right now .

In the following sections, we’ll go through how to form and when to use the present continuous tense.

The present continuous must not be confused with the past continuous tense

The Forms Of The Present Continuous Tense

The basic form of the present continuous is as follows:

1. The Affirmative Forms Of The Present Continuous:

2. the interrogative forms of the present continuous, 3. the negative forms of the present continuous, the uses of the present continuous tense, 1. actions happening at the time of speaking.

The present continuous is used to talk about actions happening at the time of speaking.

• Where is Mary? She is having a bath. (Not she has a bath)
• Jane is in her bedroom. She is doing her homework.
• What are you doing at the moment in front of your screen? Well, I am reading this lesson. I a m  learning English.

2. Temporary Situations

The present continuous is used to describe temporary situations that are taking place around the time of speaking.

• She works for a web design agency. She ‘s working on a new website. “The new website ” is a temporary situation and “working for the web design agency” is more permanent. It’s true in general.
• Jane ‘s living with her mother until she buys a house. “Living with her mother” is a temporary situation.

Compare these two examples to see the difference between the present simple and the present continuous :

• She  works  for a web design agency. → The verb –  works –  is in the simple present because it refers to  a permanent situation .
• She ‘s working  on a new website. → The verb –  ‘s working  – is in the present continuous because it refers to  a temporary situation .

3. Actions In Progress Or Involving Change

The present continuous can be also used when an action is in progress or involves some sort of change. The action may not be necessarily happening at the time of speaking

• I am reading a book; it’s a nice book. (I am not necessarily reading it at the present moment. But I started reading it and I haven’t finished it yet.)
• His mother is getting better and, hopefully, she will make a full recovery. (There is a positive change in her health.)
• Studies show that the environment is getting worse day in and day out. (The environment is getting worse)

4. planned Actions In The Future

The present continuous can also be used to describe plans, things that are already discussed, or planned.

• They are traveling to France in June. They have already bought the tickets.
• Nadia is starting a new job on Monday.

Time Expressions Used With The Present Continuous

These are examples of the time expressions (also called signal words) that are used with the present continuous tense:

now, right now, at the moment, currently, today, this week, this month, this year, these days, etc.

The above time expressions are important when using the present continuous tense. Here is why they are crucial:

• Contextual Clarity: Time expressions specify when an action occurs, adding clarity to the present continuous tense.
• Distinguishing Timeframes: They help distinguish actions in progress from habitual or general statements.

Stative Verbs Vs. Action Verbs

Some verbs, called stative verbs, are typically not used in the present continuous.

be, believe, belong, hate, hear, like, love, mean, prefer, remain, realize, see, seem, smell, think, understand, want, wish

These verbs are called stative verbs in contrast to action verbs (also referred to as “dynamic verbs”) such as “work, play, eat, etc.”

It’s not correct to say:

• He is wanting to buy a new car.
• I am preferring tea.
• She is believing in God

You must say:

• He wants to buy a new car.
• I prefer tea.
• She believes in God.

The -Ing Spelling Rules

When adding the ing to verbs in continuous verbs, there are specific rules that we have to follow:

1. The general rule is to add -ing to the verb.

• play + ing → play ing
• watch + ing → watch ing

2. For the verbs that end in a silent e , we drop the e and add -ing .

• clos e + ing → clos ing
• writ e + ing → writ ing

3. For one syllable-verbs ending in a vowel and a consonant, we double the final consonant and add -ing .

• stop + ing → sto pping
• set + ing → se tting

4. For verbs ending in w , y , or, x , we only add -ing .

• fix + ing → fix ing
• say + ing → say ing
• snow + ing → snow ing

4. For verbs ending in a vowel and a consonant with stress on the final syllable, we double the consonant and add -ing .

• begin + ing → begi nning
• admit + ing → admi tting
• refer + ing → refe rring
• upset + ing → upse tting

5. For verbs ending in -ie , we drop the -ie and add – ing .

• die + ing → d ying
• lie + ing → l ying

6. For Verbs ending in consonant + vowel + L, we have two rules depending on whether you are using American or British English.

• In American English, we do not double the final L. Example: travel + ing → trave ling
• In British English, we double the final L. Example: travel + ing → trave lling .

Here is a link to learn more about continuous tenses

Related Pages:

• The present simple
• Present continuous
• Simple Present VS Present Continuous
• The present continuous for future plans
• State and dynamic verbs
• Exercises on the present continuous
• Exercise: Present simple or present continuous
• Dynamic and stative verbs exercise
• Listen to the song “Sailing” by Rod Stewart.

Present Continuous

(also called Present Progressive)

We often use the Present Continuous tense in English. It is very different from the Present Simple tense, both in structure and in use.

How do we make the Present Continuous tense?

The structure of the Present Continuous tense is:

The auxiliary verb (be) is conjugated in the Present Simple: am, are, is

The main verb is invariable in present participle form: -ing

For negative sentences we insert not between the auxiliary verb and the main verb.

For question sentences, we exchange the subject and the auxiliary verb.

Look at these example sentences with the Present Continuous tense:

How do we use the Present Continuous tense?

We use the Present Continuous to talk about:

• action happening now
• action in the future

Present Continuous for action happening now

a) for action happening exactly now

Look at these images. Right now you are looking at this screen and at the same time...

b) for action happening around now

The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after now, and it is not permanent or habitual.

Look at these examples:

• Muriel is learning to drive.
• I am living with my sister until I find an apartment.

Present Continuous for the future

We can also use the Present Continuous tense to talk about the future - if we add a future word !! We must add (or understand from the context) a future word. "Future words" include, for example, tomorrow , next year , in June , at Christmas etc. We only use the Present Continuous tense to talk about the future when we have planned to do something before we speak. We have already made a decision and a plan before speaking.

• We 're eating at Joe's Cafe tonight. We've already booked the table..
• They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They 're not working .
• When are you starting your new job?

In these examples, a firm plan or programme exists before speaking . The decision and plan were made before speaking.

How do we spell the Present Continuous tense?

We make the Present Continuous tense by adding -ing to the base verb. Normally it's simple: we just add -ing. But sometimes we have to change the word a little. Perhaps we double the last letter, or we drop a letter. Here are the rules to help you know how to spell the Present Continuous tense.

Back to 12 English Tenses

Present Continuous Games

Present Continuous Tense – A Complete ESL Lesson Plan

The present continuous tense (also known as the present progressive tense) is used to talk about actions that are happening now or are unfinished. 

Examples include eating, singing, reading, running, dancing, etc. This page is an ESL lesson plan to teach the present continuous tense to beginner students. 

The games and activities in this lesson plan are mainly aimed at young ESL students. These activities can, however, be adapted to teach older beginner learners. 

Download all the materials you need for this lesson in the box below. Check out the bottom of the page for additional games and activities to teach the present continuous (progressive) tense to beginners.  

Materials for this lesson:

• Pass The Ball Game Music
• Song on YouTube

Teaching The Present Continuous Tense to Beginner ESL Students

Introduction and warm up.

To warm up and introduce the present continuous tense to students, start off by listening to a fun song.  This song  by the Silly Billy Band is perfect for this lesson and kids find it very funny. 

Play the song and ask students to listen for all the words ending with ‘ ing ‘. After the song, ask students what present continuous words they can remember and write them on the board. 

Next, put these words in context. The present continuous tense describes actions that are taking place at the time of speaking. So, the best and easiest way to demonstrate this to students is to act out the present continuous verb as you are saying it. For example, pick up a book and pretend to read it and say ‘ I am reading.’ 

Do the same with the other present continuous verbs from the song. As you are saying and acting out the sentences, ask the students to do the same. 

Your students will soon gain a basic understanding of the function of present continuous verbs. To introduce the basic structure of the key sentences, play the song one more time. Pause the song after each action and ask students what he/she is doing.

Practice Key Words And Sentences

Using these  present continuous flashcards , practice the keywords by showing the flashcards and asking students to repeat after you. Then, ask students to try to say the words on their own. Then ask students to look closer at the flashcards and ask them if they see a boy or a girl. 

Explain to students that use ‘he’ to refer to boys and ‘she’ to refer to girls. Practice asking and answering ‘What is he/she doing?’ using the flashcards. Once students have practiced the key expressions enough, it’s time for a fun game to practice some more. 

Activity 1: Pass The Ball Game – What is he/she doing?

This Pass the Ball Game, and many other ESL classroom games can be found on our  YouTube Channel .

Pass the ball is a great classroom game to practice the present continuous tense. If you’re not familiar with pass the ball, it is an extremely fun classroom game that can be used with any target language. 

Students pass the ball to the music, and when the music stops, the student with the ball must do something (answer a question from the teacher, for example). To teach the present continuous tense with this game, when the music stops, the student with the ball must come to the front. 

Then show that student a flashcard (for example, ‘running’), and then that student must act out the word. The teacher can then ask the other students, ‘What’s he/she doing?’. 

If you would also like to teach ‘What are they  doing?’ then when the music stops, the student with ball comes to the front and does not look at the flashcard. The teacher shows the rest of the class the flashcard, and then all the students must act out the word together. The teacher would then ask the student at the front of the class, ‘What are they doing?’ and the student will try to guess. 

To make sure this activity runs smoothly, make sure to tell students to PASS the ball and not to THROW the ball. Also, you may want to show students the direction in which to pass the ball around the class. 

Activity 2: Board Game – Race Around The World

This  board game  is best played in pairs and is designed to get your students to make a dialogue using present continuous verbs with their partners. 

In this game, students will ‘race around the world’. One student will go clockwise, and one student will go anti-clockwise. To play, students should put their erasers where it says ‘start’ and then play rock, scissors, paper. 

The winner can move their eraser on square. Then the students should have a dialogue based on the the picture in that square. For example, one student will ask, ‘What is he doing?’ and the other student will look at the picture and answer, ‘He is eating.’. 

Alternatively, to make this game more fun, one student can ask ‘What are you doing?’ and the other student must answer and act out the sentence (for example, ‘I am dancing.’). The first student to make it all the way around the world is the winner. For many more printable board games on many topics,  click here . 

Activity 3: Level Up Game – What are you doing?

This final activity is a fun speaking game to practice the present continuous tense. To play this game, you must first place one of the  present continuous flashcards  in each of the 4 corners of the room. 

Tell students that each corner of the room is a different level and has a different action. For example, level 1 is dancing, level 2 is eating, level 3 is jumping, and level 4 is swimming. 

To start, all students must go to the level one corner and must do the action assigned to that corner. In this example, level 1=dancing, so all students at level one must dance. 

While dancing, they must meet a friend and ask ‘What are you doing?’ and they will answer, ‘I am dancing.’ After having a dialogue, they should play rock, scissors, paper. 

The winning student can advance to level 2 (eating), and the losing student must stay at level 1 (dancing). Then the students at level 2 should act out eating and meet another level 2 friend and make a dialogue. The level 1 students should continue dancing and meet another level 1 friend and make a dialogue. 

Again, after the dialogue students will play rock, scissors, paper, and the winner will advance to the next level. Once a student advances through all 4 levels, they get a point (or sticker) from the teacher and start again at level 1. After about 5 or 10 minutes, stop the game and the student with me most points is the winner.

To make sure this game runs smoothly, be sure to model how to do the activity several times before starting. Also, as there will be many students moving around the classroom, make sure to tell students not to run / push, etc. 

At the end of the lesson, review the keywords from the lesson. A great way to do with present continuous verbs is to act out some of the words and ask students to guess what you are doing. Or, to make it more fun for kids, invite some students up to the front to act out the actions and ask the other students, ‘What is he/she doing?’.

Related Resources

• Present Continuous Board Games
• Online Present Continuous Quiz
• Present Continuous Review Quiz
• Present Continuous Hidden Picture Game
• Present Continuous Worksheets

Present Continuous Tense

Jan 04, 2020

4.96k likes | 10.36k Views

Present Continuous Tense. Preparation. Present Continuous Tense We use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are happening around the time we are doing, thinking or talking about them.

Share Presentation

• verbs ending
• consonant ing
• verb ending
• present continuous tense

Presentation Transcript

Preparation Present Continuous Tense We use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are happening around the time we are doing, thinking or talking about them.

We form the present continuous tense with the present tense of be and a verb ending in ing.

The table shows how we form the –ing form of a verb. + ing walk Most verbs walking Verbs ending in e -e +ing come coming Verbs ending in ie lying -ie + y + ing lie Short verbs ending in a vowel + a consonant Double the consonant + ing run running

Look at the picture and the words on the following page and say what the people in the picture are doing.

What is Albert doing? He is eating. What is Carol doing ? She is cooking.

What are Stephanie and Joey doing ? They are building sand castles.

What are Peter, Tony and Michael doing ? They are playing football.

What are Sam and Nancy doing ? They are swimming.

• More by User

Present Continuous Tense. How to form Present Continuous?? Is / am / are + ~ing Example: I am eat ing We are study ing. Revision Exercise John __________________ (run) now. Charles likes _________________(eat) ice-cream. Mary _________________ (do) her homework now.

1.32k views • 5 slides

Present Continuous Tense. Kristi Reyes. Present Continuous Verb Tense. Use to talk about actions that are happening right now I am working. He is carrying the boxes. They are talking. We are writing. Present Continuous Verb Tense.

930 views • 37 slides

Present Continuous Tense. Alena Ištvancová. Hello! I am Kristina. . This is my family. T h is is my older sister Jane. She is wash ing up. This is my brother Marcel . He is play ing the flute. This is me . I am danc ing . This is our dog. It is sleep ing .

857 views • 25 slides

Grammar. Present Continuous Tense. [Present Tense continu]. The Present Continuous Tense shows actions that are going on now. [ Le Present Tense continu montre les actions qui se déroulent aujourd'hui ]. Interrogative Form

1.26k views • 5 slides

Present Continuous Tense. True or False? If it’s false, correct it! Good Luck!. They are jumping. False. They are singing. Goofy is running. False. Goofy is walking. She is playing tennis. True. The penguin is eating ice. False. The penguin is eating ice cream.

328 views • 9 slides

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE. Definition :- The present continuous tense is generally used to refer to an action going on at the time of speaking. jyare Aap`e bolta> ho[ te drmIyan ko[ k/Iya calu hoy te k/Iya dxaRvva ma3e samaNy rIte calu vtRman ka5 vpray 0e.

1.28k views • 16 slides

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE. Let’s begin !. Make present continuous tense sentences. Use the given verbs. am playing. I ……………………..the guitar. play. is eating. eat. He ………………………… ice cream. is crying. cry. The baby …………………. are running. run. We ……………………. are dancing. dance.

4.86k views • 8 slides

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE. NI PUTU SRI AGUSTINI 3220 VI F. BASIC COMPETENCY. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE. EXAMPLE. EXERCISE. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE is a tense use for the actions that are happening now. I + am + verb – ing H e/ She/ It + is + verb – ing

603 views • 19 slides

Present Continuous Tense. Şimdiki Zaman. Clean (v) : sil BE + clean ING : sil i yor ( AM, IS, ARE + clean ING ) Drink (v) : iç BE + drink ING : iç i yor ( AM, IS, ARE + clean ING ) Watch (v) : izle, seyret BE + watch ING : izli yor

314 views • 11 slides

Present Continuous Tense. We are learning English. am. I. I. are. You. You. We. They. He. She. It. is. work. ing. read - read ing write - writ ing watch - watch ing talk - talk ing learn - learn ing work - work ing do - do ing sing - sing ing

1.14k views • 51 slides

PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE Vs. Present Continuous Tense

PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE Vs. Present Continuous Tense. The Present Simple Tense. Paco likes sports

1.07k views • 15 slides

Present Continuous Tense. Affirmative, negative and interrogative forms. 1st Step: Verb To be (Present Simple). 2nd Step: add –ing to the base form of the main verb. 3rd Step: Present Tense of To be + present participle “-ing” form. I am reading a book. You are running a marathon.

550 views • 10 slides

Present Continuous Tense. It has 3 parts: to be + infinitive + -ing It is used to talk about:. Ideas how to teach:. 1)Index cards describing funny family activities to be dramatized by 3-5 students, to be labeled by class. 2)What is she/he doing?

1.37k views • 14 slides

Present Continuous Tense. Freshman Conversation Level B Spring 2014. Present Continuous Verb Tense. Use to talk about actions that are happening right now I am working. He is carrying the boxes . They are talking. We are writing. Present Continuous Verb Tense.

2.11k views • 20 slides

Revision: Present tense & Present continuous tense

Revision: Present tense & Present continuous tense. Book 4B New Welcome To English Second Edition. Present tense. e.g.  The queen is beautiful.  The queen wears a crown. e.g.  Cherry passes her exams.  Cherry is clever.  This tense has only one word.

3.55k views • 35 slides

Present continuous tense

Základní škola Olomouc, Heyrovského 33. Present continuous tense. Mgr. Ludmila Faltýnková EU OPVK ICT2-4/AJ02. Určeno pouze pro výuku. Žádná část ani celek nesmí být použit pro komerční účely. Identifikátor materiálu: EU OPVK ICT2-4/AJ02. Present Continuous Tense. Přítomný čas průběhový.

421 views • 13 slides

495 views • 16 slides

A review of present continuous tense in English. An explanation of rules on how and why to form present continuous. Exercises (with answers included) for students to check their understanding.

580 views • 10 slides

Search form

• A1-A2 grammar

Present continuous

Sophie is working in Cairo this week. Oliver, Alfie and Daisy are working hard for their end-of-year exams.

Instructions

As you watch the video, look at the examples of the present continuous. They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, the present continuous.

Oliver: Hey, Alfie, what are you doing? Alfie:   I’m studying for tomorrow’s exam. You?  Oliver: Yeah, me too. Well ... I’m just uploading some photos to Facebook and I’m sending a message to Billie ... oh, and I’m downloading the new Arcade Fire album ... oh yeah, and I’m having a coffee too. It’s tiring all this studying! Oh, and at eight, I’m meeting Lucas, just for a quick coffee. It’s important to take regular breaks you know! Alfie: You’re not really studying at all, are you? Come on, mate, if you don’t pass the exam, you’ll have to take it again after the holidays. Oliver: You sound like my mum, Alfie! Talk of the devil. She’s calling me. I’ll phone you later, OK? Alfie: Sure.

Oliver: Hi, Mum. Sophie: Hello, love, what are you doing? Oliver: I’m studying, Mum. I’ve got a big exam tomorrow. What about you? Sophie: Oh Ollie, I just had to phone you. I’m riding a camel at the pyramids! Oliver: Cool. Sophie : I’m with a tour group. We’re having a great time! We’re all riding camels and the sun’s shining. Oh, it’s fantastic, Ollie! Oliver: Lucky you! Sophie: So, are you working hard for the exam? Oliver: I’m trying to, Mum! Sophie: What’s Daisy doing now? Is she at home? Oliver : No, she’s at tennis practice. Sophie: Of course she is. OK, I’ve got to go. They’re waiting for me to get off the phone! Bye, love. Oliver: Bye, Mum.  

We use the present continuous ( am/is/are + -ing ) to talk about temporary things which have begun but haven't finished. They are often happening now, at this moment.

Here are some examples of things happening now.

I' m just uploading some photos to Facebook and I' m sending a message to Billie. We 're all riding camels and the sun' s shining . They' re waiting for me to get off the phone!

I'm not sure what ' temporary ' means. Can I say ' I'm learning to drive ', even if I'm not having a driving lesson right now?

Yes, absolutely! You might not be having a driving lesson right at this moment, but it is temporary, so that's correct. We use the present continuous for longer situations like this too.

OK, I see what you mean. So that’s for things happening now, or round about now. What about the future? Can I use the present continuous for the future?

Yes, I’m glad you asked me that. We use the present continuous for future arrangements with other people.

At eight I’m meeting Lucas, just for a quick coffee.

What about questions and negatives?

For questions you just change round the subject and the verb to be . So, You are > Are you , then add the –ing form. Sometimes you need a question word first.

Are you working hard for the exam? What are you doing ? Is anybody sitting here?

For negatives you add not after the verb to be . Don't forget to use a contraction if you're speaking.

You' re not really studying at all, are you? (or You are n't really studying…) They aren't using the computer room at the moment. This program isn't working .

That's fine, but I suppose there are some spelling rules for –ing forms?

Yes, you're right. If a verb ends in e , you take off the e and add –ing

hav e - hav ing           rid e - rid ing

If a verb ends in a vowel + a consonant, the consonant is usually doubled before you add –ing .

sw im - swi mm ing           r un - ru nn ing

But be careful with verbs with more than two syllables where the stress isn't on the last syllable. With those you don't double the consonant.

vis it - vis iting          op en - op ening     

OK, but what about two-syllable verbs where the stress is on the last syllable, like begin ? 

If the stress is on the last syllable, you do double the final consonant.

be gin - begi nn ing       

Right, the present continuous seems quite easy to me. I'm understanding it perfectly!

Whoops! Sorry, you can't say ' I'm understanding it '.

Why not? I'm talking about something happening right now.

Yes, but there is a group of verbs which are called state verbs which we use for states (not actions) and we don't usually use these in the continuous form.

want - need - like - love - hate - prefer - believe - think - know - realise - understand - recognise - suppose - be - exist - appear - look - seem - belong - have (for possession) -  own - feel - smell - taste

So these are verbs for talking about emotions, thinking, existing, appearing, possession and the senses.

Yes, excellent.

But wait a minute. What about, 'I'm thinking of coming with you tomorrow.' Or, 'I'm thinking about my girlfriend.'

Yes, they are correct. But the meaning of think there is 'having thoughts in your mind' or 'considering'. It's not the same as 'having an opinion' about something.

I think that song's brilliant.   (opinion) She 's thinking about studying archaeology.  (considering / wondering about)

OK, so there are some exceptions. Like, 'I'm loving it.'

No, sorry, that's not an exception, that's wrong!

It can't be wrong!

Well, OK, maybe it's a new usage. English does change. But don't use it in exams!

Check your grammar: true or false - present continuous

Check your grammar: gap fill - present continuous, check your grammar: multiple choice - present continuous, worksheets and downloads.

Are you good at doing lots of things at the same time? What are you doing now, apart from practising your English?

Sign up to our newsletter for LearnEnglish Teens

We will process your data to send you our newsletter and updates based on your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of every email. Read our privacy policy for more information.

Present Continuous Tense: How to Use It, With Examples

If you are learning English, you will likely come across the present continuous tense. This verb tense is used to describe actions that are happening now or are currently in progress. It is essential to understand how to use the present continuous tense correctly, as it is a fundamental tense in English grammar. Structure of the Present Continuous Tense The present continuous tense is formed using the verb "to be" in the present tense and the present participle of the main verb. The structure of a present continuous sentence is as follows: Subject + am/is/are + verb (present participle) For example: ● She is cooking dinner. ● They are studying English grammar. ● He is watching TV. Uses of the Present Continuous Tense 1. Actions Happening Now The present continuous tense is commonly used to describe actions that are happening now or at the present moment. For example: ● I am drinking coffee right now. ● She is talking to her friend on the phone. ● They are playing soccer in the park. 2. Temporary Actions or Situations The present continuous tense can also be used to describe temporary actions or situations. For example: ● She is staying with her sister for a few days. ● They are working on a project together. ● He is living in the city for the summer. 3. Ongoing Actions The present continuous tense is also used to describe actions that are currently in progress and are expected to continue in the near future. For example: ● The company is expanding its operations in Asia. ● She is studying for her final exams. ● They are planning a vacation for next month. 4. Future Plans The present continuous tense can be used to describe future plans, particularly when discussing arrangements or scheduled events. For example: ● I am meeting my friends for dinner tonight. ● They are flying to New York next week. ● She is attending a conference in London next month. 5. Annoying or Repetitive Actions The present continuous tense can also be used to describe annoying or repetitive actions that are currently happening. For example: ● He is always interrupting me when I am speaking. ● They are constantly playing loud music. ● She is forever checking her phone.

When to Use the Present Continuous Tense?

Remember to use "to be" in the present tense (am, is, are) followed by the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb. Use the present continuous tense to describe actions happening right now, ongoing actions, future plans, and temporary situations.

When Not to Use the Present Continuous Tense?

The present continuous tense is a verb tense used to describe actions that are happening right now or actions that are ongoing. However, there are certain situations when it is not appropriate to use the present continuous tense. 1. States and Conditions The present continuous tense should not be used to describe states and conditions that are not temporary. For example, instead of saying "I am believing in myself," you should say "I believe in myself." This is because beliefs are not temporary and are ongoing, rather than in the process of happening right now. Incorrect: I am believing in myself. Correct: I believe in myself. 2. Habits and Routines The present continuous tense should not be used to describe habits and routines. Instead, use the simple present tense. For example, instead of saying "I am going to the gym every day," you should say "I go to the gym every day." This is because going to the gym is a habit or routine that is ongoing, rather than in the process of happening right now. Incorrect: I am going to the gym every day. Correct: I go to the gym every day. 3. Non-Continuous Verbs The present continuous tense should not be used with non-continuous verbs, also known as stative verbs. These verbs describe a state or condition, rather than an action. For example, instead of saying "I am understanding the problem," you should say "I understand the problem." This is because understanding is a state or condition, rather than an action that is happening right now. Incorrect: I am understanding the problem. Correct: I understand the problem. 4. Completed Actions The present continuous tense should not be used to describe completed actions. Instead, use the past simple tense. For example, instead of saying "I am finishing my homework," you should say "I finished my homework." This is because finishing the homework is a completed action, rather than an ongoing action. Incorrect: I am finishing my homework. Correct: I finished my homework.

Present Continuous and Stative Verbs

When it comes to stative verbs, which describe a state of being or a condition that is ongoing rather than an action in progress, the use of the present continuous tense can be a bit tricky. Stative verbs typically describe things like emotions, mental states, senses, and physical conditions. Examples of stative verbs include "like," "hate," "love," "prefer," "believe," "know," "understand," "feel," "see," "smell," "taste," "seem," "appear," and "have." In general, stative verbs are not typically used in the present continuous tense because they describe a state of being or a condition that is ongoing rather than an action in progress. However, there are some cases where the present continuous tense can be used with stative verbs to describe a temporary change in the state of being. For example: ●  "I am feeling sick today." (describing a temporary physical condition) ●  "She is seeming more confident lately." (describing a temporary change in someone's demeanor) ●  "He is having trouble with the new software." (describing a temporary difficulty with a task) In these examples, the present continuous tense is being used to describe a temporary change in the state of being or condition, rather than a permanent or ongoing state. It's important to note that the use of the present continuous tense with stative verbs is generally less common and should be used with caution. In most cases, it is best to use the simple present tense when describing stative verbs, as this more accurately reflects the ongoing nature of the state of being or condition. Here are some common stative verbs that do not use the present continuous: ●  Like: I like ice cream. (Not: I am liking ice cream.) ●  Believe: I believe in aliens. (Not: I am believing in aliens.) ●  Understand: I understand the instructions. (Not: I am understanding the instructions.) ●  Know: I know the answer. (Not: I am knowing the answer.) ●  Want: I want a new car. (Not: I am wanting a new car.) ●  Love: I love my family. (Not: I am loving my family.) ●  Prefer: I prefer tea to coffee. (Not: I am preferring tea to coffee.) ●  Dislike: I dislike horror movies. (Not: I am disliking horror movies.) ●  Own: I own a house. (Not: I am owning a house.) ●  Belong: This book belongs to me. (Not: This book is belonging to me.) It's important to note that while these verbs do not typically use the present continuous tense, there may be some situations where they can be used in this way. For example, "I'm liking this new ice cream flavor" may be acceptable in some dialects or contexts, although it is not considered standard English.

Common Construction in the Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense is a verb tense used to describe actions or processes that are currently in progress or ongoing. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb "to be" in the present tense (am, is, are) and adding the present participle form of the main verb (-ing). Here are some common constructions in the present continuous tense: 1. Affirmative sentences: ● I am studying for my exam. ● He is playing soccer with his friends. ● They are cooking dinner in the kitchen. 2. Negative sentences: ● I am not watching TV right now. ● She is not working on the project at the moment. ● We are not drinking coffee at this time. 3. Yes/no questions: ● Are you listening to me? ● Is she singing a song? ● Are they playing a game? 5. Wh- questions: ● What are you doing? ● Why is he wearing a hat? ● Where are they going? 6. Short answers: ● Yes, I am. ● No, she isn't. ● Yes, they are. 7. Contractions: ● I'm (I am) running late. ● She's (she is) dancing in the living room. ● They're (they are) watching a movie. It is important to note that the present continuous tense can also be used to talk about future plans or arrangements, as in "I am meeting my friend for lunch tomorrow."

Common Dynamic Verbs that USE the Present Continuous

The present continuous tense is commonly used with dynamic verbs, which express actions or processes that are ongoing or in progress at the time of speaking. Here are some common dynamic verbs that use the present continuous tense: Work: "I am working on a new project this week." Run: "She is running in the park every morning to stay fit." Study: "They are studying for their final exams at the library." Drive: "He is driving to work in his new car." Cook: "My mom is cooking dinner for us tonight." Sing: "The choir is singing a beautiful song at the concert." Play: "My friends and I are playing basketball in the park." Write: "She is writing a novel about her life experiences." Dance: "The couple is dancing gracefully at their wedding reception." Paint: "He is painting a portrait of his girlfriend in his studio." These are just a few examples of dynamic verbs that are commonly used with the present continuous tense. Remember, dynamic verbs express actions or processes that are ongoing or in progress at the time of speaking, and the present continuous tense is the perfect way to describe them.

Fluent English Grammar

Created by Fluent English Grammar

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

•  All topics A-Z
•  Grammar
•  Vocabulary
•  Speaking
•  Reading
•  Listening
•  Writing
•  Pronunciation
•  Virtual Classroom
• Worksheets by season
•  600 Creative Writing Prompts
•  Warmers, fillers & ice-breakers
•  Coloring pages to print
•  Flashcards
•  Classroom management worksheets
•  Emergency worksheets
•  Revision worksheets
• Resources we recommend
• Copyright 2007-2021 пїЅ
• Submit a worksheet
• Mobile version

• English Grammar
• English Tenses
• Present Tense
• Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Tense - Meaning, Definition, Formula, Uses, Structure with Examples

Are you wondering how the present continuous tense can be used? Well, fret no more. You just came across a sentence with the present continuous tense. In this article, you will learn all that you need to know about what the present continuous tense is, its definition, uses, structure and rules of usage. Along with these, with the examples and practice questions, you will surely be able to use the frame sentences using the present continuous tense accurately.

Table of Contents

Definition of the present continuous tense, structure of the present continuous tense, rules and points to remember when using the present continuous tense, uses of the present continuous tense, 10 sentences using the present continuous tense, test your understanding of the present continuous tense, frequently asked questions on present continuous tense, understanding the present continuous tense.

The present continuous tense, as the name suggests, is the form of tense that is used to denote an action that is ongoing or occurring in that current moment. It is also referred to as the present progressive tense as they represent the action that is progressing in the present. Let us now take a look at the definitions provided by various dictionaries about the present continuous tense.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines the ‘present continuous tense’ as “the verb form used for actions or events that are happening or developing now.” According to the Collins Dictionary, the present continuous tense is defined as “a verb form consisting of an auxiliary be in the present tense followed by a present participle and used especially to indicate that a present action or event is in progress, being repeated, or of a temporary nature or to express the future.” The present continuous tense is “the tense used to talk about actions or behaviour that are in progress now or planned for the future”, according to the Macmillan Dictionary.

There is definitely just one formula to mastering the present continuous tense and this is how it goes.

However, there is something more you should pay attention to. You should also learn how the sentences with the present continuous tense form of the verb are structured when they are positive, negative, interrogative and negative interrogative.

Have a look at the table given below to have a deeper understanding of the structure of the present continuous tense.

When using the present continuous tense, make sure you follow the sentence structure exactly.

• Always start with the subject when it is a positive or negative sentence and with the helping verb when it is in the interrogative format.
• A sentence with the present continuous tense consists of a helping verb (‘to be’ form of verbs) and a main verb . The helping verbs can be ‘am’ for the pronoun ‘I’, ‘is’ for singular subject and ‘are’ for a plural subject.
• Just note that like the other pronouns, the pronoun ‘am’ cannot be used in the negative form in an interrogative sentence. Instead of ‘amn’t’, ‘aren’t’ is used.

For example:

• Amn’t I reading a newspaper? Wrong
• Aren’t I reading a newspaper? Correct
• The present continuous tense can never be used with stative verbs .

Like the simple present tense , the present continuous tense is also generally used to talk about an action that is taking place in the present. The only difference is that it denotes an action that is continuing to happen or progressing at the current moment.

Take a look at the following points that elaborate on the more specific uses of the present continuous tense.

• It is used to represent an action that is happening or progressing in the moment that the speaker is speaking.
• My son is working on his science project.
• Santana is singing Don’t Rain on my Parade.
• It is used to depict a future event or arrangement.
• What are you planning to do tomorrow?
• I heard that Rachel is moving to Paris next month.
• It is used to denote an action that is going on or continuing at the time of speaking.
• Is she still working at the National Institute of Medical Sciences?
• I am currently taking guitar lessons so that I could play for your wedding.

Examples of Present Continuous Tense

Going through more and more examples can only make you an expert in the particular subject or topic. So , here you go. Check out the examples of sentences using the present continuous tense given below.

• My mom is cooking dinner.
• The band is playing all the classics.
• Monica and Rachel are going on a trip tomorrow.
• Sheethal is not practising for the final audition.
• I am trying out something new.
• They are not travelling to London next week.
• Are you watching a movie tonight?
• Is your phone working properly now?
• The children are loving the new park.
• Diana is playing the main role in the play.

Having gone through all the given examples, you should have understood really well. Check your understanding of the present continuous tense by filling in the blanks in the following sentence with the right form of tense using the verbs given in the brackets.

1. ______ the clock ________ (work)?

2. The teachers ___________ (plan) to dance to all the latest songs on Childrens Day.

3. ______ she ___________ (play – negative) the piano anymore?

4. The dog __________ (run) all around the garden.

5. We ____________ (go – negative) to the party tomorrow.

6. The Bellas ___________ (perform) the songs of the 80s.

7. Will, Smith and Sherlock ___________ (dance) well.

8. _______ I __________ (look) good today?

9. Trinita and Vinitha ____________ (ride) on their new cat.

10. _____ he still ________ (stand) there?

Ready to see if you got it all right. Check out the answers given below.

1. Is the clock working ?

2. The teachers are planning to dance to all the latest songs on Childrens Day.

3. Is she not playing the piano anymore?

4. The dog is running all around the garden.

5. We are not going to the party tomorrow.

6. The Bellas are performing the songs of the 80s.

7. Will, Smith and Sherlock are dancing well.

8. Am I looking good today?

9. Trinita and Vinitha are riding on their new cat.

10. Is he still standing there?

What is the present continuous tense?

The Present Continuous Tense, as the name suggests, is the form of tense that is used to denote the action that is ongoing or occuring in that current moment. It is also referred to as the present progressive tense as they represent the action that is progressing in the present.

What is the definition of the present continuous tense?

What is the formula to be followed when using the present continuous tense.

The formula to be kept in mind and used when writing or speaking a sentence in the present continuous tense is as follows: Subject + am/is/are + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence

Give some examples of the present continuous tense.

Here are a few examples to show you how the present continuous tense is used.

What are the uses of the present continuous tense?

The present continuous tense can be used to talk about an action that

• is happening or progressing in the moment that the speaker is speaking.
• depicts a future event or arrangement.
• is going on or continuing at the time of speaking.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request OTP on Voice Call

Post My Comment

• Share Share

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.