Present Continuous

Present Continuous (Progressive) Tense

Definition: The Present Continuous tense describes actions that are happening right now or actions that are ongoing.


Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb + -ing

Forms:

  1. Positive Sentences:
    • I am (I’m) eating.
    • You are (You’re) eating.
    • He/She/It is (He’s/She’s/It’s) eating.
    • We are (We’re) eating.
    • They are (They’re) eating.
  2. Negative Sentences:
    • I am not (I’m not) eating.
    • You are not (You aren’t) eating.
    • He/She/It is not (He/She/It isn’t) eating.
    • We are not (We aren’t) eating.
    • They are not (They aren’t) eating.
  3. Questions:
    • Am I eating?
    • Are you eating?
    • Is he/she/it eating?
    • Are we eating?
    • Are they eating?

Uses:

  1. Actions happening right now:
    • She is reading a book.
    • They are playing soccer.
  2. Temporary actions:
    • I am staying with my friend this week.
    • He is working on a special project these days.
  3. Future plans (with future meaning):
    • I am meeting my friend tomorrow.
    • We are going to the movies tonight.
  4. Changing or developing situations:
    • The weather is getting warmer.
    • Her English is improving.

Common Mistakes:

  1. Using the wrong form of ‘to be’:
    • Incorrect: She are playing.
    • Correct: She is playing.
  2. Forgetting the ‘-ing’ ending:
    • Incorrect: He is read a book.
    • Correct: He is reading a book.
  3. Using Present Continuous for non-continuous verbs:
    • Incorrect: I am knowing the answer.
    • Correct: I know the answer.

Signal Words:

  • Now
  • Right now
  • At the moment
  • Currently
  • This week/month/year
  • Today
  • These days

Examples:

  1. Right now:
    • She is writing an email now.
    • They are watching a movie at the moment.
  2. Temporary actions:
    • I am living in London for a few months.
    • He is studying for his exams this week.
  3. Future plans:
    • We are having dinner with friends tonight.
    • She is traveling to Paris next month.
  4. Changing situations:
    • The days are getting longer.
    • Technology is advancing rapidly.

Non-continuous verbs: These verbs are usually not used in the Present Continuous tense because they describe states rather than actions. Common non-continuous verbs include:

  • Like, love, hate
  • Want, need
  • Know, understand, believe
  • See, hear, smell, taste
  • Belong, own, possess

Examples of non-continuous verbs:

  • I want a sandwich. (Not: I am wanting a sandwich.)
  • She knows the answer. (Not: She is knowing the answer.)

Present Continuous Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Present Continuous Form

Fill in the blanks with the correct present continuous form of the verbs in parentheses.

  1. She __________ (read) a book right now.
  2. They __________ (play) soccer in the park.
  3. I __________ (watch) TV at the moment.
  4. He __________ (cook) dinner in the kitchen.
  5. We __________ (study) for the test.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences in Negative Form

Rewrite the following sentences in the present continuous negative form.

  1. She is reading a book right now.
  2. They are playing soccer in the park.
  3. I am watching TV at the moment.
  4. He is cooking dinner in the kitchen.
  5. We are studying for the test.

Exercise 3: Form Questions from the Given Sentences

Form questions from the following statements in the present continuous tense.

  1. She is reading a book right now.
  2. They are playing soccer in the park.
  3. I am watching TV at the moment.
  4. He is cooking dinner in the kitchen.
  5. We are studying for the test.

Exercise 1

  1. is reading
  2. are playing
  3. am watching
  4. is cooking
  5. are studying

Exercise 2

  1. She is not (isn’t) reading a book right now.
  2. They are not (aren’t) playing soccer in the park.
  3. I am not (I’m not) watching TV at the moment.
  4. He is not (isn’t) cooking dinner in the kitchen.
  5. We are not (aren’t) studying for the test.

Exercise 3

  1. Is she reading a book right now?
  2. Are they playing soccer in the park?
  3. Am I watching TV at the moment?
  4. Is he cooking dinner in the kitchen?
  5. Are we studying for the test?