Present Continuous Tense: Meaning, Rules, and Examples

What is the present continuous?

We use the present continuous (also called the present progressive) to talk about things that are happening now, or around now.

We make it with am / is / are + verb-ing. The form is the same for all verbs.

Examples:

• I am writing a book.
• She is listening to the radio.
• They are doing their homework.

Positive

We use the present simple of be (am, is, are) and the -ing form of the verb. In speech and informal writing we usually use the short form.

Subject	Positive	Short form
I	I am working	I’m working
you	you are working	you’re working
he	he is working	he’s working
she	she is working	she’s working
it	it is working	it’s working
we	we are working	we’re working
they	they are working	they’re working

Examples:

• I’m watching TV.
• She’s cooking dinner.
• They’re playing football.

Spelling: the -ing form

Rule	Verb	-ing form
Most verbs: add -ing	work	working
	play	playing
Verbs ending in -e: drop the e	write	writing
	make	making
Short verbs with one vowel + one consonant: double the consonant	run	running
	sit	sitting
Verbs ending in -ie: change to -ying	lie	lying

Examples:

• He is writing an email.
• The dog is running in the park.
• We are sitting in the garden.

Negative

To make the negative, we add not after am, is, are. The short forms are I’m not, he isn’t, they aren’t.

Examples:

• I am not writing a book. = I’m not writing a book.
• She is not listening to the radio. = She isn’t listening to the radio.
• They are not doing their homework. = They aren’t doing their homework.

Questions

For a yes / no question, we put am, is or are before the subject.

Examples:

• Are you studying now?
• Is she doing her homework?
• Is it raining?

For a question with a question word (what, why, when, who, how), the question word goes first.

Examples:

• What are you studying now?
• Why is it raining?
• Who are we meeting?

Short answers

In short answers we use be, not the main verb.

Examples:

• Are you writing a book? — Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
• Is she listening to the radio? — Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t.

We can use a short form in a negative short answer, but not in a positive one. (NOT: Yes, I’m.)

When do we use it?

Actions happening now

We use the present continuous for things that are happening at the moment of speaking.

Examples:

• What are you doing? — I’m watching TV.
• The baby is sleeping. Please be quiet.

Actions happening around now

We also use it for temporary things that are happening these days or weeks, not necessarily at the moment of speaking.

Examples:

• I’m reading a very good book at the moment. (I am not reading it right now, but I’m reading it these days.)
• She’s studying English this year.

Time expressions

These words and phrases often go with the present continuous.

Use	Examples
Now	now at the moment at present
Around now	today these days this week

Examples:

• They are working at the moment.
• I’m learning to drive these days.

Verbs we do not use in the present continuous

Some verbs describe a state, not an action. We usually do not use them in the present continuous. We use the present simple.

State verbs	Examples
know · understand	I know the answer. (NOT: I am knowing the answer.)
like · love · hate	She loves this song.
need · belong	We need some help.

Present simple or present continuous?

Present simple	Present continuous
habits and facts	things happening now or around now
She works late on Fridays.	She is working late today.
always, usually, every day	now, at the moment, today, these days

Common mistakes

Now → continuous

Wrong: ✕ I work now

Correct: ✓ I am working now

Don't forget be

Wrong: ✕ She working now

Correct: ✓ She is working now

Add -ing

Wrong: ✕ He is play football

Correct: ✓ He is playing football

Double the n

Wrong: ✕ They are runing

Correct: ✓ They are running

Drop the e

Wrong: ✕ She is writeing

Correct: ✓ She is writing

State verbs

Wrong: ✕ I am knowing the answer

Correct: ✓ I know the answer

Be + subject

Wrong: ✕ Do you studying now?

Correct: ✓ Are you studying now?

Short answer

Wrong: ✕ Are you writing? Yes, I'm.

Correct: ✓ Are you writing? Yes, I am.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS (Present Progressive)

GRAMMAR REFERENCE

Present Continuous

am / is / are + verb-ing — now and around now

-ING

POSITIVE

I am working (I'm)

he / she / it is working ('s)

you / we / they are working ('re)

NEGATIVE

I 'm not working

he / she / it isn't working

you / we / they aren't working

✓ STATEMENT

subject + am / is / are + verb-ing

She is listening to the radio.

− NEGATIVE

subject + am / is / are + not + verb-ing

They aren't doing their homework.

? QUESTION

Am / Is / Are + subject + verb-ing

Is it raining?

SHORT ANSWERS

YES

Are you writing? Yes, I am.

Is she listening? Yes, she is.

NO

Are you writing? No, I'm not.

Is she listening? No, she isn't.

SPELLING: VERB + -ING

MOST VERBS: +ING work → working

VOWEL + Y: +ING play → playing

ENDING IN -E: DROP E write → writing

ENDING IN -E: DROP E make → making

1 VOWEL + 1 CONSONANT: DOUBLE run → running

-IE → -YING lie → lying

WHEN WE USE IT

NOW I'm watching TV.

AROUND NOW I'm reading a good book.

QUESTION WORD What are you doing?

TIME WORDS (NOW) now · at the moment

TIME WORDS (AROUND NOW) today · these days

STATE VERBS: NO -ING I know the answer.

SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS?

PRESENT SIMPLE

habits, facts She works late on Fridays.

time words always, usually, every day

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

now, around now She is working late today.

time words now, at the moment, today

REMEMBER

Don't forget am / is / are — She is working. (not She working.)

Don't forget -ing — He is playing. (not He is play.)

Short answer: no short form in "Yes" — Yes, I am. (not Yes, I'm.)

State verbs stay in the present simple — I know. (not I am knowing.)

Practice exercises

Am / is / are + -ing 0 / 10

Negatives and questions 0 / 11

Now or habit? 0 / 9