Grammar · Verb tenses
Present Continuous
Formula: am / is / are + V-ing
A1
Quick answer
am / is / are (the verb be in the present) + verb + -ing. Example: I am working / She is reading / They are playing. It is very different from the Present Simple, which describes a habit.Present Continuous: how to build a sentence
Affirmative
subject + am/is/are + V-ing
I am working.
She is working.
They are working.
Negative
am not / isn't / aren't + V-ing
I'm not working.
She isn't working.
Question
Am / Is / Are + subject + V-ing?
Are you working?
Is she working?
Full example: to work
| Pronoun | Full form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am working | I'm working |
| You | are working | You're working |
| He / She / It | is working | He's / She's working |
| We | are working | We're working |
| You (pl.) | are working | You're working |
| They | are working | They're working |
The 4 main uses
1. Action in progress
The action is happening now, at the moment of speaking.
“I am studying right now.”
2. Temporary situation
A situation that is true for a limited time only (this year).
“I am living in Paris this year.”
3. Change, trend
Something that is slowly changing or developing.
“The world is changing.”
4. Fixed plan (near future)
An arrangement you have already made with someone.
“I'm meeting my friend tomorrow.”
Signal words
Some words almost always go with this tense: if you see one in the sentence, it is a good clue.
now / right now
at the time of speaking
“I am eating now.”
at the moment
now, at this time
“She is reading at the moment.”
currently
in this period of time
“We are currently working.”
today / this week
a period that is not finished yet
“I'm studying today.”
Common mistakes to avoid
No -ing with state verbs
Some verbs describe a state, not an action (be, have, know, like, love, want, see). They are not usually used in the -ing form. I know him ✓ / I am knowing him ✗. Exception: I'm having dinner (here have means eat, an action).
Present Simple or Present Continuous?
Simple = a habit (I work in London). Continuous = an action in progress (I am working now). The time word helps you: every day → Simple, now → Continuous.
The -ing form: spelling rules
Verbs ending in -e: drop the -e (make → making). One-syllable verbs ending in consonant + vowel + consonant: double the last consonant (run → running, sit → sitting), but not after two vowels (rain → raining, look → looking). Verbs ending in -ie: change -ie to y + ing (lie → lying).
Practice quiz
Related pages: Present Continuous
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
When do you use the Present Continuous?+
Use it for an action happening right now (I am working), a temporary situation (I'm living in Paris this year), a change (the world is changing) or a fixed plan in the near future (I'm meeting John tomorrow).
How do you form the Present Continuous?+
The verb be in the present (am/is/are) + verb + -ing. I am working, she is working, they are working. Short forms are very common: I'm, she's, they're.
What is the difference between the Present Simple and the Present Continuous?+
Present Simple = a habit or a state (I work in London = in general). Present Continuous = an action happening now (I am working now = at this moment).
Which verbs are not used in the -ing form?+
State verbs: be, have (to own), know, like, love, hate, want, need, see, hear, understand. You say I know him (not I am knowing him).
How do you add -ing to a verb?+
(1) Verbs ending in -e: drop the -e (make → making). (2) One-syllable verbs ending in consonant + vowel + consonant: double the last consonant (run → running), but rain → raining (two vowels). (3) Verbs ending in -ie: change -ie to y + ing (lie → lying).
Updated on 6 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 6 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/grammar/present-continuous
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.