The verb to be · Conjugation
Present Continuous of be
The answer: am / is / are being
A1
An action happening now, at the moment of speaking.
Quick answer
The Present Continuous of the verb to be is am / is / are being.
Example: He is being very kind today.
Full conjugation in the Present Continuous
| Pronoun | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am being | I'm being |
| You | are being | You're being |
| He / She / It | is being | He's / She's / It's being |
| We | are being | We're being |
| You (pl.) | are being | You're being |
| They | are being | They're being |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. She is being a teacher ❌
Never say I am being a student, She is being a teacher or They are being tall. Nationality, jobs and how someone looks are states: use the Present Simple (She is a teacher).
2. He has being kind ❌
Being is the -ing form, used in the Present Continuous. Been is the past participle, used in the Present Perfect (I have been). Compare: He is being kind (right now) and He has been kind (from the start until now).
3. I am being hungry ❌
The continuous form of be only goes with adjectives that describe how someone behaves: nice, kind, rude, silly, polite, helpful, difficult, mean. Not with happy, tired, hungry or a nationality: say I am hungry.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
Can you use be in the present continuous?+
Yes, but only in one case: to talk about behaviour right now, not about who someone is. He is being silly means he is acting in a silly way at the moment. It is not his character. To describe a quality that does not change, use the Present Simple: He is funny.
What is the difference between she is nice and she is being nice?+
She is nice describes her character: she is nice in general. She is being nice describes her behaviour now, maybe for a short time. The continuous form often suggests that this behaviour is not usual for her.
Why is am being rare in English?+
Because be usually describes a state (a situation that does not change), and states do not take the continuous form. You don't say I am being a student. Is being only appears with adjectives about behaviour: kind, polite, silly, rude, helpful, difficult.
How do you make questions and negatives with is being?+
Follow the normal Present Continuous rules. Negative: He is not being serious (He isn't being serious). Question: put am, is or are before the subject: Why is she being so quiet?
Related pages: be Present Continuous
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 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 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/be/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.
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More forms of the verb to be are coming soon.