The verb to catch · Conjugation
Present Continuous of catch
The answer: am / is / are catching
A1
An action happening now, at the moment of speaking.
Quick answer
The Present Continuous of the verb to catch is am / is / are catching.
Example: I am catching the bus right now.
Full conjugation in the Present Continuous
| Pronoun | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am catching | I'm catching |
| You | are catching | You're catching |
| He / She / It | is catching | He's / She's / It's catching |
| We | are catching | We're catching |
| You (pl.) | are catching | You're catching |
| They | are catching | They're catching |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. She catching ❌
The Present Continuous always has two parts: am, is or are + the -ing form. Without the helper verb, the sentence is wrong: say she is catching, I am catching. Without -ing, it is wrong too: she is catch ❌.
2. I am knowing ❌
Some verbs describe a state, not an action: know, understand, want, need, like, love, believe, remember. They are not normally used in the continuous, even for right now: I know the answer, I don't understand.
3. I am playing football every Saturday ❌
For habits and routines, use the Present Simple: I play football every Saturday. Use the Present Continuous only for now or for a short time: I am playing football right now. With catch: I catch for a habit, I am catching for right now.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate catch in the Present Continuous?+
Use am, is or are (the present of be) + the -ing form catching. Use am with I, is with he, she and it, and are with you, we and they. For example: I am catching, she is catching, they are catching. In speech, you usually say I'm, she's, they're.
When do you use the Present Continuous of catch?+
Use it for an action happening now, at the moment of speaking. Also use it for a situation that is only temporary (this week, these days). Common signal words are now, right now, at the moment and Look!
What is the difference between I catch and I am catching?+
I catch is the Present Simple: a habit or a fact. I am catching is the Present Continuous: an action happening now, or for a short time. Compare: I play football every Saturday and I am playing football right now.
How do you make the negative and the question of catch in the Present Continuous?+
Negative: add not after am, is or are: I'm not catching, she isn't catching, they aren't catching. Question: put am, is or are before the subject: Are you catching…?, Is she catching…? Do not add do: Do you are catching? is wrong.
What is the -ing form of catch?+
The -ing form of catch is catching. You just add -ing: catch → catching. You also use it in the Past Continuous (I was catching) and after a preposition (before catching).
Related pages: catch Present Continuous
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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/catch/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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