The verb to hear · Conjugation
Present Continuous of hear
The answer: am / is / are hearing
A1
An action happening now, at the moment of speaking.
Quick answer
The Present Continuous of the verb to hear is am / is / are hearing.
Example: I hear the music (not I am hearing the music).
Full conjugation in the Present Continuous
| Pronoun | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am hearing | I'm hearing |
| You | are hearing | You're hearing |
| He / She / It | is hearing | He's / She's / It's hearing |
| We | are hearing | We're hearing |
| You (pl.) | are hearing | You're hearing |
| They | are hearing | They're hearing |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. She studying ❌
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 studying, I am studying.
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. The verb hear is one of them: say I hear.
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.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate hear in the Present Continuous?+
The form is am, is or are + hearing. But hear is a state verb: a verb for a thought, a feeling or something you have. State verbs are not normally used in the continuous. Say I hear, not I am hearing.
When do you use the Present Continuous of hear?+
Almost never. The verb hear is a state verb. State verbs stay in the Present Simple, even for right now: I hear, she hears, not I am hearing.
What is the difference between I hear and I am hearing?+
With hear, use I hear for now and for always. I am hearing is not normal English, because hear is a state verb. Compare with an action verb: I play football every Saturday and I am playing football right now.
How do you make the negative and the question of hear in the Present Continuous?+
With hear, use the Present Simple: I don't hear, Do you hear…? With an action verb, the Present Continuous works like this: I'm not sleeping, Are you sleeping?
What is the -ing form of hear?+
The -ing form of hear is hearing. You just add -ing: hear → hearing. You often see it after a preposition: without hearing.
Related pages: hear 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/hear/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 hear are coming soon.