The verb to know · Conjugation
Present Continuous of know
The answer: am / is / are knowing
A1
An action happening now, at the moment of speaking.
Quick answer
The Present Continuous of the verb to know is am / is / are knowing.
Example: I know the answer (not I am knowing the answer).
Full conjugation in the Present Continuous
| Pronoun | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am knowing | I'm knowing |
| You | are knowing | You're knowing |
| He / She / It | is knowing | He's / She's / It's knowing |
| We | are knowing | We're knowing |
| You (pl.) | are knowing | You're knowing |
| They | are knowing | They're knowing |
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 know is one of them: say I know.
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 know in the Present Continuous?+
The form is am, is or are + knowing. But know 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 know, not I am knowing.
When do you use the Present Continuous of know?+
Almost never. The verb know is a state verb. State verbs stay in the Present Simple, even for right now: I know, she knows, not I am knowing.
What is the difference between I know and I am knowing?+
With know, use I know for now and for always. I am knowing is not normal English, because know 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 know in the Present Continuous?+
With know, use the Present Simple: I don't know, Do you know…? With an action verb, the Present Continuous works like this: I'm not sleeping, Are you sleeping?
What is the -ing form of know?+
The -ing form of know is knowing. You just add -ing: know → knowing. You often see it after a preposition: without knowing.
Related pages: know 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/know/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 know are coming soon.