The verb to overcome · Conjugation
Present Continuous of overcome
The answer: am / is / are overcoming
A1
An action happening now, at the moment of speaking.
Quick answer
The Present Continuous of the verb to overcome is am / is / are overcoming.
Example: I am overcoming the problem right now.
Full conjugation in the Present Continuous
| Pronoun | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am overcoming | I'm overcoming |
| You | are overcoming | You're overcoming |
| He / She / It | is overcoming | He's / She's / It's overcoming |
| We | are overcoming | We're overcoming |
| You (pl.) | are overcoming | You're overcoming |
| They | are overcoming | They're overcoming |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. She overcoming ❌
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 overcoming, I am overcoming.
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 overcome: I overcome for a habit, I am overcoming for right now.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate overcome in the Present Continuous?+
Use am, is or are (the present of be) + the -ing form overcoming. Use am with I, is with he, she and it, and are with you, we and they. For example: I am overcoming, she is overcoming, they are overcoming. In speech, you usually say I'm, she's, they're.
When do you use the Present Continuous of overcome?+
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 overcome and I am overcoming?+
I overcome is the Present Simple: a habit or a fact. I am overcoming 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 overcome in the Present Continuous?+
Negative: add not after am, is or are: I'm not overcoming, she isn't overcoming, they aren't overcoming. Question: put am, is or are before the subject: Are you overcoming…?, Is she overcoming…? Do not add do: Do you are overcoming? is wrong.
What is the -ing form of overcome?+
The -ing form of overcome is overcoming. Verbs that end in a silent -e lose the -e before -ing: overcome → overcoming (like make → making). You also use it in the Past Continuous (I was overcoming) and after a preposition (before overcoming).
Related pages: overcome 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/overcome/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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