The verb to overtake · Conjugation
Present Continuous of overtake
The answer: am / is / are overtaking
A1
An action happening now, at the moment of speaking.
Quick answer
The Present Continuous of the verb to overtake is am / is / are overtaking.
Example: I am overtaking the bus right now.
Full conjugation in the Present Continuous
| Pronoun | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am overtaking | I'm overtaking |
| You | are overtaking | You're overtaking |
| He / She / It | is overtaking | He's / She's / It's overtaking |
| We | are overtaking | We're overtaking |
| You (pl.) | are overtaking | You're overtaking |
| They | are overtaking | They're overtaking |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. She overtaking ❌
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 overtaking, I am overtaking. Without -ing, it is wrong too: she is overtake ❌.
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 overtake: I overtake for a habit, I am overtaking for right now.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate overtake in the Present Continuous?+
Use am, is or are (the present of be) + the -ing form overtaking. Use am with I, is with he, she and it, and are with you, we and they. For example: I am overtaking, she is overtaking, they are overtaking. In speech, you usually say I'm, she's, they're.
When do you use the Present Continuous of overtake?+
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 overtake and I am overtaking?+
I overtake is the Present Simple: a habit or a fact. I am overtaking 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 overtake in the Present Continuous?+
Negative: add not after am, is or are: I'm not overtaking, she isn't overtaking, they aren't overtaking. Question: put am, is or are before the subject: Are you overtaking…?, Is she overtaking…? Do not add do: Do you are overtaking? is wrong.
What is the -ing form of overtake?+
The -ing form of overtake is overtaking. Verbs that end in a silent -e lose the -e before -ing: overtake → overtaking (like make → making). You also use it in the Past Continuous (I was overtaking) and after a preposition (before overtaking).
Related pages: overtake 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/overtake/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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