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