Present Continuous

Actions happening now or around now, and temporary situations

beginner

When to Use

•Actions happening right now: She is reading a book.
•Temporary situations: I am staying with friends this week.
•Changing or developing situations: The climate is getting warmer.
•Future arrangements with a set time: We are meeting at 7 pm.
•Annoying habits with always/constantly: He is always leaving the lights on.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing

Negative (-)

Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing

Question (?)

Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?

💡 Add -ing to the base verb. Drop final -e (make → making). Double final consonant after a stressed short vowel (sit → sitting).

Examples

✓They are watching a movie right now.

✗They watching a movie right now.

Present continuous needs the auxiliary verb (are).

✓She is cooking dinner this evening.

✗She cooks dinner this evening.

A planned arrangement uses present continuous, not present simple.

✓It is getting colder this week.

✗It gets colder this week.

Use present continuous for temporary or changing situations.

✓Are you working tomorrow?

✗Do you work tomorrow?

Questions use the auxiliary (are) before the subject.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Remember: am/is/are + verb-ing is mandatory.
• Use present continuous for actions around now or temporary situations.
• Check if the verb is stative; avoid -ing with stative verbs.
• For arrangements, add a time reference: tonight, tomorrow, at 6.

present-simple simple-vs-continuous 📝 tenses-beginner 📝 present-simple-quiz

Present Continuous

Actions happening now or around now, and temporary situations

beginner

When to Use

•Actions happening right now: She is reading a book.
•Temporary situations: I am staying with friends this week.
•Changing or developing situations: The climate is getting warmer.
•Future arrangements with a set time: We are meeting at 7 pm.
•Annoying habits with always/constantly: He is always leaving the lights on.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing

Negative (-)

Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing

Question (?)

Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?

💡 Add -ing to the base verb. Drop final -e (make → making). Double final consonant after a stressed short vowel (sit → sitting).

Examples

✓They are watching a movie right now.

✗They watching a movie right now.

Present continuous needs the auxiliary verb (are).

✓She is cooking dinner this evening.

✗She cooks dinner this evening.

A planned arrangement uses present continuous, not present simple.

✓It is getting colder this week.

✗It gets colder this week.

Use present continuous for temporary or changing situations.

✓Are you working tomorrow?

✗Do you work tomorrow?

Questions use the auxiliary (are) before the subject.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Remember: am/is/are + verb-ing is mandatory.
• Use present continuous for actions around now or temporary situations.
• Check if the verb is stative; avoid -ing with stative verbs.
• For arrangements, add a time reference: tonight, tomorrow, at 6.

present-simple simple-vs-continuous 📝 tenses-beginner 📝 present-simple-quiz

Present Continuous

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Present Continuous

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗He always is talking in class.

✗I am know the answer.

✗We meeting at 6.

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗He always is talking in class.

✗I am know the answer.

✗We meeting at 6.

💡 Practice Tips

Related