Practice
Present continuous: forms and examples
Your phone rings while you are cooking dinner. You can say, "I am cooking right now." The action is in progress, so English uses am plus a verb ending in -ing.
Form the present continuous and choose it when an action is happening around now, is temporary, or is part of a clear arrangement.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
They are waiting for the bus. /ðeɪ ɑr ˈweɪtɪŋ fɔr ðə bʌs/
The short answer
Use am, is, or are plus the -ing form for an action in progress or a temporary situation: I am studying, she is working, and they are waiting. Use the present simple instead for habits, routines, and permanent facts.
The neighbors are painting their kitchen this week.
Why it works: Are painting shows a temporary activity in progress during this week.
5 more examples
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I am writing an email to my supervisor.
The email is being written now, so the present continuous fits.
Not this:I
writean email to my supervisor every Monday. What changes: The present simple describes a regular Monday routine, not the action in progress now. -
Mina is staying with her aunt this month.
This living arrangement is temporary and connected to the present month.
Not this:Mina
stayswith her aunt every summer. What changes: The present simple describes a repeated arrangement each summer. -
The children are playing in the courtyard.
The activity is in progress at the time of speaking.
Not this:The children
playin the courtyard after school. What changes: The present simple describes their usual after-school activity. -
We are meeting the architect on Thursday morning.
The present continuous can describe a future meeting that has been arranged.
Not this:We
meetthe architect on Thursday mornings. What changes: The present simple suggests a regular schedule rather than one arranged meeting. -
He is not using the printer today.
Not comes after is, and using has the -ing form of use.
Not this:He
does not usethe printer at work. What changes: This sentence describes a general work habit, not a choice limited to today.
Read the full guide
First, ask whether the sentence is about an action in progress, a temporary situation, or a routine. If the action is happening now or during a limited period, use a form of be plus -ing. If it is a repeated habit or a general fact, the present simple usually fits better.
Build the form with be and -ing
The present continuous has two parts. Choose am, is, or are, then add the -ing form of the main verb. Both parts are needed: She is reading is complete, while She reading is not.
I am checking the schedule.
Am agrees with I, and checking names the action in progress.
Which form of be goes with they?
Use are: They are checking the schedule.
Describe what is happening now
Use the present continuous when you can picture an action happening while you speak. The action has started but has not finished. A phrase such as right now or at the moment often makes that meaning clear.
The barista is making two coffees at the moment.
The drinks are in the process of being made, so is making fits.
Is the action in progress at the time of speaking?
If it is, choose be plus the -ing form.
Separate temporary situations from routines
The present continuous also describes a situation that is limited in time. Compare I work in a hotel with I am working in a hotel this summer. The second sentence tells us that the job is temporary.
Our team is testing a new booking system this week.
This week limits the activity. It is not presented as the team's permanent routine.
Does the situation have a clear temporary limit?
Use the present continuous when the speaker presents it as temporary.
Use the present continuous for arrangements
A present continuous sentence can also point to a future arrangement. This use is common with meetings, travel, appointments, and social plans when the details are already decided. Add a future time expression so the listener can see that the event is later.
I am taking the early train tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow morning places the arranged trip in the future, even though the verb form is present continuous.
Is the future event an arrangement with a clear plan?
The present continuous can describe that arranged event.
Make negatives and questions
For a negative, put not after am, is, or are: We are not leaving yet. For a question, move am, is, or are before the subject: Are you leaving now? Keep the -ing form after the subject in both patterns.
Why is the manager speaking to the visitors?
Is comes before the subject the manager because this is a question.
Where does not go in a negative present continuous sentence?
Put not after am, is, or are: The manager is not speaking.
Spell the -ing form carefully
Most verbs simply add -ing: read becomes reading. Drop a final silent e before -ing: make becomes making. For a short stressed verb that ends in one vowel and one consonant, double the last consonant: run becomes running. Do not double the final consonant in open because the stress is on the first syllable.
The dog is running across the field.
Run becomes running because the final consonant doubles in this short stressed verb.
Which spelling is correct: making or makeing?
Use making. Drop the final silent e before adding -ing.
Before you go
Remember this
Use am, is, or are plus -ing when an action is happening now, when a situation is temporary, or when you describe an arranged future plan. Use the present simple for routines and general facts. Check the meaning first, then choose the form of be and the -ing verb.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Present continuous: forms and examples"
How do I form the present continuous?
Use am, is, or are with the -ing form of the main verb. Choose am with I, is with he, she, it, or a singular noun, and are with you, we, they, or a plural noun. For example, Mina is staying with her aunt this month.
I am writing an email to my supervisor.
When do I use the present continuous?
Use the present continuous for an action in progress, a temporary situation, or an arranged future event. The children are playing in the courtyard describes an action now. We are meeting the architect on Thursday morning describes a planned meeting.
I write an email to my supervisor every Monday.
What is the difference between present simple and present continuous?
Use the present simple for routines and general facts. Use the present continuous for an action happening now or for a temporary situation. I write an email every Monday is a routine, while I am writing an email to my supervisor describes the action in progress.
Mina is staying with her aunt this month.
How do I make a present continuous question or negative?
Put not after am, is, or are for a negative sentence. Move am, is, or are before the subject for a question. He is not using the printer today is negative. Why is the manager speaking to the visitors? is a question.
Mina stays with her aunt every summer.
Why do some verbs change before -ing?
Most verbs add -ing directly, but spelling rules apply to some verbs. Drop a final silent e in make to form making. Double the final consonant in a short stressed verb such as run to form running. Read stays reading because it does not need either change.
The children are playing in the courtyard.