slug: present-continuous title: Present Continuous group: tenses order: 2 summary: An action happening right now or around this period of time. formula: S + am/is/are + V-ing
When to use it
Present continuous describes an action that is in progress at this moment or happening around the current period (even if not at the exact second of speaking).
They are building a new school on our street.
Also use it for fixed future plans: "I am meeting her tomorrow."
Form
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am eating | am not eating | am I eating? |
| He / She / It | is eating | is not eating | is he eating? |
| You / We / They | are eating | are not eating | are you eating? |
The -ing suffix is added to the base verb. For verbs ending in a silent -e (like make), drop the e before adding -ing (making).
Examples
- She is reading a book right now.
- We are not going out tonight — it is raining.
- Are you studying for the exam this week?
Common mistakes
- Using present continuous with stative verbs (know, believe, want, like, own). "I am knowing the answer" is wrong — say "I know the answer".
- Mixing up present simple and present continuous: "I cook dinner now" should be "I am cooking dinner now".