Present Continuous

Form Use Spelling Signal words Exercises

Form

Positive

Subject	Structure	Example
I	am + verb-ing	I am working now.
He / She / It	is + verb-ing	She is studying at the moment.
You / We / They	are + verb-ing	They are watching TV.

Contractions: I'm, he's/she's/it's, you're/we're/they're working

Negative

Subject	Structure	Example
I	am not + verb-ing	I am not working right now.
He / She / It	is not + verb-ing	He isn't coming.
You / We / They	are not + verb-ing	They aren't waiting.

Questions

Type	Structure	Example
Yes/No	Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?	Are you working now?
Wh-	Wh- + am/is/are + subject + verb-ing?	What are you doing?

Important: The verb BE changes with the subject. Always use the -ing form of the main verb — never the base form: "She is working" (NOT "She is work")

Use

Use	Examples
Action happening right now	Shh! The baby is sleeping. "What are you doing?" — "I'm watching a film."
Temporary situation (not permanent)	She is living with her parents this month. I am studying Spanish this year.
Changing or developing situation	The climate is getting warmer. Prices are rising quickly.
Fixed future arrangement (plans with people, times, places)	I am meeting Laura tonight at 8. We are flying to Rome next Friday.

Stative verbs: Some verbs are NOT normally used in the continuous: know, understand, like, love, hate, want, need, have (possession), believe, see, hear. We say "I know" — NOT "I am knowing".

Spelling rules for -ing

Rule	When	Example
Add -ing	Most verbs	work → working, play → playing
Drop -e, add -ing	Ends in silent -e	make → making, come → coming
Double consonant + -ing	Short vowel + single consonant (CVC)	run → running, sit → sitting, swim → swimming
-ie → -ying	Ends in -ie	lie → lying, die → dying

Signal words

These time expressions often go with the Present Continuous:

now right now at the moment at present currently today this week / month / year tonight Look! / Listen!