The Present Continuous tense
The Present Continuous Tense:
The affirmative form:
of the Present Continuous Tense is formed by using the present tense of the auxiliary verb to be (am, is, are) followed by the present participle (verb + ing) of the main verb.
Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + ing
Examples: I am studying English.
She is eating lunch.
They are playing soccer.
The Negative Form:
is formed by using the present tense of the auxiliary verb to be (am, is, are), followed by the word not, and then the present participle (verb + ing) of the main verb.
Subject + auxiliary verb + not + main verb + ing
Examples: I am not studying math right now.
She is not eating meat.
They are not playing basketball.
The Question Form:
is formed by using the present tense of the auxiliary verb to be (am, is, are), followed by the subject, and then the present participle (verb + ing) of the main verb.
Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + ing
Examples: Am I studying English?
Is she eating lunch?
Are they playing soccer?
Note that in the question form, the subject and auxiliary verb are inverted.
Additionally, for yes-or-no questions, we can simply answer – Yes, I am, or no, I am not, to affirm or negate the statement in question.
Adverbs and words with the present continuous:
Some adverbs and words that are commonly used with the Present Continuous Tense:
Now: Used to emphasise that the action is happening at the moment of speaking.
Example: I am studying now.
Currently: Used to indicate an ongoing situation.
Example: He is currently living in New York.
At the moment: similar to now, used to emphasise that the action is happening currently.
Example: She is working at the moment.
Right now: Another way to emphasise that the action is happening currently.
Example: They are playing basketball right now.
Today/tonight/this week/etc.: Used to indicate that the action is happening during a specific time period.
Example: We are meeting tonight.
All the time/constantly: used to describe an action that is happening repeatedly or habitually.
Example: He is constantly checking his phone.
Still/yet: Used to indicate that the action is ongoing and hasn’t finished yet.
Example: I am still working on my project.
Increasing/decreasing: used to describe a situation that is changing over time.
Example: The temperature is increasing.
Gradually: used to describe a slow and steady change.
Example: The sky is gradually turning dark.
These are just a few examples, and there are many more adverbs and words that can be used with the Present Continuous Tense depending on the context.
| Subject | Auxiliary Verb | Main Verb + ing | Example |
| I | am | Studying | I am studying English. |
| You | are | Playing | You are playing soccer. |
| He/She/It | is | Working | He is working on a project. |
| We | are | Eating | We are eating dinner. |
| They | are | Watching | They are watching a movie. |
Usage of Present Continuous Tense:
The Present Continuous Tense is used to talk about actions that are currently happening, ongoing, or in progress at the time of speaking.
Examples: I am watching a movie right now.
She is studying for her exams.
They are playing soccer in the park.
We are having dinner at the restaurant.
He is working on a new project at work.
The Present Continuous Tense can also be used to describe temporary or habitual actions, but in this case, it is often used with words such as usually, occasionally, or sometimes:
Examples: I’m usually working at this time.
She is occasionally visiting her grandparents.
They are sometimes playing video games together.
We are usually having dinner at home.
He is occasionally traveling for work.
The Present Continuous Tense and the Future Continuous Tense for the future:
The Present Continuous Tense and the Future Continuous Tense are both used to talk about actions or events that will happen in the future.
However, they have different nuances and are used in different contexts.
The Present Continuous Tense is used to talk about future events that have already been planned or arranged. It emphasises the idea that the event is already scheduled and will definitely happen.
Example: I am flying to Paris next week.
In this sentence, the speaker has already booked a flight, and the trip is a definite plan.
The Future Continuous Tense, on the other hand, is used to talk about actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
Example: I will be studying all day tomorrow.
In this sentence, the speaker is emphasising that they will be studying during the entire day tomorrow, rather than at a specific time.
So, while both tenses can be used to talk about future events, the Present Continuous Tense is more commonly used to talk about scheduled or planned events, while the Future Continuous Tense is more commonly used to talk about actions in progress at a specific time in the future.
The Present Continuous tense and to be going to construction:
The Present Continuous Tense is not typically used to express intention in the construction to be going to.
The construction to be going to is typically used to express future plans or intentions, and is formed by using the present tense of the verb to be (am, is, or are) followed by going to and the base form of the main verb.
Example: I am going to study for my exam tomorrow.
The Present Continuous Tense, on the other hand, is used to talk about actions or events that are happening at the present moment or that are ongoing in the present.
It is formed by using the present tense of the verb to be (am/is/are), followed by the present participle (ing form) of the main verb.
Example: I am studying for my exam right now.
While the Present Continuous Tense can be used to talk about future events that have already been planned or arranged, it is not typically used to express intentions in the same way that to be going to is used.
In general, to be going to is a more common construction for expressing future intentions.
The Present Continuous and the verb to go:
Using the verb to go with the Present Continuous Tense is a colloquial way of expressing a future event that is beyond human control, particularly when referring to inanimate objects or forces of nature.
In this case, the verb to go is used as an auxiliary verb, similar to how to be is used in the Present Continuous Tense.
Example: In the sentence The sea is going to do you good,
The phrase going to do is a colloquial way of expressing that the sea will have a positive effect on the speaker’s health.
The use of going to do emphasises that this effect is inevitable and beyond the speaker’s control, as it is determined by the natural properties of the sea.
This construction is often used with other natural phenomena or inanimate objects that have a significant impact on human life, such as when the weather is going to be bad or the stock market is going to crash.
It is important to note that this construction is informal and should be used with care in more formal or academic writing.
The Present Continuous tense with the passive voice:
The infinitive after the Present Continuous Tense with the verb to go can be used in the passive voice, but it is relatively uncommon.
The passive voice of this construction is formed by using the Present Continuous Tense of to be (am, is, or are) followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Example: in the sentence The project is going to be completed next month,
The passive voice is formed by using is going to be as the auxiliary verb, followed by the past participle completed.
This construction emphasises that the completion of the project is already scheduled or planned, and is beyond the control of the speaker.
However, it is more common to use the active voice in this construction, such as in the sentence We are going to complete the project next month.
The common situations where the Present Continuous Tense is used:
| Usage | Example |
| Actions in progress | She is studying for her exam. |
| Temporary actions | I am living in Paris for a few months. |
| Planned future actions | They are going on vacation next week. |
| Changing or developing situations | The weather is getting warmer. |
| Annoying or repeated actions | He is always interrupting me. |
| Emphasising the current moment | I am feeling great right now. |
It’s important to note that these are not the only situations where the Present Continuous Tense can be used, but they are some of the most common.
The Present Continuous Tense is a versatile tense that can be used to describe a variety of ongoing or developing situations in the present.
Click here The Present Continuous tense
Click here The Future Indefinite in the Past
Click here The Future Indefinite tense ( the Future Simple)
Click here The Past Indefinite Tense ( The Past Simple)
Click here The Present Indefinite Tense (the Present Simple)
Click here The Indicative Mood – the Active Voice
Click here What is the Mood of a Verb?