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Unit 21
Present Continuous
am / is / are + -ing
What is the Present Continuous?
The Present Continuous (also called Present Progressive) describes actions that are happening right now, at the moment of speaking, or actions that are temporary — in progress around the present time.
It is formed with am / is / are + verb + -ing.
Form
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing | She is reading a book. |
| Negative | Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing | They aren't watching TV. |
| Question | Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing? | Is he sleeping? |
| Short answer | Yes, I am. / No, she isn't. | Are you working? → Yes, I am. |
Spelling Rules for -ing
| Rule | Base verb | -ing form |
|---|---|---|
| Most verbs → just add -ing | read / eat / go / sleep | reading / eating / going / sleeping |
| Verb ends in -e → drop the e, add -ing | write / make / dance / have | writing / making / dancing / having |
| Short verb ends in consonant–vowel–consonant → double final consonant | sit / run / swim / get / stop | sitting / running / swimming / getting / stopping |
| Verb ends in -ie → change to y + -ing | lie / die / tie | lying / dying / tying |
Spelling: Two Exceptions to Doubling
- Don't double w, x, y: fix → fixing, play → playing, snow → snowing.
- In longer verbs, double only if the last syllable is stressed: beGIN → beginning, but VISit → visiting, LISten → listening, Open → opening.
When to Use It
| Use | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Right now | The action is happening at this very moment. | She is talking on the phone. |
| Temporary actions | Something happening around the present time, but not forever. | He is staying at a hotel this week. |
| Changing situations | Things that are developing or changing. | The weather is getting warmer. |
| Fixed future plans | Arranged events in the near future. | We are meeting them tomorrow. |
Signal Words
- These words and phrases often appear with the Present Continuous:
- now / right now — She is working right now.
- at the moment — I'm studying at the moment.
- currently — He is currently living in London.
- today — We are staying home today.
- this week / month / year — They are travelling this week.
- Look! / Listen! — Look! It is snowing!
Annotated Examples
Subject
Verb
Auxiliary
Object
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Hover over any word to see its role.
subjectIauxiliaryamverbeatingobjectlunchadverbright now.
↳ Affirmative — action happening at this moment.
subjectSheauxiliaryisadverbnotverbworkingadverbtoday.
↳ Negative — isn't working on this particular day.
auxiliaryAresubjecttheyverbwatchingtheobjectgame?
↳ Question — asking about a present-moment action.
subjectHeauxiliaryisverbstudyingadverbhardthisadverbsemester.
↳ Temporary — not a permanent situation.
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
| Present Simple | Present Continuous |
|---|---|
| Habits & routines: I drink coffee every morning. | Right now: I am drinking coffee. |
| General facts: She works in a hospital. | Temporary: She is working from home this week. |
| Always/usually/never: They never eat fast food. | At the moment: They are eating pizza right now. |
Stative Verbs — NOT Used in Continuous
Some verbs describe states (not actions) and are not normally used in the continuous form. These are called stative verbs.
Some of these verbs have an action meaning too, and then the continuous is fine: I'm looking at the photos. She's tasting the soup. We're having lunch.
| Category | Verbs | Correct form |
|---|---|---|
| Thinking / knowing | know, believe, understand, remember, forget | ❌ I am knowing → ✅ I know |
| Feeling / wanting | like, love, hate, want, need, prefer | ❌ She is liking it → ✅ She likes it |
| Senses | see, hear, smell, taste, seem, look (= seem) | ❌ It is seeming cold → ✅ It seems cold |
| Possession | have, own, belong, contain, include | ❌ He is having a car → ✅ He has a car |
Common Mistakes
She is work now.
→
She is working now.
Must add -ing to the main verb.
I am not knowing the answer.
→
I don't know the answer.
"Know" is a stative verb — no continuous form.
He is haveing a meeting.
→
He is having a meeting.
Drop the -e before adding -ing.
Are you work at the moment?
→
Are you working at the moment?
Questions also need the -ing form.
She is runing in the park.
→
She is running in the park.
Short CVC verb → double the consonant: run → running.
I am understanding you.
→
I understand you.
"Understand" is stative — even though Turkish says "anlıyorum".
He is visitting his aunt.
→
He is visiting his aunt.
"Visit" is stressed on the first syllable → no doubling.