Present Continuous

Form

The present continuous is formed with the verb to be (am, is, are) plus the -ing form of the main verb. For example, 'I am reading', 'she is cooking', 'they are playing'. To make a negative, add 'not' after to be (he is not working). To make a question, put to be before the subject (Are you listening?).

When to Use It

• For actions happening right now, such as 'She is talking on the phone.'
• For temporary situations around the present, such as 'I am staying with my aunt this week.'
• For changing or developing situations, such as 'The weather is getting colder.'
• For future arrangements that are already planned, such as 'We are meeting Tom tomorrow.'
• For repeated actions that annoy you with 'always', such as 'He is always losing his keys.'

Signal Words

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting the verb to be: write 'She is working', not 'She working'.
• Using stative verbs in the continuous: write 'I want it now', not 'I am wanting it now'.
• Spelling the -ing form incorrectly: write 'running' and 'making', not 'runing' or 'makeing'.