The present continuous, also called the present progressive, shows that an action is in progress: it started before now, and it is not finished yet. We use it for what is happening while we speak, and also for things happening around now, like a course this month or a temporary job.
The form has two parts: am, is or are, and a main verb with -ing. Learners often forget the first part (She cooking) or use the -ing form with verbs that describe states, such as know or want. Below you will find the form, the main uses and the difference from the present simple.
How to form the present continuous
Use am with I, is with he, she and it, and are with you, we and they. Then add the main verb with -ing.
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | subject + am/is/are + verb-ing | I'm cooking dinner. She is talking on the phone. |
| Negative | subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing | I'm not sleeping. They aren't listening. |
| Question | Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing? | Are you working today? Is it raining? |
| Short answers | Yes, subject + am/is/are. / No, subject + 'm not/isn't/aren't. | Yes, I am. No, it isn't. |
- Contractions: I'm, you're, we're, they're, he's, she's, it's; isn't, aren't. For I, the negative is I'm not (there is no amn't in standard English).
- Do not contract positive short answers: Yes, I am (not Yes, I'm); Yes, she is (not Yes, she's).
- Spelling of -ing: most verbs just add -ing (read → reading, play → playing). A silent -e at the end drops (make → making, write → writing), and -ie changes to -y (lie → lying, die → dying).
- Double the last consonant when a one-syllable verb ends in one vowel + one consonant (sit → sitting, run → running, stop → stopping), but not with w, x or y (snow → snowing, fix → fixing). A few verbs ending in -l are spelled differently in the US and the UK: American English writes traveling and canceling, British English travelling and cancelling.
- State verbs such as like, love, want, need, know, understand, believe and belong are not usually used in the continuous: I want a coffee (not I'm wanting a coffee).
When to use the present continuous
1. Actions happening now
Use it for something in progress at the moment of speaking. Words like now, right now, Look! and Listen! often show this.
- Please be quiet. The baby is sleeping.
- I'm talking on the phone. Can I call you back?
- Look! It's snowing.
2. Actions in progress around now
The action is happening in this period of time, even if you are not doing it at the exact moment you speak.
- I'm reading a really good book at the moment.
- She's learning to drive.
- We're painting the kitchen this week.
3. Temporary situations
Use it for situations that are true now but will not last a long time. For permanent situations, use the present simple.
- My cousin is staying with us until Friday.
- I'm working from home this month.
- He's living with his parents while he looks for an apartment.
4. Changing situations
Use it with verbs like get, become, change, grow and improve to describe a situation that is changing now.
- Your English is getting better and better.
- The days are getting longer.
- Prices are going up again.
5. Future plans and arrangements
Use it for plans that are already fixed, often with other people, such as meetings, trips and parties. Say when (tomorrow, on Friday, next week) so the future meaning is clear.
- I'm meeting Sara for lunch tomorrow.
- We're flying to Rome on Saturday.
- What are you doing this weekend?
Words that often go with the present continuous
- now
- right now
- at the moment
- currently
- today
- this week
- this month
- these days
- still
- Look!
- Listen!
- tonight
- tomorrow
These words are clues, not rules. State verbs stay in the present simple even with now (I know the answer now), and time words like tomorrow show a future plan (I'm leaving tomorrow).
Examples
Positive
- I'm writing an email to my teacher.
- The children are playing in the park.
- She's wearing a red coat today.
- We're having dinner at the moment.
Negative
- I'm not watching TV, so you can turn it off.
- He isn't working today. He's sick.
- They aren't listening to the teacher.
- It isn't raining now, so let's go for a walk.
Questions
- What are you doing?
- Is she sleeping?
- Why are they laughing?
- Are you coming to the party on Saturday?
Present continuous or present simple?
Use the present continuous for actions in progress now or around now and for temporary situations. Use the present simple for habits, facts and permanent situations. Some verbs, like have, even change their meaning.
| Present continuous | Present simple |
|---|---|
| What are you doing? (at this moment) | What do you do? (What is your job?) |
| It's raining, so take an umbrella. (now) | It rains a lot here in April. (in general) |
| They're staying in a hotel this week. (temporary) | They live in a big house in Chicago. (permanent) |
| She's having breakfast. (have = eat: an action) | She has two brothers. (have = a state, not an action) |
Common mistakes
- WrongShe cooking dinner now.RightShe is cooking dinner now.
The present continuous needs am, is or are before the -ing form.
- WrongI'm go to the gym now.RightI'm going to the gym now.
After am, is or are, use the -ing form of the main verb, not the base form.
- WrongI am knowing the answer.RightI know the answer.
Know is a state verb, so it is not normally used in the continuous form.
- WrongAre you understand me?RightDo you understand me?
Understand is a state verb that stays in the present simple, so the question uses do, not are.
- WrongWhere you are going?RightWhere are you going?
In questions, am, is or are comes before the subject.
- WrongHe is writting a letter.RightHe is writing a letter.
Write ends in a silent e, so drop the e and add -ing; the t does not double.
A call from the park
Examples of the present continuous are highlighted.
It's a warm Saturday morning, and Ali is calling his sister from the park. "What are you doing?" she asks. "I'm sitting on a bench near the lake," he says. "The sun is shining, and some children are feeding the ducks. A man is selling ice cream, but nobody is buying any, because it's only ten o'clock." His sister laughs. "Lucky you! I'm not relaxing at all. I'm cleaning the apartment, and the kids are watching cartoons instead of helping me. Are you coming for dinner tonight?" "Sure," Ali answers. "And I'm bringing dessert. Maybe ice cream!"
Present Continuous quiz
8 questions. Choose an answer to see if it is right and why.
Read texts that use the present continuous
Grammar sticks when you meet it again in real reading. These graded texts use this structure; each one has key words, audio and questions.
Present Continuous: questions and answers
When do we use the present continuous?
Use it for actions happening now (I'm eating), actions in progress around now (She's learning Spanish this year), temporary situations (We're staying in a hotel) and fixed plans for the future (I'm meeting Tom on Friday).
Present continuous or present simple: how do I choose?
Ask whether the action is a habit or a fact, or something in progress now. Habits, facts and permanent situations take the present simple (She walks to work every day); actions in progress and temporary situations take the present continuous (She's taking the bus today because it's raining).
Why can't I say "I am knowing"?
Know is a state verb: it describes a state of mind, not an action in progress. State verbs like know, like, want, need and understand are normally used in the simple form: I know, I want, I understand.
Can the present continuous talk about the future?
Yes. Use it for plans and arrangements that are already fixed, usually with a future time: We're having a party on Saturday. I'm starting a new job next month.
Is the present continuous the same as the present progressive?
Yes. Present continuous and present progressive are two names for the same tense, and you will see both in grammar books.