What is the Present Continuous?

The Present Continuous tense (also called Present Progressive) is used to talk about actions happening now or around now.

Form:
[am/is/are] + [verb + -ing]

This tense is common in spoken English, and it helps learners describe what is happening at the moment, temporary actions, or future arrangements.

Structure and Rules

Spelling Rules for –ING:

• play → playing (just add -ing)
• run → running (double the consonant)
• make → making (drop the final e)
• lie → lying (change ie to y)

When Do We Use the Present Continuous?

1. Actions happening now (at the moment of speaking)

“I’m talking to you right now.”

2. Temporary actions

“She’s staying with her cousin this week.”

3. Changing or developing situations

“The weather is getting colder.”

4. Future arrangements (with time reference)

“I’m meeting my teacher at 4 pm.”

When NOT to Use It

We usually don’t use the Present Continuous with stative verbs, like:

• know, like, love, hate, believe, understand, want, need

Use Present Simple instead:
“I know the answer.”
Not: “I’m knowing the answer.”

Present Continuous – CEFR-Level Examples

A1 – Basic

• “I am eating pizza.”
• “She is listening to music.”
• “We are playing in the park.”

A2 – Elementary

• “He is studying English this month.”
• “They are watching a movie now.”
• “I am not working today.”

B1 – Intermediate

• “My parents are visiting us next weekend.”
• “The company is expanding its services.”
• “More people are choosing to work from home.”

Common Questions with Present Continuous

Present Continuous in Short

• Used for actions in progress, temporary situations, or future plans.
• Always needs the verb “to be” + verb ending in -ing.

Present Continuous – Interactive Activity

Part 1 – Complete the sentences using the Present Continuous

Write the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. She _______________ (watch) a movie right now.
2. They _______________ (not / play) football today.
3. What _______________ you _______________ (do)?
4. I _______________ (study) for my test.
5. We _______________ (have) lunch at the moment.

Part 2 – Error correction

Find and correct the mistakes in the sentences.

1. She watching TV now.
2. We is go to the mall.
3. I am plays the guitar.
4. They are studies English.
5. He aren’t working today.

💬 Part 3 – What are they doing?

Look at the names and write what they are doing.

Answer Key

Part 1

1. is watching
2. are not playing
3. are / doing
4. am studying
5. are having

Part 2

1. She is watching TV now.
2. We are going to the mall.
3. I am playing the guitar.
4. They are studying English.
5. He isn’t working today.

Part 3

1. John is cooking.
2. Sara is reading.
3. Paul isn’t sleeping.
4. You are writing.
5. We are playing the guitar.