Present Continuous Tense
MAKE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Make present continuous using the present tense of be (is, am, are) + the base form of a verb with an -ing ending.
Verb + -ing spelling are unique.
USE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Use present continuous to talk about an action that is happening now or is ongoing and not completed.
Use present continuous to talk about an action that is temporary or a situation that is changing.
SPELLING OF VERBS ENDING IN -ING
If the verb: | Rule | Spelling |
---|---|---|
ends in a single -e | Drop the final -e; add -ing | write -> writing |
has one syllable with consonant-vowel-consonant
(except verbs ending in -w, -x, or -y) |
Double the consonant and add -ing
Do not double the final consonant |
sit -> sitting
swim -> swimming show -> showing play -> playing |
has more than one syllable, the last syllable = consonant-vowel-consonant and the stress is on the last syllable
If stress is not on the last syllable |
Double the final consonant add -ing
Do not double the final consonant |
begin -> beginning forget -> forgetting listen -> listening happen -> happening |
ends in -ie | Change the -ie to -y and add -ing | lie -> lying
die -> dying |
For all other verbs | Add -ing to the base form of the verb | talk -> talking
study -> studying do -> doing agree -> agreeing |
POSITIVE STATEMENTS
Subject | Be | Verb + -ing |
---|---|---|
I |
am |
working now. |
He
She It |
is |
playing tennis at the moment. |
We
You They |
are | watching TV right now. |
NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
Subject | Be + Not | Verb + -ing |
---|---|---|
I |
am not |
working now. |
He
She It |
is not | playing tennis at the moment. |
We
You They |
are not | watching TV right now. |
QUESTION STATEMENTS
Question | Subject | Verb + -ing | Answer |
---|---|---|---|
Am |
I |
working? | |
Is |
he she it |
watching TV? | Yes, he is.
No, he isn’t. |
Are |
we they you |
reading the story? | Yes, we are.
No, we aren’t. |
Information | Question | Be | Subject | Verb + -ing |
---|---|---|---|---|
Activity/Thing | What | am |
I |
doing? |
Time |
When What time |
is |
he she it |
going home? |
Place | Where | are |
we they you |
eating lunch? |
Reason | Why | am | I | studying English? |
Way | How | is |
he she it |
fixing the car? |
Frequency | How often | are |
we they you |
watching TV? |