Present Continuous Tense - Usage and Examples

Present Continuous Tense – Usage and Examples

Table of Contents

The present continuous (also called present progressive) is a verb tense which is used to show that an ongoing action is happening now, either at the moment of speech or now in a larger sense. The present continuous can also be used to show that an action is going to take place in the near future.

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What is Present Continuous Tense?

The present continuous tense is one which is commonly used within the English language and often uses the -ing form of a verb, for example ‘she is running.’ We can see that the sentence is happening continuously in the present moment.

The present continuous verb tense, also known as the present progressive, is used to describe an action that is currently happening or may happen in the future.

The present continuous tense is typically used for the following four general cases:

To describe events that are happening at the current time
To discuss an event that is temporary in nature, will continue into the future, but end at a particular time
To list future plans
To describe a new pattern or a habit

This verb tense is formed with a variant of the verb to be + the present participle (verb form ending in -ing). These verbs can also take adverb modifiers to talk about an activity that is continuing into some future time (e.g. in one hour’, this Fall’). Additionally, present continuous verb forms are most commonly going to be found in the wild using dynamic verbs’ that describe:

an activity (e.g. learn, listen, read)
a process (e.g. change, grow, shrink)
a bodily sensation (e.g. ache, feel, hurt)
a transitional event (e.g. arrive, leave)
a momentary occurrence (e.g. hit, jump, kick).

In the next section are ten examples to demonstrate the various use cases described above. After that are several exercises to provide practice identifying the different forms of the present continuous verb tense. As always, a good way to continually reinforce this information is to try and identify this type of verb while reading and always, always, always keep a dictionary or google search window handy.

Present Continuous Tense – Formula

Subject + am/is/are + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence

However, there are other things to be aware of. You should also learn how sentences are constructed using the present tense of verbs when the verbs are positive, negative, interrogative, and negative interrogative.

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Using the Present Continuous Tense

We use the present continuous tense in the following situations:

to talk about actions and situations in progress at the moment of speaking. For example,

I’m reading a book.

She’s having dinner now.

to refer to an ongoing long-term action. It may not be happening in this precise moment, but it’s happening in this general period of time. For example,

They’re not working with us this year.

He’s studying Economics at university.

to talk about a planned event in the near future. For example,

They’re meeting the clients next Monday.

She’s not working next week.

to talk about situations that happen frequently and are annoying, usually combined with the adverb ‘always’. For example,

My brother is always leaving dirty clothes around the house.

Sally is always complaining about her job.

to talk about changing situations. For example,

She’s getting better and better at English because she practices a lot.

The weather is getting much warmer.

How do we form the present continuous?

We form the present continuous with the auxiliary verb “be” and the present participle form of the main verb. For the auxiliary verb “be” we use its present forms am, are and is:

am/are/is + present participle

The present participle form of all verbs ends in “ing”, and to make it we normally simply need to add “ing” to the base form of the verb. There are some exceptions though:

Verb	Rule	Example
Most verbs ending with consonant + “e”	take off the “e”	hoping; taking
Most verbs ending in consonant + vowel + consonant	double the last consonant	batting; referring; swimming
Verbs ending in consonant + vowel + consonant where the last consonant is “w”, “x” or “y”	don’t double the last consonant	blowing; flexing
Verbs ending in “ie”	change the “ie” to “y”	dying; lying
Verbs ending in “c”	add “k”	panicking

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Affirmative sentences in the Present Continuous

To make affirmative sentences in the present continuous we use the subject followed by the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb ‘to be’ and the main verb in the -ing form.

Subject + am/is/are + verb +ing

Examples:

I’m doing my homework.
My sister’s sitting on the sofa.
They’re riding their bikes.

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Negative sentences in the Present Continuous

To make negative sentences in the present continuous, we simply change the auxiliary verb ‘to be’ from positive to negative.

Subject + am/is/are not + verb +ing

Examples:

I’m not doing my homework.
My sister’s not sitting on the sofa.
They’re not riding their bikes.

Questions in the Present Continuous

To make questions in the present continuous you invert the subject and the auxiliary verb ‘to be’. So the structure is:

Am/is/are + subject + verb +ing

Examples:

Are you doing your homework?
Is your sister sitting on the sofa?
Are they riding their bikes?

Verbs NOT used in the Present Continuous

There are many verbs that cannot be used in the Present Continuous tense. These are verbs that are not actions but describe states or preferences. For these verbs we use the present simple. For example:

I’m hating you. WRONG

I hate you. CORRECT

He’s loving the cake. WRONG

He loves the cake. CORRECT

Here are examples of preference verbs that cannot be used in the present continuous tense:

to love
to like
to hate
to dislike
to care
to mind
to want
to wish
to prefer
to appreciate

Here are some state verbs that are also not used in the present continuous:

to know
to remember
to understand
to forget

This rule also applies to the five senses:

to feel
to hear
to see
to smell
to taste

And with verbs that express an idea or belief:

to think
to suppose
to believe
to feel
to doubt
to assume
to consider

Other verbs that are only used in the present simple tense are:

to seem
to look (resemble)
to be
to have (for possession)

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Spelling changes present continuous

Be careful as there are also some spelling changes:

Spelling: Verbs that end with one -e

For verbs that end with one -e, drop the -e and add -ing. Note that these verbs the -e sound at the end is silent. (e.g., believe, bake, take, love).

believe — believing
bake — baking
love — loving
take — taking
choke — choking
make — making
have — having

But:

With verbs ending with a long -e sound, add -ing as normal:

see — seeing
be — being
flee — fleeing
agree — agreeing

Spelling: Short one-syllable verbs ending in CVC

If the verb has one syllable and ends with CVC(a consonant + vowel + consonant), we double the final consonant before adding the -ing ending:

sit — sitting
fit — fitting
get — getting
plan — planning
run — running
put — putting
stop — stopping
swim — swimming

Spelling: verbs ending in w, x and y

Notice these verbs end in CVC (consonant vowel consonant). However, do not double the consonant for verbs that end in w, x or y.

throw — throwing
blow — blowing
show — showing
play — playing
flex — flexing

Spelling: Two or more syllable verbs

When verbs ending in ending in CVC (consonant vowel consonant) have two or more syllables, double the last consonant if the last syllable is stressed.

begin — beginning (be / GIN = the last syllable is stressed)
control — controlling (con / TROL = the last syllable is stressed)
forget — forgetting
upset — upsetting
regret — regretting
refer — referring
commit — committing

However, when the last syllable is not stressed, just add -ing as usual.

benefit — benefiting ( be / NE / fit = second syllable is stressed not the last)
happen — happening (HAPP / en = first syllable is stressed not the last)
open — opening
listen — listening
deliver — delivering

Spelling: Verbs ending in -ie

If a verb ends in -ie change ‘ie’ to ‘y’ then add -ing.

die — dying
lie — lying
tie — tying

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Examples of Use of Present Continuous Tense

1. For an action going on at the time of speaking.

She is singing.(वह गा रही है।)
The boys are playing hockey. (लड़के हॉकी खेल रहे हैं।)

2. For a temporary action that may not be actually happening at the time of speaking.

I am reading ‘David Copperfield’ (but I am not reading at this moment).(मैं ‘डेविड कॉपरफील्ड’ पढ़ रहा हूँ)

3. For an action that has already been arranged to take place in the near future.

I am going to the cinema tonight. (मैं आज रात सिनेमा जा रहा हूं।)
My uncle is arriving tomorrow. ( मेरे चाचा कल आ रहे हैं।)

Exercise 1:

Translate Present Continuous Tense sentences from English to Hindi
Exercise	Answer
He is crying.	वह रो रहा है।
She is talking to his friend.	वह अपने दोस्त से बात कर रही है।
The cute baby is sleeping in his crib.	प्यारा बच्चा अपने पालने में सो रहा है।
We are visiting the school in the afternoon.	हम दोपहर में स्कूल जा रहे हैं।
Akbar is sitting in a chair.	अकबर एक कुर्सी पर बैठा है।
You are not watching the series.	आप श्रृंखला नहीं देख रहे हैं।
Rose is reading a novel.	गुलाब एक उपन्यास पढ़ रहा है।
She is not going to the party tonight.	वह आज रात पार्टी में नहीं जा रही है।
He is meeting his friends after a long time.	वह लंबे समय के बाद अपने दोस्तों से मिल रहे हैं।
Are you visiting your cousin’s sister this weekend?	क्या आप इस सप्ताह के अंत में अपने चचेरे भाई की बहन से मिलने जा रहे हैं?

Exercise 2:

Translate Present Continuous Tense sentences from English to Hindi
Exercise	Answers
वे मजदूर ठेले को धक्का दे रहे हैं।	Those laborers are pushing the cart.
वह बॉस महिला की चापलूसी कर रहा है।	He is flattering the boss lady.
वह गेहूं का आटा गूंथ रही है।	She is kneading the wheat flour.
वह मालदीव में छुट्टियां बिता रहे हैं।	He is spending the holidays in the Maldives.
मैं इसी महीने गणित की परीक्षा दे रहा हूं।	I am taking the Maths examination this month.
जॉनी शिक्षा पर एक निबंध लिख रहे हैं।	Johny is writing an essay on education.
जॉन पीटर जॉगिंग ट्रैक पर दौड़ रहे हैं।	John Peter is running on the jogging track.
वह अपना पसंदीदा उपन्यास पढ़ रहा है।	He is reading his favourite novel.
पुलिस मामले में निवेश कर रही है।	The police are investing in the case.
वे अभी क्रिकेट खेल रहे हैं	They are playing cricket right now.

Differences between the Present Continuous and the Present Simple

Remember: in English grammar we use the simple aspect (ie the Present Simple or Past Simple) for situations that are always true, and for routines or permanent situations. We use the continuous aspect (ie the Present Continuous or Past Continuous) for situations that are temporary, or changing.

I live in France. (Present Simple: it is my permanent home)
I’m staying in a small hotel during the conference. (Present Continuous: it is a temporary place to stay for a limited period of time)

People live a long time in Japan. (Present Simple: a true situation / fact.)
People are living longer. ((Present Continuous: a trend that is happening now.)

When you see words and phrases such as at the moment, this week; use the present continuous. When you see words and phrases such as always, never, from time to time; use the present simple tense.

“We’re working on a difficult project at the moment.”
“He’s doing some health and safety training this week.”

“He always eats fish and chips on Fridays.”
“They never watch TV after dinner.”
“She goes to London on business trips from time to time.”

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Present Continuous Tense- FAQs

Q1. What is Present Continuous Tense?

Ans. According to the Cambridge Dictionary defines the Present Continuous Tense is “the verb form that is used for actions or events that are happening in the current time”. According to Collins Dictionary, the Present Continuous Tense is defined as “a verb form that consists of helping verb in the present tense then it is followed by a present participle and used especially to indicate that a present action or event is in progress, being repeated, or of a temporary nature or to express the future.”

Q2. Give some examples of Present Continuous Tense?

Ans. Some of the examples of Present Continuous tense are- Students are going to school, The girls are playing in the park, Rupali is crying out loud, It is raining now, I am cooking biryani for the lunch, Miss Angela is teaching in the class.

Q3. What is the rule of Present Continuous Tense?

Ans. The rule of Present Continuous tense is, Subject + Helping Verb(am/is/are) + Main verb + ing + the rest of the sentence.

Q4. What are the uses of Present Continuous Tense?

Ans. Some of the uses of the Present Continuous Tense are- For an action going on at the time of speaking, For a temporary action that may not be actually happening at the time of speaking, For an action that has already been arranged to take place in the near future.

Q5. How to use the Present Continuous Tense?

Ans. The point to remember is that the Present Continuous Tense starts with the subject followed by helping verbs or auxiliary verb which consist of is/am/are then it is followed by the main verbs(which consist of the present participle, i.e. -ing) and finally it ends with an object.

Basic English Tenses	Mastering the Tenses in English
Future Tense	Tenses in English with Examples
English Grammar Learning Tips	Continuous Tense Examples
Simple Present Tense Examples	Present Continuous Tense
Learn English to Ace Your Interview	An English Pronunciation Guide

Present Continuous Tense – Usage and Examples