We use the present continuous for many situations such as actions happening now, events in progress, temporary situations, actions in the near future and annoying habits.
Key words for the present continuous: now, right now, at the moment
Actions happening right now
- He’s walking to school.
- John is talking on the phone.
- I am planting flowers in my garden now.
Actions in progress
- They are studying at college to be lawyers. (They are in the process of becoming lawyers. It will take some years.)
- I’m painting my house. I will finish next week. (He’s still painting his house.).
Events in the near future
- Are you coming over tomorrow?
- We’re going to the park later.
Temporary situations
- She’s staying at a hotel for the weekend. (She will go back home soon.)
- I’m working an extra shift today. (They are only working an extra shift today)
Annoying habits
- John and Marie are always complaining.
- She is always gossiping about everyone.
We make the present continuous by adding +ing to the main verb. Look at the charts below to learn how to make sentences in the present continuous in the affirmative, negative and question forms.
Subject + verb to be + main verb+ ing
| Affirmative | ||
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Be | Verb + ing |
| I | am | talking. |
| You | are | talking. |
| We | are | talking. |
| They | are | talking. |
| He | is | talking. |
| She | is | talking. |
| It | is | talking. |
| Negative | ||
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Be + not | Verb + ing |
| I | am not | talking. |
| You | are not | talking. |
| We | are not | talking. |
| They | are not | talking. |
| He | is not | talking. |
| She | is not | talking. |
| It | is not | talking. |
| Question | ||
|---|---|---|
| Be | Subject | Verb + ing |
| Am | i | talking? |
| Are | You | talking? |
| Are | we | talking? |
| Are | they | talking? |
| Is | he | talking? |
| Is | she | talking? |
| Is | it | talking? |
Short answers
Are you talking on the phone?
| Yes, I am. | No, I’m not. |
| Yes, he/ she / it/ is. | No, he/ she / it isn’t. |
| Yes, you/ we /they are | No, you/ we/ they aren’t |
Contractions
Contractions are used to make the short form of the present continuous. Instead of say, “I am talking” you can say I’m talking.
| Affirmative | |
|---|---|
| I am | I’m talking. |
| You are | You’re talking. |
| We are | We’re talking. |
| They are | They’re talking. |
| He is | He’s talking. |
| She is | She’s talking. |
| It is | It’s talking. |
In this contraction example you contract the subject and the form to be.
| Negative | |
|---|---|
| I am | I’m not talking |
| You are not | You’re not talking. |
| We are | We’re not talking. |
| They are | They’re not talking. |
| He is | He’s not talking. |
| She is | She’s not talking. |
| It is | It’s not talking. |
| Negative | |
|---|---|
| I am | |
| You are not | You aren’t talking. |
| We are | We aren’t talking. |
| They are | They aren’t talking. |
| He is | He isn’t talking. |
| She is | She isn’t talking. |
| It is | It isn’t talking. |