Present continuous

When you use it

Use the present continuous for an action that is in progress at the moment of speaking, for a temporary situation around now (this week, this month, these days), and for a fixed arrangement in the near future. In all three cases the action has a visible beginning and a visible end. It is not a permanent fact and not a habit; for those you need the present simple. The name is a good reminder: the action continues while you talk about it.

How it is formed

The present continuous has two parts: the present form of be and the -ing form of the main verb. Both parts are required, and only be changes with the subject.

In speech and informal writing the short forms are normal: I'm working, she's working, they aren't working, he isn't working. A short answer repeats only be: Are you coming? Yes, I am. No, I'm not. Questions with a question word put the word first and then follow the same order: What are you doing? Where is Tom going?

The -ing form follows a few spelling rules.

The doubling rule matters in writing more than in speech: writing has one t, sitting has two. Verbs ending in -w, -x or -y never double: showing, fixing, playing.

Typical time expressions: now, right now, at the moment, today, this week, these days, still, tonight, tomorrow (for arrangements).

Examples

• Tom is cooking dinner, so the kitchen is busy.
• I am reading a long book about the sea this month.
• Anna is not listening to you; she is looking at her phone.
• Are you waiting for the bus?
• They are staying with friends until their flat is ready.
• The children are sleeping, so please speak quietly.
• We are meeting Tom at seven tomorrow.
• It is raining again.

The examples cover all three uses. Is cooking, are sleeping and is raining describe what is happening at this moment. Am reading and are staying describe a temporary situation that will end. Are meeting is an arrangement for tomorrow that is already fixed with the other person.

Common mistakes

• ✗ I reading a book now.
  ✓ I am reading a book now.
  Ukrainian and Russian express this with a single verb form, «я читаю», so learners often drop am / is / are. In English the auxiliary carries the person and the tense; without it the sentence is not complete.
• ✗ She is knowing the answer.
  ✓ She knows the answer.
  Verbs that describe states rather than activities (know, want, like, need, understand, believe, belong, mean) normally stay in the present simple even when the state is true right now. You can watch someone cooking; you cannot watch someone knowing.
• ✗ Where you are going?
  ✓ Where are you going?
  In Russian «Куда ты идёшь?» keeps the same word order as a statement, and intonation does the work. English questions move be in front of the subject, and the question word stays at the very beginning.
• ✗ I learn English this year, so I am busy.
  ✓ I am learning English this year, so I am busy.
  The Slavic imperfective present covers both a habit and a temporary activity, so «я вчу англійську» fits either. English separates them: a period that is happening around now, with an end in sight, takes the continuous.
• ✗ Tom is work in a bank this summer.
  ✓ Tom is working in a bank this summer.
  Learners sometimes remember be but forget -ing. The form needs both parts; is work is not a tense of English.

Try it