Present continuous

The present continuous is for actions happening now, at the moment of speaking: ⟦Look! It is raining.⟧ ⟦She is reading a book.⟧ We make it with ⟦am⟧, ⟦is⟧ or ⟦are⟧ and the ⟦-ing⟧ form of the verb.

Key facts

  • Form: ⟦I am⟧ / ⟦he is⟧ / ⟦they are⟧ + verb ⟦-ing⟧: ⟦We are playing.⟧
  • Spelling: most verbs add ⟦-ing⟧ (⟦read → reading⟧). A verb ending in ⟦e⟧ drops it (⟦write → writing⟧).
  • One vowel then one consonant at the end: double it (⟦swim → swimming⟧, ⟦sit → sitting⟧, ⟦run → running⟧).
  • Time words: ⟦now⟧, ⟦right now⟧, ⟦at the moment⟧, ⟦Look!⟧, ⟦Listen!⟧
  • Present simple or continuous? Habits and routines use the present simple (⟦He plays football every day.⟧); now uses the present continuous (⟦He is playing football now.⟧).
  • Questions and negatives: ⟦Are you listening?⟧ ⟦She isn't sleeping.⟧

Worked examples

Example 1

Complete: ⟦Listen! The baby ___ (cry).⟧

  1. ⟦Listen!⟧ tells us it is happening now: the present continuous.
  2. ⟦The baby⟧ is one person, so ⟦is⟧. ⟦cry⟧ + ⟦-ing⟧ = ⟦crying⟧.
  3. ⟦Listen! The baby is crying.⟧

Answer: ⟦is crying⟧

Example 2

Write the ⟦-ing⟧ form of ⟦make⟧ and ⟦stop⟧.

  1. ⟦make⟧ ends in ⟦e⟧: drop the ⟦e⟧ and add ⟦-ing⟧: ⟦making⟧.
  2. ⟦stop⟧ ends in one vowel and one consonant: double the ⟦p⟧: ⟦stopping⟧.

Answer: ⟦making⟧, ⟦stopping⟧

Example 3

Choose: ⟦My dad usually ___ to work, but today he ___ the bus.⟧ (⟦walks⟧ / ⟦is walking⟧; ⟦takes⟧ / ⟦is taking⟧)

  1. ⟦usually⟧ shows a habit: the present simple ⟦walks⟧.
  2. ⟦today⟧ is about now, not the usual: the present continuous ⟦is taking⟧.
  3. ⟦My dad usually walks to work, but today he is taking the bus.⟧

Answer: ⟦walks⟧ … ⟦is taking⟧

Example 4

Make a question: ⟦They are watching a film.⟧

  1. Put ⟦are⟧ before the subject ⟦they⟧.
  2. ⟦Are they watching a film?⟧

Answer: ⟦Are they watching a film?⟧