Present Continuous Tense Structure
We make the
present continuous tense with the continuous form, also known as the -ing
form of the main verb after the auxiliary verb is, am, and are.
Positive Sentences
Structure: Subject + is/am/are (Verb1) +ing +
Object
Examples
- I am constantly losing weight this year.
- The baby is getting better.
- She is visiting her relatives.
- Ali is sleeping with the window open tonight.
- I am studying English grammar.
- You are heading to the park.
- They are playing cricket.
- The economy is getting better these years.
- She is losing her precious time at this job.
- This man is always finding fault with the machine.
Negative Sentences
The present
continuous negative is formed by inserting the word not between the be
verb and main verb. It describes what is not currently happening. The
auxiliary verbs 'is and am are often contracted with not
as 'isn't and aren't.
Structure: Subject + is/am/are + not + (Verb1)
+ing + Object
Examples
- She isn't losing any weight in this health program.
- He is not riding a bike.
- You are not swimming in the sea.
- They are not going to school today.
- The number of uneducated people isn't rising in Pakistan.
- They aren't fighting for human rights.
- They are not learning to handle their problems as a team.
- The children aren't changing their attitude to studies.
Interrogative Sentences
To form the
interrogative sentences in the present continuous tense, invert the be verb (is,
am, are) and the subject.
Structure: Is/am/are + Subject + (Verb1) +ing
+ Object
Examples
- Is she arriving tomorrow?
- Is it still raining outside?
- Am I studying English grammar?
- Are They playing cricket?
- Are you buying a new shirt?
- Is the hurricane coming for the ocean?
Interrogative
sentences in the present continuous tense can also be formed with wh-questions.
To create interrogative sentences, start with wh-words, i.e., who, which, when,
etc., then add the auxiliary verb (is, am, are), then subject, then the main
verb in the present participle form.
Examples
- What is she doing right now?
- When is he arriving?
- When are they going on a picnic this week?
- How are they studying?
- Where is he living?
- Why is he studying here?
- Why isn't she doing her homework?
Negative Interrogative Sentences
The negative
interrogative is formed by inverting the auxiliary verb and the subject and
then adding the word, not after the subject.
Structure: is/am/are + Subject + not + (Verb1)
+ing + Object
Examples
- Are you not studying anymore?
- The children want to play outside. Isn't it raining?
- Why are they not coming today?
- Is she not preparing for her exam this
week?
- Is he not washing the clothes?
Uses of the Present Continuous Tense
Present
continuous tense is used for an ongoing action at the time of speaking.
- They are playing cricket. (now at the time of speaking)
- He is studying. (now)
- We are reading an article about machine learning.
Present
continuous tense is also used for a temporary action that is not happening at
the time when someone speaks.
- He is arriving tomorrow.
- I am visiting his house tonight.
It is sometimes
used for future action or a definite arrangement in the near future.
Examples
- He is arriving the following Monday. (This means his arrival is a part of a fixed timetable in the near future; therefore, we use present continuous tense for this action)
- She is going to school tomorrow.
- He is going to go to New York the following Monday. (future simple tense)
- He is going to New York the following Monday. (present continuous)
- Is he doing anything tomorrow?
- I am seeing my friend tomorrow.
- I am not going on holiday tomorrow.
- They have arranged everything. They are spending the next summer holiday in London.
- Our school team is taking part in the cricket tournament next year.
Both sentences
express a future plan. It should be noticed that the present continuous tense
isn't used for all future actions; it only be used for activities we have
planned.
To emphasize an
ongoing action, we often use time expressions like still, currently,
at present or presently, at the moment, while and now.
These expressions help to denote continuous present.
Examples
- He is having lunch now.
- I am studying mathematics at the moment.
In some cases,
we use either present simple or present continuous to describe something that
we regularly do at a specific time.
- She usually leaves the office early in the evening.
- She is usually leaving the office early in the evening.
Some verbs
sometimes do not use in the continuous form; such verbs are called stative
verbs.
Stative verbs
include Verbs of perception, emotion,
thinking Process, verbs showing Possession, etc. See the list of
some common stative verbs in the present simple tense
We use present simple tense instead of present continuous tense for these verbs even
if the action is happening right now.
Read the
following examples carefully.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| He is liking me. | He likes me. |
| She is not hating him. | She does not hate him. |
| I am owning this car. | I own this car. |
| She is wanting to go home. | She wants to go home. |
When the
meaning is changed, the stative verbs are also used in continuous form as well.
For example, the stative meaning of the verb think is believed.
Examples
- She thinks (believes) that mathematics is complicated for most learners.
- I think (believes) he will come late.
- The verb think may use as an action verb.
Further Examples of Present Continuous Tense
- She is looking exhausted.
- We are living in the US.
- He isn't playing the piano.
- They are learning English at school.
- Are the crops growing well?
- She is still talking to her friend on the phone.
- We aren't working on the farm this morning.
- He is leaving tomorrow.
- The garden measures 200 square feet, but we are measuring it again to make sure.
- Why are you being so difficult?
- Why isn't she doing her homework?
- When are they taking children to the zoo?
- We are building a new school.
Difference Between Present Simple and Present Continuous
The following examples describe the
difference between the simple present and the present continuous tenses. Here
you'll notice verbs that express actions can be used in simple as well as in continuous
form.
- Ahmad plays the guitar.
- Ahmad is playing the guitar.
The first sentence states a general
fact, i.e., Ahmad knows how to play the guitar, or he often plays the guitar.
The second sentence describes what is happening right now.
- Your brother tells lies. (a general fact)
- Your brother is lying to me. (what he is doing now)
- I read every day.
- I am reading every day.
- It does not rain on the moon.
- It isn't raining outside.
- He has two sisters.
- He is having a bath.
- She usually wears a black shirt.
- She is wearing a black shirt.
- I read novels every day.
- I am reading a novel right now.
- The baby looks/is looking ill.