Present Continuous Tense: Definition & Useful Examples in English

Present continuous tense in English with present continuous examples! Learn the definition and how to form the present continuous tense with useful examples and ESL printable infographics.

Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Definition

The present continuous is a verb tense in which the action is on-going/still going on and hence continuous. The present continuous tense is used to talk about actions that are happening at this current moment.

Forming Present Continuous Tense

Positive Statements | Present Continuous

SUBJECT AM / ARE / IS VERB + ing

REST OF THE SENTENCE

I am watching television.
You are watching television.
He is watching television.
Tom is watching television
The boy is watching television.
She is watching television.
Anna is watching television.
The girl is watching television.
We are watching television.
You are watching television.
They are watching television.
The children are watching television.

Notice that we use:

  • ‘am’ with ‘I’,
  • ‘is’ with ‘He’ and ‘She’
  • ‘are’ with ‘You’, ‘We’ and ‘They’

The verb form remains the same for all subjects.

Negative Statements | Present Continuous

SUBJECT AM NOT / ARE NOT / IS NOT VERB + ing REST OF THE SENTENCE
I am not playing chess.
You are not playing chess.
He is not playing chess.
Tom is not playing chess.
The boy is not playing chess.
She is not playing chess.
Anna is not playing chess.
The girl is not playing chess.
We are not playing chess.
You are not playing chess.
They are not playing chess.
The men are not playing chess.

Notice that we use:

  • ‘am not’ with ‘I’,
  • ‘is not’ with ‘He’ and ‘She’
  • ‘are not’ with ‘You’, ‘We’ and ‘They’

The verb form remains the same for all subjects.

Interrogative Statements/Questions | Present Continuous

AM / ARE / IS SUBJECT VERB REST OF THE SENTENCE
Am I reading a book?
Are you reading a book?
Is he reading a book?
Is Tom reading a book?
Is the boy reading a book?
Is she reading a book?
Is Anna reading a book?
Is the girl reading a book?
Are we reading a book?
Are you reading a book?
Are they reading a book?
Are the men reading a book?

Notice the structure of the interrogative statements. We use:

  • ‘am’ with ‘I’,
  • ‘is’ with ‘He’ and ‘She’
  • ‘are’ with ‘You’, ‘We’ and ‘They’

The verb form remains the same for all subjects.

Present Continuous Chart

Present ContinuousPin

present continuous tensePin

present continuous tensePin

Present Continuous Quiz

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Moe Thet Ko
Moe Thet Ko
4 years ago

I know that Google is paradise.

aime
3 years ago
Reply to  Moe Thet Ko

tiene cosas que no

Silver White
Silver White
4 years ago

How do I download resources? I am specifically interested in resources relating continuous tenses to support my EALD learners. Thanks

Qaisara
Qaisara
4 years ago

🙂

Wilma Boateng
Wilma Boateng
4 years ago

the crowd was cheering for the players
 
the players were playing very well
 
please underline which is the helping verb and main verb in the above sentence.

Tanishka
4 years ago

Thank you for my help

kiran
kiran
4 years ago

yes i like your thoughts but you should make your explanation more clear

aime
3 years ago

estas muy mal con el verbo ing el verboo ing tiene que tener ing

John
3 years ago
Reply to  aime

John e, ntine

JOY
JOY
7 months ago

VERY GOOD

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