This page helps to learn about present continuous tense and how it is used in our daily life.
Present continuous tense refers to the things or actions which is happening now.
How to form sentences in the Present Continuous Tense?
Formation of sentences in the Present Continuous Tense.
1st person singular
Subject + am + stem verb + ing
Example: I am singing.
3rd person singular
Subject + is + stem verb + ing
Example: He is singing.
She is singing.
It is singing.
1st person and 3rd person plural, 2nd person singular and plural
Subject + are + stem verb + ing
Example: We are singing.
You are singing.
They are singing.
In our daily life, we use the present continuous tense in some circumstances.
The Present Continuous Tense used for:
- talk about actions that progress now.
Example: Linda is washing her clothes now.
- talk about actions that progress around now but not at this moment.
Example: Mark is learning English nowadays.
- talk about the things which would happen for sure in the future.
Example: We are going to London tonight.
We don’t use present continuous in some cases:
- to talk about opinions or thoughts.
Example: Jan likes football. (NOT Jan is liking football.)
- can’t use think to express opinions in the present continuous tense.
Example: I think he is handsome. (NOT I am thinking he is handsome)
- can use think to talk about the action in the present continuous tense.
Example: Linda is thinking about her project.
- can’t use have to talk about the possessions in the present continuous tense.
Example: Peter has a car. (NOT Peter is having a car.)
- can use have to talk about actions progress now.
Example: Lucy is having her breakfast.
Let’s see the full form and contractions in the Present Continuous Tense.
The full form and contracted form of the Present Continuous Tense
Let’s learn how to create affirmative sentences in the Present Continuous Tense.
The affirmative sentence in the Present Continuous Tense
Now we learn to compose negative sentences in the Present Continuous Tense.
The negative sentence in the Present Continuous Tense
Here, we look at how to make positive and negative interrogative sentences in the Present Continuous Tense.
The interrogative sentence in the Present Continuous Tense
Positive Questions in the Present Continuous Tense
Now, we learn to make positive ‘Wh’ questions in the present continuous tense. It’s easy to compose ‘Wh’ questions. We just need to add the ‘Wh’ question word in front of the verb to be.
Positive ‘Wh’ Questions in the Present Continuous Tense
It’s very simple to make negative questions in the present continuous tense. You just require to add the word ‘NOT‘ in the question.
Negative Questions in the Present Continuous Tense
(OR)
Negative ‘Wh’ Questions in the Present Continuous Tense
Here are an essay and a conversation using Present Continuous Tense to make you more precise about Present Continuous Tense.
Short essay
Picnic with family
I am feeling very bored. I am going to a picnic with my family. We are playing cricket in the park. We are going to a hill area. I and my sister are cooking lunch in that place. We are preparing chicken rice, BBQ, and some other dishes too. My cute younger sister is playing happily. My father and mother are looking at us and talking about us. They are feeling happy. We are having lunch together. We are enjoying a lot together.
Conversation
Linda: Hi Grace. How are you doing?
Grace: Hi. I am doing good, Linda.
Linda: I am waiting for my sister to go shopping.
Grace: Where are you going to shop?
Linda: I am going to the Fashion bug. Would you like to join us?
Grace: No. I am going to watch the film tomorrow. I called you to join me.
Linda: No. I am sorry. I will join you some other day. I am going out with friends.
Grace: Fine. We will watch it some other day.
Linda: Bye.