Present Progressive (Continuous)
We use the present progressive to talk about temporary actions and situations that are going on now or around now: before, during and after the moment of speaking and as well to talk about future fixed plans, personal arrangements, normally with time expresssion.
Before this, learn: to be - Present Simple
1.Structures
1.1Structures of Sentences
To form the present progressive tense, follow these basic rules
S = Subject
QW = question word
Ving = main verb + ing
| Structure | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| + Affirmative | S + be (am/is/are) + Ving + ... | I am listening to you carefully. He is reading an interesting book at the moment. |
| - Negative | S + be (am/is/are) + not + Ving + ... | We are not visiting him next week. She isn't meeting him tonight. |
| ? Question | (QW) + be (am/is/are) + S + Ving + ...? | Where are you meeting on Saturday? Are you meeting on Saturday? |
Test yourself
1.2Rules for Adding -ing in Present Progressive
| Rule | Examples |
|---|---|
| Regular Verbs | think → thinking, read → reading |
| Verbs Ending in Silent "e" | make → making, write → writing |
| Single Vowel + Single Consonant | run → running, begin → beginning |
| Do not double if stress is elsewhere | visit → visiting, develop → developing |
| Verbs Ending in "ie" | lie → lying, die → dying |
| Verbs Ending in "w", "x", or "y" | fix → fixing, show → showing, enjoy → enjoying, play → playing |
Test yourself
2.Use
2.1Action in progress now
Actions in progress right now, at the current moment of time
often with right now, currently, now, at the moment etc
| Example |
|---|
| I am studying for my final exams currently. |
| She is reading a book at this moment. |
| They are playing football in the park right now. |
Test yourself
2.2Action around now
We use the present progressive to talk about temporary actions and situations that are going on around now: before, during and after the moment of speaking.
| Example |
|---|
| I am staying with my friend for a few days. |
| She is working from home this week. |
| They are building a house near our neighborhood this year. |
| I am learning to drive. (not right now, but the process itself is going on) |
Test yourself
2.3Future plans
We use the present progressive to talk about future actions and events, fixed plans (normally with the time expression → this evening, on Saturday, next week etc)
| Example |
|---|
| I'm seeing Sam on Monday. |
| We're travelling round Mexico next spring. |
| - What are you doing this evening? - I am washing my hair. |
| Get your coat on! I am taking you down to the doctor! |
Test yourself
3.Frequently asked questions
When do you use the present continuous (present progressive)?
Use the present continuous for actions happening now, for temporary actions going on around now, and for fixed future plans. For example: "They are playing football in the park right now" (happening now), "She is working from home this week" (temporary, around now) and "I'm seeing Sam on Monday" (an arranged plan). Present continuous and present progressive are two names for the same tense.
How do you form the present continuous: "I working", "I am work" or "I am working"?
Say "I am working": the present continuous needs am, is or are plus the main verb with -ing. "I working" and "I am work" are both wrong. Match the form of be to the subject: am with I, is with he, she and it, are with you, we and they. So say "She is reading", not "She reading" or "She is read", and "They are playing", not "They is playing". Short forms are fine too: "I'm working", "She's reading".
Present continuous questions and negatives: "Are you working?" or "Do you working?"
Say "Are you working?": present continuous questions and negatives use am, is or are, never do or does. "Do you working?" and "I don't working" are wrong. For a question, put am, is or are before the subject: "Where are you meeting on Saturday?" For a negative, put not after am, is or are: "I'm not working today" and "She isn't meeting him tonight", not "She doesn't meeting him".
How do you spell the -ing form in the present continuous: making, running, lying, visiting?
Most verbs just add -ing (read, reading), but a final silent e is dropped, some final consonants double, and ie becomes y. So write "making", not "makeing", and "lying", not "lieing". Double the last consonant when the verb ends in one stressed vowel plus one consonant: "running", "beginning". Don't double when the stress is earlier ("visiting", not "visitting") or after w, x and y ("showing", "fixing", "playing"). British English usually doubles a final l after one vowel: "travelling" (American "traveling").
Can you use the present continuous to talk about the future?
Yes, the present continuous is used for fixed future plans and arrangements, usually with a time expression such as tonight or next week. For example: "I'm seeing Sam on Monday", "We're travelling round Mexico next spring" and "What are you doing this evening?" The time expression shows you mean the future, not now: compare "I'm meeting Tom now" with "I'm meeting Tom tomorrow".
