English Basics

Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Tense is used to describe a continued or an on-going action of the present. These actions are occurring exactly at the time of speaking. It is called progressive tense because it refers to actions which are currently in progress at the time of speaking.

For instance, a boy says, “I am drinking water”. It means that the action (drinking water) is being done exactly at this time of the speaking.

This tense is also called Present Progressive Tense.

Structure of Sentence:

Main verb: Present Participle (base form of verb + ing) e.g. eating, drinking, looking 
Auxiliary verbs: “is, am, or are”

Note:

  • If subject of the sentence is “I”, then the auxiliary verb “am” will be used in sentence.
  • If subject of the sentence is “She, He, It, or a singular noun” then the auxiliary verb “is” will be used.
  • If the subject of sentence is “They, You or a plural noun” then the auxiliary verb “are” will be used.

Positive Sentences

→  Subject + Auxiliary verb + Main verb
→  Subject + (is / am / are) + Present Participle verb (verb + ing)

Examples:

  • I am washing my shirt.
  • She is sleeping.
  • Kids are playing cricket.
  • They are walking in the lawn.
  • He is writing a letter.
  • You are eating some food.
  • I am preparing myself for competition.
  • He is drinking water.
  • She is cleaning her room.
  • She is making tea.

Negative Sentences

→  Subject + Auxiliary verb + NOT + Main verb
→  Subject + is / am / are + NOT + Present Participle verb (verb+ing)

Examples:

  • He is not sleeping.
  • She is not studying her books.
  • They are not coming to school.
  • I am not appreciating you.
  • I am not replying her.
  • He is not asking any question.
  • They are not waiting for you.
  • She is not laughing.
  • She is not listening to music.
  • You are not eating your meal.

Interrogative Sentences

→  Auxiliary verb  +  Subject  +  Main verb
→  (is / am / are) + Subject + Present participle verb (verb+ing)

Examples:

  • Are you listening to me?
  • Is he calling you?
  • Are you laughing at me?
  • Are they running on the road?
  • Is she planning about her studies?
  • Am I making fun of you?
  • Am I telling a lie?
  • Is he learning English Grammar?
  • Is she cooking some food?
  • Are they shouting?

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