Present Continuous (or Progressive): Uses and Examples

Examples   /   by admin   /   April 02, 2023

He present continuous(either present progressive) is a tense in English that is used to express actions that are happening right now. For example: Yo am speaking on the phone right now./ I'm on the phone right now.

He present continuous(present continuous) is a compound tense, since it is made up of two parts: an auxiliary (verb to be in present) + the form-ingof the main verb. For example: my sister es studying in her bedroom./ My sister is studying in her room.

to take into account: Meanwhile he present simple describes actions or permanent states, the present continuousexpresses temporary actions. For example:

  • I work for an international company./ I work for an international company. (present simple: permanent action)
  • Yo am working on a special project at the moment./ I'm working on a special project right noweither.(present continuous: temporary action)

Careful: The shape -ingof the verb by itself is not the present continuous. For example: Yo am having a shower. (And not: I have a shower).

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  • It can help you: Gerund Verbs in English

Uses of present continuous

He present continuous is used to express:

  • Actions that are happening at the moment. For example: YoI'm having lunch. / I'm having lunch.
  • Activities in progress at present, although not necessarily at the moment. For example: I have is reading a good book./ She is reading a good book.
  • future events. Scheduled events, in general, with day and time. It is the only future (and not present) use of the present continuous. For example: my mother is flying to Amsterdam on December 10./ My mom is going to travel to Amsterdam on December 10th.
  • It can help you: Future Simple in English

structure of present continuous

He present continuous It is a compound tense, that is, it has two parts: the auxiliary, which is the verb to be in present (am, is, are) according to the pronoun + the form –ingof the main verb (playing).

affirmative structure of present continuous

Subject Assistant to be (present) verb in ing
Yo A.M ('m) walking
I haveSheItem es (‘s)
youWeThey are ('re)

For example: Yo am reading "The Lord of the Rings"./ I am reading “The Lord of the Rings”.

Attention:

  • In oral and written language (except in formal style) the contracted form of the verb is usedto be. For example: I have’s preparing dinner./ He is preparing dinner.
  • verbs ending in "and" they lose it before adding the ending -ing(eat-coming; dance-dancing). Monosyllables double the consonant before adding the ending -ing (run-running; sit-sitting).

negative structure of present continuous

The negative structure is formed by negating the auxiliary to be(with the particle not):

Subject Assistant to be (negative) verb in ing
Yo A.Mnot ('m not) eating
I haveSheItem esnot (isn't)
youWeThey arenot (aren't)

For example: YoI'm not crying./ I'm not crying.

interrogative structure of present continuous

The interrogative structure is formed by putting the auxiliary before to beto the subject:

Assistant to be Subject verb in ing
A.M Yo listening?
Es I havesheItem
are youwethey

For example: are you listening to the radio?/ Are you listening to the radio?

Attention: If you want to obtain information (and not a "yes" or "no" as an answer) you must add a word what (what, when, where, why, who, how, which) before the auxiliary. For example: que are you watching?/ What are you looking at?

Short answers

In order to respond yes no questions, the verb is used to be positive or negative, and according to the pronoun. Affirmative short answers cannot be collapsed. The main verb is not repeated. For example: are you workinging? Yes, I am.(And not: Yes, I'm working).

  • It can help you: Sentences with "going to”

present continuous: Adverbs of time

Some adverbs of time that are used together with thepresent continuous according to each use are:

Use adverbs examples
To express actions that are happening at the moment of speaking. now(now)
right now(right now)
at the moment(at the moment)		 Estoy trabajando right now./ I am working right now.
To express activities in progress in the present, although not necessarily at the moment this week (this week)
these days(these days)
this month(this month)		 We're spending less money this month./ We are spending less money this month.
To express scheduled future events on September 21st. (on September 21)
at 5 p.m. tomorrow (tomorrow at 5 pm)
next week (next week)		 They're setting off at 9 a.m./ They are leaving tomorrow at 9 a.m.
  • It can help you: Time prepositions "in», «on», «at»

present continuous and present simple

PRESENT SIMPLE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
It expresses actions or permanent states in the present.

Sarah lives in Buenos Aires.

 Expresses temporary actions.

Sarah is living with some friends before moving to a new house.
Express routine.

Every day I get up at 7 a.m.

 Express exception to a routine.

YoI'm getting up at 8 a.m. this week.
Expresses actions that always occur.

I always wait for the bus here.

 Expresses actions that occur in the moment.

YoI'm waiting for the bus.
Expresses future events.

My friends are coming over for dinner tonight.

Attention:

  • There are the stative verbs ("static" verbs), such as believe, know, mean, understand, cost) that are used only in present simple. They cannot be used in the present continuous or in any other continuous tense, since they express conditions and states (and not actions or activities). For example: It costs $10. (And not: It costs $10).
  • He present continuous always implies that an action is temporary. To describe continuous and permanent situations that began in the past and continue, we use present perfect continuous. For example: My father has been working at this company for 15 years. (And not: My father is working at this company for 15 years).
  • See also: Simple present in English

Examples of sentences in present continuous

  1. YoI'm having a great time; this party is awesome!
    I'm having so much fun; this party is amazing!
  2. They arepaintings the house next door.
    They are painting the house next door.
  3. my mom is cooking a delicious dish for dinner.
    My mom is cooking a delicious dish for dinner.
  4. Jim he is making good progress.
    Jim is making good progress.
  5. The teacher is coming!
    The teacher is coming!
  6. John esreading a very good book.
    John is reading a very good book.
  7. Susan is learning a lot in her new course from her.
    Susan is learning a lot in her new course.
  8. the kids are jumping on the bed.
    The children are jumping on the bed.
  9. Yo am relaxing at the park.
    I am relaxing in the park.
  10. The students aren't paying attention.
    The students are not paying attention.
  11. the sun is shining and the birds are singing.
    The sun is shining and the birds are singing.
  12. Excuse me, madam, are you waiting online?
    Excuse me ma'am, is she waiting in line?
  13. Those men are not speaking German.
    Those men are not speaking German.
  14. Yo am studying for tomorrow's test.
    I'm studying for tomorrow's exam.
  15. Meryl and Tom are doing the house chores.
    Meryl and Tom are doing the housework.
  16. dad is watering the plants in the backyard.
    Dad is watering the plants in the backyard.
  17. Peter is playing with his friends from him in the garden.
    Peter is playing with his friends in the garden.
  18. his brother is climbing that tree.
    Your brother is climbing that tree.
  19. The dogs are barking outside.
    The dogs are barking outside.
  20. YoI'm not lying!
    I'm not lying!
  21. Item isn't snowing; Item’s just raining.
    It's not snowing; she's just raining.
  22. my sister is learning how to drive.
    My sister is learning to drive.
  23. the firemen are trying to stop the fire in that building.
    Firefighters are trying to put out the fire in that building.
  24. We are watching a good movie on television.
    We are watching a good movie on television.
  25. Sandy's parents are working on a new project at the moment.
    Sandy's parents are working on a new project.
  26. The teacher is writing the explanations on the board.
    The teacher is writing the explanations on the blackboard.
  27. my dog is playing with a ball.
    My dog ​​is playing with a ball.
  28. you’re not following the instructions carefully.
    You are not following the instructions carefully.
  29. The meal is burning!
    He is burning the food!
  30. Thomas is adapting to his new life in Rome.
    Thomas is adjusting to his new life in Rome.
  31. They are looking at the photos from her last trip to the United States.
    They are looking at photos from their last trip to the United States.
  32. The children are playing in the school yard during the break.
    The children are playing in the schoolyard during recess.
  33. Ariana Grande is recording a new album.
    Ariana Grande is recording a new album.
  34. you are driving too fast!
    You're driving too fast!
  35. someone is knocking at the door.
    Someone is knocking on the door.
  36. mel and stan are getting to know each other.
    Mel and Stan are getting to know each other.
  37. She’s studying physics at university.
    He is studying physics at the university.
  38. my family is planning a trip to Disney.
    My family is planning a trip to Disney.
  39. the phone is ringing; can you get it?
    The phone is ringing; can you attend to it?
  40. We are going on vacation next week.
    We are going on vacation next week.
  41. are you coming to visit us in July?
    Are you coming to visit us in July?
  42. The boy es not crying because his toy is broken.
    The boy is crying because his toy is broken.
  43. The plane es not leaving the airport, because it’s still raining heavily.
    The plane is not leaving the airport because it is still raining heavily.
  44. They are drinking tea with cake.
    They are having tea with cake.
  45. My friends are taking an English course at the moment.
    My friends are taking an English course right now.
  46. She isn't sleeping well these days.
    He's not sleeping well these days.
  47. More and more people are becoming vegetarian.
    More and more people are becoming vegetarian.
  48. Yo am watching the news on TV.
    I'm watching the news on TV.
  49. Mary’s currently looking for a job.
    Mary is currently looking for a job.
  50. Es Matt going to the movies tonight?
    Is Matt going to the movies tonight?

Follow with:

  • Sentences in Past Continuous (English)
  • Sentences with "will" and "going to»
  • Sentences in present perfect in English
  • Verbs in English and Spanish

Interactive test to practice

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