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Grammar
A1BeginnerTopic: Tenses

Present continuous

Say what is happening now: I'm working, she isn't listening, are you coming?

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We use the present continuous for things that are happening now, at the time we speak. It has two parts: am, is or are, and the main verb with -ing.

Positive: am, is, are + -ing

Choose am, is or are for the subject, then add the -ing form. In speech and messages we usually use the short forms.

Subject
Full form
Short form
I
I am working
I'm working
he, she, it
she is working
she's working
you, we, they
they are working
they're working
  • I'm making dinner. Can I call you back?
  • Olga is talking to a customer at the moment.
  • The children are playing in the garden.
  • Incorrect: I reading a book.
  • Correct: I'm reading a book.
    The -ing form can't be the only verb. It needs am, is or are.

Spelling of -ing

Most verbs just add -ing. Some change a little first.

Verb ends in
Rule
Example
most letters
add -ing
work → working, play → playing, study → studying
consonant + e
take away the e
make → making, write → writing, come → coming
short verbs: one vowel + one consonant
double the consonant
sit → sitting, run → running (but open → opening)
-ie
ie → y
lie → lying

We don't double w, x or y: snowing, fixing, playing. In British English a final l after one vowel is doubled too: travel → travelling.

  • She is writing an email to her boss.
  • We are sitting in a café near the station.
  • Incorrect: He is makeing coffee.
  • Correct: He is making coffee.
    Make ends in e. Take the e away, then add -ing.

Negative: not

Put not after am, is, are. The short forms are the same as for be: I'm not, he isn't, they aren't.

  • I'm not working today.
  • It isn't raining now, so we can walk.
  • They aren't waiting for us.
  • Incorrect: She not sleeping.
  • Correct: She isn't sleeping.
  • Incorrect: I don't watching TV.
  • Correct: I'm not watching TV.
    This tense is made with be, so the negative is not, never don't.

Questions and short answers

Put am, is or are before the subject. A question word like what or where goes first.

Question
Yes
No
Are you working?
Yes, I am.
No, I'm not.
Is she coming?
Yes, she is.
No, she isn't.
Are they waiting?
Yes, they are.
No, they aren't.
  • Is it raining? No, it isn't.
  • What are you doing? I'm looking for my keys.
  • Where is Marta going?
  • Incorrect: What you are doing?
  • Correct: What are you doing?
    In a question, am, is or are comes before the subject.
  • Incorrect: Do you listening?
  • Correct: Are you listening?

Happening now

Use the present continuous for an action that started before now and is not finished yet. We often use it with now, right now and at the moment, and after Look and Listen.

  • Don't come in yet. I'm washing the floor.
  • I can't talk right now. I'm driving.
  • Look, it's snowing.
  • Listen. Somebody is playing the piano.

These days, but not for ever

We also use it for things that are happening around now, for a short time, even if we are not doing them at this second. Words like today, this week and this month are common here.

  • My sister is staying with us this week.
  • I'm reading a very good book at the moment.
    (Not at this second, but these days.)
  • Marta is working from home today.

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  1. Verb to be: am / is / areA1Beginner