PRESENT CONTINUOUS

What is the English Present Progressive Tense?

The present progressive, also known as the present continuous tense, is formed
with the verb be and the present participle or -ing form of the main verb. We
use this tense to talk about actions that are in progress at the time of speaking
and temporary actions. We can also use the present progressive to talk about
future arrangements and plans.

Learn how to conjugate verbs in the present progressive tense and get tips on its
usage with Lingolia’s English grammar lesson. Then test your grammar skills in
the exercises.

Example

James is travelling around Australia. He is staying at a youth hostel in a little

Australian town. The town is becoming more and more popular because of its
beautiful beaches.

James is meeting his friend Brad in town tonight. Brad is working there as a
tour guide over the summer.

James is in the town centre now. Look! James is taking a picture of another
tourist.

When to use the English Present Progressive Tense

We use the present progressive tense to describe:

 actions that are taking place at the present moment, i.e. now
 Example:
Look! James is taking a picture of another tourist.
 predetermined plans or appointments that have been made for the near
future

Example:
He is meeting his friend Brad tonight.
 actions that are only happening temporarily

Example:
James is travelling around Australia.
Brad is working there as a tour guide over the summer.
 actions that are currently happening, but not at the moment of speaking

Example:
He is staying at a youth hostel.
 situations that are changing

Example:
The town is becoming more and more popular because of its beautiful
beaches.

There are four present tenses in English grammar. Besides the present
progressive, there is the simple present, the present perfect and the present
perfect progressive.

Signal Words: English Present Progressive Tense

Signal words can help us decide which tense to use. The signal words for
the present progressive are:

 at the moment
 now, just now, right now
 Listen!
 Look!

How to conjugate the English Present Progressive Tense

To conjugate verbs in the present progressive we use the conjugated form of

the auxiliary verb be. Be is irregular (see the table below). The main verb is
conjugated in the -ing form or present participle, it is the same for all people.
The table provides and overview of the conjugation of verbs in positive,
negative and interrogative sentences in the present progressive tense.

positive negative question

I I am speaking I am not speaking Am I speaking?
he, she, it he is speaking he is not speaking Is he speaking?
you, we, you are not
you are speaking Are you speaking?
they speaking

Present Participle – Spelling Rules

Generally, the present participle is formed by adding -ing to the

base infinitive form of a verb. However, there are a few exceptions:

 An -e at the end of the word is removed, but -ee, -oe and -ye remain
unchanged.

Example:
come – coming
(but: agree - agreeing)
 The final consonant is doubled in words that have a short
stressed vowel before the final consonant. However, -w, -x and -y are not
doubled

Example:
sit – sitting
(but: fix –fixing)
 An -l as the final consonant after a vowel is always doubled in British
English but not in American English.

Example:
travel – travelling (British), traveling (American)
 An -ie at the end of the word is replaced by a -y.

Example:
lie – lying
Contractions

Contractions are a combination of certain pronouns, verbs and the word not.
They are mostly used in spoken and informal written English. The table below
provides an overview of contractions in the present progressive using
the verb be.

long form contraction example

am (not) …’m (not) I’m (not) (not:)
are …’re you’re
…’re not/…
are not we’re not/we aren’t
aren’t
is …’s he’s
is not …’s not/… isn’t she’s not/she isn’t
Contractions in written English

In written English, the contracted form of are can only be used after pronouns
and not after nouns or names.

Example:
They’re travelling around Australia.
(But not:)

Online exercises to improve your English

Improve your English with Lingolia. Each grammar topic comes with one free
exercise where you can review the basics, as well as many more Lingolia Plus
exercises where you can practise according to your level. Check your
understanding by hovering over the info bubbles for simple explanations and
handy tips.

1. The teacher __________ the concept of present progressive tense to the

class.
A. Is explaining
B. Explains
C. Has explained
D. Explained
 2. Linda’s with us at the moment. The children _________ having her here.
A. Loves
B. Are loving
C. Have loved
D. Will love
3. Anntonia Porsild _____________ in a musical on Broadway.
A. Is currently appearing
B. Was currently appearing
C. Appears
D. Has appeared
4. I _________ my decision to give her the job.
A. Regrets
B. Have regretted
C. Am regretting
D. Was regretted
5. Anna ______ (rest) right now.
Choose the correct present progressive form.

1. Look! Andy is workingin the garden.

2. I am watching TV at the moment.
3. We are reading. a book.
4. She is playing the piano.
5. Listen! Sue and John are singing.
Put the verbs into present progressive.

1. My sister is cleaning the bathroom.

2. Look! They are going inside.
3. I am waiting in the car now.
4. Mrs Miller is listening to CDs.
5. We are speaking English at the moment.
Choose the correct form. Note that there are exceptions in spelling when adding
'ing.'

1. His brother is writing a test at the moment.

2. They are swimming in the pool.
3. Look! David and Max are coming home.
4. My dog Charlie is running to the park.
5. I am making breakfast now.
Rewrite the sentences using the short forms (where long forms are given) or the
long forms (where short forms are given).

1. We are reading a letter. We're reading a letter.

2. He is opening the window. He's opening the window.
3. I am playing computer games. I'm playing computer games.
4. She's dancing at the party. She is dancing at the party.
5. They're drinking a cup of tea. They are drinking a cup of tea.
Rewrite the sentences using the negative forms.

1. We are playing a game. We are not playing a game.

2. I'm drawing a picture. I'm not drawing a picture.
3. He is making pizza right now. He is not making pizza right now.
4. Susan and her brother are taking photos. Susan and her brother are not
taking photos.
5. Dad is working in the kitchen. Dad is not working in the kitchen.

Ask for the information given in bold print.

1. Matthew is making a mistake. - What is Matthew making?

2. Linda is knocking at the door. - Who is knocking at the door?
3. They are flying to Rome. - Where are they flying?
4. I'm making the new tree house at the moment. - What are you making at
the moment?
5. She is driving the Porsche carefully. - How is she driving the Porsche?
Choose the correct answer.

1. I am living in London now. - What does this sentence mean?

I have moved to London to stay there for ever.
I am in London only for a limited period of time.
I am going to move to London soon.
2. We are meeting Tom tonight. - What does this sentence mean?
The action is arranged for the near future.
The action is taking place now.
The action might take place.
3. I'm working hard at the moment. - Is the sentence correcting even if I am
not working at the moment of speaking?
 yes
no
4. He is playing football. - Which situation cannot be expressed by present
progressive?
To express that the match is going on right now.
To express that he does not play football regularly, but only for a limited
period of time.
To express that he plays football regularly.
5. Look! The Millers are moving house. - Which of the following situations
is expressed by the present progressive?
They are in the middle of the action.
The action is going to take place next week.
They will come back to this place one day.

Choose the correct option.

1. We are listening to a song.

2. Paul is eating an apple.
3. You are wearing a nice jacket.
4. I am practising English grammar.
5. Linda and Ron are talking to the teacher.

Complete the sentences with the present progressive of the verbs in brackets.

1. Jane is doing the washing-up at the moment.

2. She thinks that her kids are running around in the garden.
3. But they are not playing in the garden.
4. Ben is sitting in front of the TV.
5. He is watching a film.
6. Emma is lying on the sofa.
7. She is not watching TV.

Construct questions in the Present Progressive.

1. Am I doing it right?
2. Are you sleeping?
3. Is he reading the paper?

1. The teacher is not closing the door.

2. Are you doing the washing-up?
3. They are checking the printers.
4. Is your grandmother looking at birds?
 5. We are not passing the checkpoint.
6. Are they trying to help?
7. She is not walking to the centre of the town.
8. Are the policemen running into the bank?
9. Look! Steve's mother is making a Frappuccino.
10. You are not linking the words correctly.
11. He is not shouting her name.
12. We are taking nice photos.
13. Is Phil explaining the exercise?
14. What are you doing here?
15. I am not sitting on the sofa.
16. The cat is not lying on the carpet.
17. Are they listening to radio now?
18. The eagle is catching the mouse.
19. Why is Ruth asking for money?
20. The boys are not diving into the pool.
21. The children are not asking questions.
22. Nick is not going to the gym.
23. I am not opening the door.
24. He is not telling jokes.
25. The baby is not crying now.
26. We are not visiting a farm.
27. They are not answering the phone.
28. Gerry, Joe, and Boris are not eating hamburgers.
29. My teacher is not waiting at the bus stop.
30. The rabbit is not climbing over the fence.
31. Anne and Ron are not flying in a helicopter.
32. Olivia is not closing her eyes.
33. They are not jogging through the park.
34. The girls are not having fun at Tom's party.
35. He is not swimming in the sea.
36. I am not running to the cinema.
37. We are not making a bird house.
38. Look! Christine is not smiling.
39. She is not taking the books to the library.
40. You are not sitting in front of the computer.
 1. I use the Present Progressive when the action is happening
at the moment of speaking.
2. I use at least two words to form the Present Progressive.
3. Typical signal words for the Present Progressive are at the
moment, Listen!, Look!, now.
4. I use am/are/is + infinitive +-ing for the Present Progressive.
5. In the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), the auxiliary is is used.
6. In negative sentences in the Present Progressive not is
put after the auxiliary am/are/is.
7. I add ing to the infinitive of the verb in the Present Progressive.
8. The contracted form aren't can substitute are +
not and isn't can substitute is + not.
9. All verbs have a progressive form. → wrong
10. When I add -ing to the infinitive of the verb, I sometimes have
to double or deleted letters. → right
11. Look, the cat is drinking milk.
12. The girls are having fun now.
13. Listen, it is raining.
14. My father is making tea right now.
15. The teacher is talking to Stephen now.
16. They are looking for a present at the moment.
17. The boy is writing with a pencil at the moment.
18. We are watching a film now.
19. Look, Andy is touching a snake.
20. At this moment the lady is leaving the office.