Practice
Present continuous exercise: describe actions happening now
The phone is ringing, so you say, "I am answering it." The action is in progress now.
Form and use the present continuous to describe actions in progress now or around the present time.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
She is studying at the moment. /ʃiː ɪz ˈstʌdiɪŋ æt ðə ˈməʊmənt/
The short answer
Make the present continuous with am, is, or are plus a verb ending in -ing. Use it for an action that is happening now or is temporary around the present time.
Mina is writing an email at her desk.
Why it works: Is is the form of be for Mina, and writing names the action in progress.
5 more examples
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I am looking for my glasses.
Use am with I and add -ing to look for an action happening now.
Not this:I
lookfor my glasses. What changes: This sounds like a repeated habit, not the search happening at this moment. -
The children are building a model bridge.
Are agrees with the plural subject children.
Not this:The children
is buildinga model bridge. What changes: Is does not agree with a plural subject. Use are. -
Leo is running to catch the train.
For a short vowel followed by one final consonant, double the consonant in run before adding -ing.
Not this:Leo is
runingto catch the train. What changes: The spelling needs two ns: running. -
We are making soup for dinner.
Drop the final silent e in make before adding -ing.
Not this:We are
makeingsoup for dinner. What changes: Remove the silent e before -ing: making. -
She is studying for her driving test this week.
A current temporary activity can use the present continuous even when it is not happening in this exact minute.
Not this:She
studiesfor her driving test this week. What changes: The present simple is possible for a regular habit, but is studying makes the temporary time frame clear.
Read the full guide
First, choose the subject. Then match it with am, is, or are. Finally, add the main verb with -ing and ask whether the action is in progress now or is temporary these days.
Build the verb in two parts
The present continuous needs a helper verb and a main verb. The helper is a form of be. The main verb ends in -ing. Both parts are necessary.
I am reading the instructions.
Am is the helper verb for I. Reading is the action that is in progress.
My neighbour is washing her car.
Is agrees with one person, my neighbour.
Complete the sentence: They ___ playing chess.
They are playing chess. Are agrees with they.
Match am, is, and are to the subject
Choose the form of be before you choose the -ing verb. Use am with I. Use is with a singular subject and are with you or a plural subject.
I am waiting near the entrance.
Only I takes am in the present continuous.
The buses are arriving late today.
Buses is plural, so it takes are.
Choose the helper verb: My brother ___ cooking lunch.
Use is: My brother is cooking lunch.
Add -ing with the usual spelling rules
For most verbs, add -ing: work becomes working and read becomes reading. Some endings need a small spelling change. Drop a final silent e, so write becomes writing. Double the final consonant in many short stressed verbs with one vowel and one final consonant, so sit becomes sitting.
Nora is writing a note for the receptionist.
Write loses its final e before -ing.
The dog is sitting by the door.
Sit has a short vowel before one final consonant, so the t doubles.
What is the -ing form of dance?
Dancing. Drop the final e, then add -ing.
Talk about what is happening now
Use the present continuous when you want to report an action that is underway at the moment of speaking. It often answers a question such as What are you doing?
Please be quiet. The baby is sleeping.
Sleeping is happening at this time, so the continuous form fits.
Why are you standing by the window?
The question asks about an action in progress now.
Choose the natural answer to What are you doing?: I cook dinner or I am cooking dinner.
Use I am cooking dinner when you are doing it at this moment.
Describe a temporary activity around now
The action does not need to be happening in the exact second you speak. The present continuous can describe a temporary project, arrangement, or situation in the current period.
We are staying with friends while our flat is repaired.
The stay is temporary, even when the speakers are away from the flat at the moment.
Karim is learning to drive this summer.
The lessons are part of a current temporary plan.
Which form fits a temporary course this month: She takes a course or She is taking a course?
She is taking a course this month makes the temporary period clear.
Make negatives and questions
To make a negative, put not after am, is, or are. To make a yes or no question, move am, is, or are before the subject. Keep the main verb in the -ing form.
I am not using the computer today.
Not comes after am and before using.
Are you meeting your manager after lunch?
Are moves before you to form the question.
Turn this into a question: She is waiting outside.
Is she waiting outside? Move is to the front.
Choose the present simple for habits and states
Do not choose the present continuous only because something relates to the present. Use the present simple for a repeated habit: I walk to work every day. Use it for most state verbs too: I know the answer and She needs help.
He usually drinks tea after lunch.
Usually shows a regular habit, so drinks is present simple.
I understand this rule now.
Understand describes a mental state, which normally uses the simple form.
Which sentence is usual: I am knowing the address or I know the address?
Use I know the address. Know is usually a state verb.
Before you go
Remember this
Use am, is, or are plus verb-ing for an action in progress or a temporary activity around now. Match be to the subject. Check the spelling before adding -ing, especially after a silent e or a short vowel and final consonant. Use the present simple for usual habits and most state verbs.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Present continuous exercise: describe actions happening now"
How do I make the present continuous?
Use am, is, or are followed by a verb ending in -ing. For example, She is packing her bag has the helper is and the main verb packing.
I am looking for my glasses.
When do I use the present continuous?
Use it for an action in progress now or for a temporary activity around the present time. They are working from a shared office this week describes a current temporary arrangement.
I look for my glasses.
Why does write become writing?
For many verbs ending in a silent e, remove the e before you add -ing. Write becomes writing and dance becomes dancing.
The children are building a model bridge.
Why does sit become sitting?
In a short stressed verb with one vowel followed by one final consonant, English often doubles that consonant before -ing. Sit becomes sitting and run becomes running.
The children is building a model bridge.
Can I say I am knowing the answer?
Usually, no. Know normally describes a state, so use the present simple: I know the answer. Use the continuous form for actions that are developing or in progress.
Leo is running to catch the train.
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