Practice
Present continuous exercise 3: choose the natural form
If now, today, or this week changes the meaning, check whether you need am, is, or are plus an -ing form.
Choose the present continuous when an action, situation, or change is connected to now.
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
Why are you carrying an umbrella? /waɪ ə juː ˈkærɪɪŋ ən ʌmˈbrelə/
The short answer
Use am, is, or are plus an -ing verb for an action happening now or around now, for a temporary situation, and for many changes in progress.
I am waiting for the dentist at the moment.
Why it works: The waiting is in progress at this time, so am waiting is the natural form.
5 more examples
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Mina is talking to her manager right now.
The conversation is happening at the present moment.
Not this:Mina
talks to her manager right now. What changes: Talks usually describes a regular action. Is talking fits one conversation in progress. -
We are staying near the station this month.
This is a temporary situation during the current month.
Not this:We
stay near the station this month. What changes: The present simple sounds like a usual arrangement. Are staying shows that the arrangement is temporary. -
The days are getting longer.
Getting describes a change that is developing over time.
Not this:The days
get longer. What changes: Get longer can describe a general pattern. Are getting focuses on the change in progress. -
Why are you carrying an umbrella?
The question asks about an action or situation connected to now.
Not this:
Why you are carryingan umbrella? What changes: In this question, are comes before the subject you. -
I understand the instructions now.
Understand describes a mental state, so the present simple is usual.
Not this:I
am understandingthe instructions now. What changes: This is not the normal form for the state verb understand.
Read the full guide
Read the time expression and the whole sentence before you choose. A present simple form often describes a habit or fact. A present continuous form usually points to the current period, even when the action is not happening in the exact second you speak.
Find the time the speaker means
Before you choose a verb form, ask whether the sentence describes a regular habit or something connected to the current moment. Words such as right now, at the moment, this week, and currently often point to the present continuous. They are clues, not automatic answers.
Mina is talking to her manager right now.
Right now tells you that the conversation is in progress, so use is talking.
Mina talks to her manager every Monday.
Every Monday describes a repeated routine, so talks is present simple.
Which form fits an action in progress: Leo cooks dinner now or Leo is cooking dinner now?
Use Leo is cooking dinner now. The action is happening at this time.
Build the form with be and -ing
The present continuous needs a form of be and an -ing form. Use am with I, is with he, she, it, or one person or thing, and are with you, we, they, and plural subjects.
I am checking the address before I leave.
I needs am. Checking is the main verb in its -ing form.
The children are building a model.
The children is plural, so the helping verb is are.
Choose the complete form: My phone ringing or My phone is ringing?
Use My phone is ringing. The sentence needs is before the -ing form.
Use it for a temporary situation
The present continuous can describe a situation that is true for a limited time. The situation may last days or weeks. It does not have to be happening in the exact moment of speaking.
We are staying near the station this month.
This month shows a temporary arrangement, so are staying is natural.
Ravi is working from home while the office is repaired.
The arrangement has a temporary reason, so is working fits the meaning.
Which sentence describes a temporary arrangement: Ella works in Dublin this summer or Ella is working in Dublin this summer?
Use Ella is working in Dublin this summer. This summer gives a limited period.
Use it for a change in progress
Use the present continuous when you focus on a change that is developing. Verbs such as get, become, grow, rise, and fall often appear in this pattern.
The days are getting longer.
Are getting points to a change that is happening over the current period.
More people are using the new bus route.
The number of users is changing, so are using expresses a developing situation.
Choose the form for a change: The weather gets colder this week or The weather is getting colder this week?
Use The weather is getting colder this week when you mean the change is developing now.
Put be before the subject in questions
For a present continuous question, put am, is, or are before the subject. A question word can come first. The -ing form stays after the subject.
Why are you carrying an umbrella?
Why is the question word. Are comes before you, and carrying follows the subject.
Is your neighbor waiting outside?
Is comes before the singular subject your neighbor.
Choose the natural question: What they are doing or What are they doing?
Use What are they doing? Put are before they.
Keep common state verbs in the present simple
Some verbs usually describe a state rather than an action. Know, understand, need, want, believe, and remember normally use the present simple when they have their ordinary meanings.
I understand the instructions now.
Understand names a mental state. Present simple is the normal choice here.
She needs a quieter place to study.
Needs describes what she requires, not an action in progress.
Which sentence is usual: I am knowing the answer or I know the answer?
Use I know the answer. Know is normally a state verb.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose am, is, or are plus an -ing form for actions in progress, temporary situations, and changes happening around now. Keep the present simple for routines and for most state verbs. In a present continuous question, put am, is, or are before the subject.
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 3: choose the natural form"
When should I use the present continuous?
Use it for an action happening now or around now. Mina is talking to her manager right now refers to one conversation in progress.
Mina is talking to her manager right now.
Can present continuous describe a temporary situation?
Yes. We are staying near the station this month describes an arrangement for a limited period, rather than a usual permanent situation.
Mina talks to her manager right now.
Can I use present continuous for a change?
Yes. The days are getting longer focuses on a change developing during the current period. Forms with get, grow, rise, and fall often work this way.
We are staying near the station this month.
How do I ask a present continuous question?
Put am, is, or are before the subject. Why are you carrying an umbrella? has are before you, then the -ing form carrying.
We stay near the station this month.
Why is I am understanding usually wrong?
Understand normally describes a mental state, so use present simple in I understand the instructions now. Many state verbs do not usually take an -ing form.
The days are getting longer.
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