Grammar
Present continuous: uses, form, and examples
Your colleague calls while you are leaving the office. You can say, "I am walking to the station." The present continuous shows what is happening in that period of time.
Use the present continuous for actions in progress, temporary situations, changes, and arranged future plans.
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
We are meeting at ten tomorrow. /wiː ə ˈmiː.tɪŋ ət ten təˈmɒr.əʊ/
The short answer
Choose the present continuous when you want to describe something in progress or temporary. Use am, is, or are before the verb ending in -ing.
The receptionist is speaking to a visitor now.
Why it works: The conversation is in progress now, so is speaking is the right form.
5 more examples
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I am looking for my keys at the moment.
The search is happening at the moment, so the sentence uses the present continuous.
Not this:I
lookfor my keys every morning. What changes: This describes a repeated habit, so the simple present is used. -
Nadia is working in the library this month.
This month shows a temporary work situation around the present time.
Not this:Nadia
worksat a library near her home. What changes: This states Nadia's regular job rather than a temporary arrangement. -
The evenings are getting lighter.
Getting describes a change that is happening over time.
Not this:Evenings
getdark early in winter. What changes: This is a general seasonal fact, so the simple present fits. -
We are meeting the supplier at ten tomorrow.
At ten tomorrow gives the arrangement a clear future time.
Not this:We
meetthe supplier every Tuesday. What changes: Every Tuesday describes a regular schedule rather than one arranged meeting. -
Is your brother staying for dinner?
Is comes before the singular subject your brother because this is a question.
Not this:Your brother
is stayingfor dinner. What changes: The subject comes first in a statement.
Read the full guide
Start with the meaning. Ask whether the activity is in progress, temporary, changing, or arranged for a stated future time. Then match am, is, or are to the subject and use the -ing form.
Describe an action in progress
Use the present continuous for an action that is happening now or at the time you are talking about. It answers What is happening? The action does not need to begin at the exact second you speak, but it is still unfinished.
The chef is preparing lunch in the kitchen.
The chef prepares lunch every day describes a usual job. The chef is preparing lunch describes the work in progress.
Talk about a temporary situation
A situation can last days, weeks, or months and still be temporary. Use the present continuous when you see it as a limited arrangement around now. Words such as this week, these days, and for the moment often make that meaning clear.
I am sharing an apartment with a friend while my flat is being repaired.
I share an apartment with a friend describes a normal living situation. I am sharing an apartment describes a temporary one.
Show a change in progress
Use the present continuous when something is changing little by little. Verbs such as get, become, grow, and increase often appear in this use. The form shows that the change has started and is continuing.
More people are using the new bus route.
More people use buses in the city is a general fact. More people are using the new route describes a current change.
Use it for an arranged future plan
The present continuous can describe a personal arrangement in the future. Give a time, place, or person that makes the plan clear. It is common for appointments, visits, meals, and meetings.
My parents are arriving on the late train on Friday.
My parents arrive late on Fridays describes a usual pattern. My parents are arriving on Friday names one arrangement.
Build the form and make a question
Choose am, is, or are for the subject, then add the -ing form. In a negative, put not after am, is, or are. In a question, move am, is, or are before the subject. The main verb stays in the -ing form.
| Purpose | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | subject + be + -ing | They are waiting outside. |
| Negative | subject + be + not + -ing | They are not waiting outside. |
| Question | be + subject + -ing? | Are they waiting outside? |
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Not this:
She working from home today.Say: She is working from home today.
The present continuous needs is before the -ing verb with she.
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Not this:
Does he waiting outside?Say: Is he waiting outside?
Use is, not does, to form this present continuous question.
Choose the simple present for routines and states
Do not use the present continuous only because the sentence concerns the present. Use the simple present for routines and general facts. Many state verbs also normally use the simple present, including know, like, need, and understand.
I understand the instructions, but I am reading them again.
Understand is a state, so it usually takes the simple present. Am reading describes the action in progress.
Choose the usual sentence: I am knowing the answer or I know the answer?
Use I know the answer. Know usually describes a state rather than an action in progress.
Before you go
Remember this
Use am, is, or are plus an -ing verb when an action is in progress, a situation is temporary, something is changing, or a future arrangement has a stated time. Check the meaning before you choose the tense.
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: uses, form, and examples"
When do I use the present continuous?
Use it for an action in progress, a temporary situation, a change that is continuing, or an arranged future plan with a clear time. I am looking for my keys at the moment describes an unfinished action.
I am looking for my keys at the moment.
How do I form the present continuous?
Use am, is, or are with a verb ending in -ing. Choose am with I, is with a singular subject, and are with plural subjects. Nadia is working in the library this month uses is with Nadia.
I look for my keys every morning.
Can the present continuous describe a future plan?
Yes, when the speaker means a personal arrangement and gives a clear future time or other detail. We are meeting the supplier at ten tomorrow refers to one planned meeting.
Nadia is working in the library this month.
What is the difference between present continuous and simple present?
Use the present continuous for a current or temporary meaning. Use the simple present for routines and general facts. The evenings are getting lighter describes a change, while evenings get dark early in winter is a general seasonal fact.
Nadia works at a library near her home.
Where does not go in the present continuous?
Put not after am, is, or are and before the -ing verb. In a question, put am, is, or are before the subject. Is your brother staying for dinner? shows the question order.
The evenings are getting lighter.