How to make the Present Continuous Tense

(also called the Present Progressive Tense)

The present continuous (sometimes called the present progressive) tense in English is really easy to make and is the same for all verbs.

We make it using the present simple of 'be' + verb-ing:

 

(Click here if you'd prefer to learn how to USE this tense)

Here is how we make the positive:

 

Positive                                               Positive Short Form

I am sleeping                                     I'm sleeping

you are sleeping                                you're sleeping

he is sleeping                                    he's sleeping

she is sleeping                                  she's sleeping

it is sleeping                                      it's sleeping

we are sleeping                                we're sleeping

they are sleeping                             they're sleeping

 

 

We can make the negative by adding 'not':

 

Negative                                Negative Short Form

I am not sleeping                  I'm not sleeping

you are not playing               you aren't playing

he is not reading                   he isn't reading

she is not working                 she isn't working

it is not raining                       it isn't raining

we are not cooking               we aren't cooking

they are not listening            they aren't listening

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Questions are also really, really easy. Just like we made the question with 'be' in the present simple, here we also put 'am', 'is', or 'are' before the subject to make a 'yes / no' question:

 

 

Yes / No Questions

am I eating chocolate ?

are you studying now ?

is he working ?

is she doing her homework ?

is it raining ?

are we meeting at six ?

are they coming ?

 

 

For 'wh' questions, just put the question word at the front:

 

 

Wh Questions

Why am I eating chocolate ?

What are you studying now ?

When is he working ?

What is she doing ?

Why is it raining ?

Who are we meeting ?

How are they travelling ?

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