Present Continuous Tense Overview

In questions using the present continuous tense, the subject comes before the ______:

To form the present continuous tense, we combine the base form of the verb with the auxiliary verbs 'to be' and 'to ______':

Negative sentences in the present continuous tense require 'not' to be inserted after the first auxiliary ______:

They are ______ to music.

I am not ______ my vegetables.

Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense is also known as the progressive form of a verb. It describes actions happening right now or at another specific time. To form this tense, we combine the base form of the verb with the auxiliary verbs 'to be' and 'to have'. The base form of the verb ends in -ing, such as running, playing, eating. This tense has several uses, including:

Describing current activities: 'I am studying'; 'They are watching TV.'
Expressing future arrangements: 'We are meeting tomorrow'; 'She is flying to Paris next week.'
Talking about temporary situations: 'He was working when I arrived'; 'You were laughing during the movie.'

Questions

In questions using the present continuous tense, the subject comes before the verb:

Am I late?
Are they studying?
Is he sleeping?
Was she crying?

Negative Sentences

To make negative sentences using the present continuous tense, we insert 'not' after the first auxiliary verb:

I am not eating my vegetables.
They are not listening to music.
She is not reading her book.

Learn about the present continuous tense, also known as the progressive form of a verb, which describes actions happening at the current moment or at a specific time. Understand how to form this tense using base verbs ending in -ing and auxiliary verbs 'to be' and 'to have', and explore its various uses in describing current activities, expressing future arrangements, and discussing temporary situations.