The present continuous tense is sometimes called the present progressive.
Here is how to form the present continuous tense in English.
| Structure of present continuous | ||
| positive | negative | question |
|
I'm (I am) reading a book. You're (you are) reading. We're (we are) reading. They're (they are) reading. |
I'm (I am) not reading. You're (you are) not reading. We're (we are) not reading. They're (they are) not reading. |
Am I reading? Are you reading? Are we reading? Are they reading? |
|
He's (he is) reading a book. She's (she is) reading a book. It's (it is) raining. |
He's not / he isn't (he is not) reading. She's not / she isn't (she is not) reading. It's not / it isn't (it is not) raining. |
Is he reading? Is she reading? Is it raining? |
| Present continuous - common mistakes | ||
| Common mistakes | Correct version | Why? |
|
|
They are still waiting for you. | to form a continuous tense we use be + -ing. |
|
|
Are they still waiting for you? | In questions the subject (they) and the auxiliary verb (be) change places. |
|
|
Are they still waiting for you? | |
|
|
Where are they waiting for you? | |
|
|
She isn't watching TV. | To form the negative we put not after the verb be (am not, is not = isn't, are not = aren't). |
|
|
I believe you. | Some verbs are not used in continuous tenses - these are called stative verbs (e.g. believe, come from, cost, depend, exist, feel, hate, like). |
