Present Continuous Tense

1. Introduction

The present continuous tense is used to describe an action or event that is happening at the moment of speaking. It is also called the present progressive tense and is used for:

1.     Happening right now:

·      She is reading a book now.

·  He is playing with his friends at this time.

·  Students are learning their lesson at present.

2.     Temporary situations:

·     I am living with my friend this week.

·  He is delivering his services here these days.

3.     Future plans or pre-arranged events:

· We are going to start a new lesson tomorrow.

· My father is going to buy a new car.

4.     Changing or Developing Situations:

·     The climate is getting warmer.

·  Your English is improving.

·  The cost of living is increasing.

2. Helping Verbs

For Singular Subjects (use “is”)

Sentence	Subject	Singular/Plural	Helping Verb
Aman is going to school.	Aman	Singular	is
He is writing a story.	He	Singular	is
She is listening to music.	She	Singular	is
It is raining now.	It	Singular	is

For Plural Subjects (use “are”)

Sentence	Subject	Singular/ Plural	Helping Verb
We are going to school.	We	Plural	are
You are writing a story.	You	Plural	are
They are listening to music.	They	Plural	are
Students are running now.	Students	Plural	are

For Pronoun “I” (use “am”)

Sentence	Subject	Singular/Plural	Helping Verb
I am writing a story.	I	Singular	am

3. Verb Structure

Use the base verb + ing (e.g., playing, reading, watching, writing, studying, listening)

4.  Adverbs

• now
• at present
• at this time
• nowadays
• these days

Examples:

• I am playing games
  now.
• They are watching TV
  at present.
• You are reading this
  blog at this time.
• He is writing a
  novel these days.
• Nowadays, many
  people are working from home.

5. Sentence Structures

1. Affirmative

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb(+ing)+object.

• They are watching a movie now.
• The cow is grazing in the field at this time.
• I am learning Tamil these days.

2. Negative

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb(+ing) + object.

• Girls aren’t learning the lesson at this time.
• Students aren’t learning maths these days.

3. Interrogative

Structure 1:

is/am/are + subject+verb(+ing)+object?

• Are they playing games?
• Is she listening to music?
• Am I writing a story now?

Structure 2:

Wh-word + is/am/are + subject + verb(+ing)+object?

• Why are you walking here now?

4. Negative-Interrogative

• Is he not writing a letter?
• Am I not listening to music?
• Are they not listening to music?
• Why are you not going home now?
• Who is not going there at this time?
• Why is he not eating a banana?
• Why am I not writing now?

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using Stative verbs:=

 know, believe,understand, remember, forget, want, need, like, love, hate, prefer, see, hear,smell, taste, seem, appear, own, belong.

Above verbs can’t be used in “ing” form. “ing” can’t be added to these verbs.

• He is knowing answers to all questions.(wrong) ❌
• He knows answers to all questions. ( Right) ✅
• She is wanting a new mobile. ( wrong) ❌
• She wants a new mobile. ( right) ✅

2. Incorrect ing form

Sometimes we make mistakes while adding “ing” to a verb.

For example

• Come + ing = comeing(wrong) ❌
• Come+ing =coming(right) ✅

Rules of adding “ing” to a verb

 1.Verbs Ending in Silent “e”

Drop the “e” and add “-ing”.

• write → writing 
• dance → dancing
• take → taking
• drive → driving

Exception: If the verb ends in “-ee”, keep the “e”:

• see →seeing
• agree→ agreeing

2. Verbs Ending in a Single Vowel + Single Consonant (with stress on the last syllable)

 Double the final consonant and add “-ing”.

• run →running (1 vowel + 1 consonant, stressed
  syllable)
• swim →swimming
• stop →stopping
• plan →planning

Exceptions:

• If the last syllable is not stressed,
  do not double the consonant:
• visit → visiting (stress on “vis-“, not “-it”)
• open → opening

• If the verb ends in “w, x, or y”, do not double:

• fix → fixing (not “fixxing”)
• play → playing

3.Verbs Ending in “-ie”

 Change “-ie” to “-y” and add “-ing”.

· die → dying

· lie → lying

· tie → tying

4.Verbs Ending in “-c”

 Add “k” before “-ing”.

· panic → panicking (to keep the hard “k” sound)

· mimic → mimicking

· picnic → picnicking

7. Practice Questions

1.     Look! The children __________ (play) in the park.

2.     I__________ (not / watch) TV right now. I __________ (read) a book.

3.     Why__________ you __________ (laugh)?

4.     She__________ (learn) French these days for her job.

5.     We__________ (go) to the cinema tonight. Do you want to come?

6.     My phone__________ (not / work) properly.

7.     Hurry up!
Everyone __________ (wait) for you.

8.     He__________ (always / interrupt) me when I am talking!

Answers:

1.     are playing

2.     am not watching, am reading

3.     are /laughing

4.     is learning

5.     are going

6.     is not working

7.     is waiting

8.     is always interrupting

8. Conclusion

So friends, that covers the fundamentals of the Present Continuous Tense! We’ve explored how this tense is
used for actions that are happening right now, activities ongoing around the present time, fixed arrangements for the future, and describing changing or developing situations.

Remember the key structure: Subject+ am/is/are + Verb-ing. For negative sentences, simply add ‘not’ after
‘am/is/are’, and for questions, move ‘am/is/are’ to the beginning, before the subject. And importantly, remember that stative verbs are generally not used in
this tense!

It might seem like a lot to absorb
initially, but trust me, it becomes very easy and natural with consistent practice. The more you actively use the Present Continuous Tense in your everyday English speaking and writing, the simpler it will become for you.

Therefore, make it a habit to observe what is happening around you and try describing those actions using this tense. Keep practicing!

If you have any questions or
encounter any doubts, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below. Until our next lesson, happy learning! Goodbye!