When we talk about events that are actually happening now, we use the present continuous tense. This is formed by using the stem of the verb and adding -ing to the end: for example the verb "work" becomes "working".
In some cases you need to alter the spelling a bit: for example the verb "to die" becomes "dying".
| Statements + |
Statements - |
Questions | Short answer + |
Short answer - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I'm working. | I'm not working. | Am I working? | Yes, I am. | No, I'm not. |
| He's working. | He isn't working. | Is he working? | Yes, he is. | No, he isn't. |
| She's working. | She isn't working. | Is she working? | Yes, she is. | No, she isn't. |
| It's working. | It isn't working. | Is it working? | Yes, it is. | No, it isn't. |
| You're working. | You aren't working. | Are you working? | Yes you are. | No, you aren't. |
| We're working. | We aren't working. | Are we working? | Yes we are. | No, we aren't. |
| They're working. | They aren't working. | Are they working? | Yes they are. | No, they aren't. |
Present Continuous Timeline
For example:
Q) "What are you doing?"
A) "I'm building a website."
We also use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are happening around now but are temporary.
For example:
Q) "What are you doing these days?"
A) "Unfortunately
I'm working a lot."
It is also used to describe trends or situations that are happening but may be temporary.
For example:
"Nowadays more and more people are shopping on the Internet."
...and habitual actions (usually negative).
For example:
"He's always cleaning his car."
The present continuous tense can also be used to discuss future events:
Note:-
The present continuous is usually used with doing verbs (verbs of action) not with verbs of state. The following verbs are not used in the continuous form in these contexts:-
Conditions: belong, cost, need, own, seem Feelings: like, love, hate, want, wish Beliefs: believe, feel, know, mean, remember, think, understand |