The present continuous

 

eat, eating, man hamburger manger computer ordinateur      He's eating a hamburger.


The present continuous is one of the two present tenses used in modern English.  The other one is the present simple.

The present continuous tense consists of:


subject + present simple of 'to be' + the present participle of another verb 


I am going.

 

Affirmative

Negative 1

Negative 2

Interrogative

 

I'm working

You're working

He's working

She's working

It's working

We're working

They're working

 

 

I'm not working

You're not working

He's not working

She's not working

It's not working

We're not working

They're not working

 

----------------------------

You aren't working

He isn't working

She isn't working

It isn't working

We aren't working

They aren't working

 

Am I working?

Are you working?

Is he working?

Is she working?

Is it working?

Are we working?

Are they working?

 


Uses

Examples

 

To talk about something that is happening at the moment

 

 

I'm studying the present continuous.

 

It's raining.

 

The phone's ringing.

 

They're watching TV.

 

 

To talk about current changes

 

 

The situation is improving.

 

House prices are rising.

 

The climate is changing.

 

My English is getting better.

 

 

To describe a temporary situation

 

I'm living with my parents and working near their home at the moment but I want to move to London soon and get a job there

 

I'm travelling to work by bus this week. Usually, I go by train but the drivers are on strike

 


Note that

It is the correct tense to use if you are describing a picture because we can imagine that it's happening now.

couple, dancing dance danse dress robe

They're dancing. He's wearing glasses and he's singing. She's wearing a dress and she's smiling.

listen to music relax détendre musique écouter   He's listening to his favourite CD.

visitor_airport_visiteur_visitante travel hand shake meet handshake serrer voyage  Are you enjoying your new job?

Image  They're painting their bedroom walls.


Image   Our sales figures are increasing.

discussion colleagues meeting man woman  Ben and Sue wear glasses but Ben isn't wearing his today.