Present simple continuous - 1
Form
The Present Continuous (sometimes called the Present Progressive) Tense in English is really easy to make and is the same for all verbs.
We make it using the present simple of be + verb + -ing:
Here is how we make the positive:
| Positive |
Positive Short Form |
| I am sleeping |
I'm sleeping |
| you are sleeping |
you're sleeping |
| he is sleeping |
he's sleeping |
| she is sleeping |
she's sleeping |
| it is sleeping |
it's sleeping |
| we are sleeping |
we're sleeping |
| they are sleeping |
they're sleeping |
We can make the negative by adding not:
| Negative |
Negative Short Form |
| I am not sleeping |
I'm not sleeping |
| you are not playing |
you aren't playing |
| he is not reading |
he isn't reading |
| she is not working |
she isn't working |
| it is not raining |
it isn't raining |
| we are not cooking |
we aren't cooking |
| they are not listening |
they aren't listening |
Present simple continuous - 2
Form
Questions are also really easy. Just like we made the question with be in the present simple, here we also put am, is, or are before the subject to make a yes/no-question. For wh-questions, just put the question word at the front.
| Positive |
Positive Short Form |
| I am sleeping |
I'm sleeping |
| you are sleeping |
you're sleeping |
| he is sleeping |
he's sleeping |
| she is sleeping |
she's sleeping |
| it is sleeping |
it's sleeping |
| we are sleeping |
we're sleeping |
| they are sleeping |
they're sleeping |
Present simple continuous - 3
Use
We use the Present Continuous Tense in the following cases:
1. Things that are happening at the moment of speaking.
- I'm working at the moment.
- Please call back as we are eating dinner now.
- Julie is sleeping.
- You are studying the present continuous.
2. Temporary situations, when we feel something won't continue for a long time.
- She's staying with her friend for a week.
- I'm living in London for a few months.
- John's working in a bar until he finds a job in his field.
- I'm reading a really great book.
The present simple is used for permanent situations that we feel will continue for a long time.
3. Temporary or new habits (for normal habits that continue for a long time, we use the present simple).
- He's eating a lot these days.
- She's swimming every morning (she didn't use to do this).
- You're drinking too many Fristi's.
- They're working late every night.
4. Annoying habits, when we want to show that something happens too often and we don't like it.
- You're always losing your keys!
- She's constantly missing the train.
- He's always sleeping in.
- They're forever being late.
5. Definite future arrangements (with a future time word).
In this case we have already made a plan and we are pretty sure that the event will happen in the future.
- I'm meeting my father tomorrow.
- We're going to the beach at the weekend.
- I'm leaving at three.
- They're coming to the party at the weekend.
6. Finally we use this tense to talk about a situation which is slowly changing.
- I'm getting better at playing the piano.
- The weather is improving.
