By the end of this lesson, I can…
- Positive sentences
- Negative sentences
- Questions
- Usage, exceptions and scope
Simple explanation
The Present Continuous is used to talk about actions happening now or temporary situations. It is formed with am, is, or are plus a verb ending in -ing. This lesson explains how to make positive, negative, and question sentences with clear rules, examples, and practice activities.
Positive sentences
Use this structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing. Use am with I, is with he/she/it, and are with you/we/they.
Negative sentences
Add not after am, is, or are: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing.
Questions
Move am, is, or are to the beginning of the sentence: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?
Common signal words
Words like now, right now, at the moment, and currently often appear with the Present Continuous.
Usage, exceptions and scope
Both be and the ing form are needed: She is working, not She working. Not follows be; questions put be before the subject. Notice spelling: make→making, run→running, lie→lying. Now does not automatically require a continuous form: I know the answer now uses know as a mental state. The continuous can also describe a temporary current situation, even when the action is not happening at this exact second.
Patterns at a glance
These are construction models; translated examples follow below. Practice and test use separate question contexts.
| Rule | Model sentence |
|---|---|
| Positive sentences | I am reading now. |
| Positive sentences | She is cooking now. |
| Positive sentences | We are studying now. |
| Negative sentences | She isn't sleeping now; she is reading. |
| Questions | Are you listening to me? |
| Usage, exceptions and scope | The dog is running now. |
Grammar formula
Positive form
Subject + am/is/are + verb-ingShe is reading a book.
Negative form
Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ingThey are not playing football.
Question form
Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?Are you watching TV?
Core rules
- 1
Positive sentences
Use this structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing. Use am with I, is with he/she/it, and are with you/we/they.
- 2
Negative sentences
Add not after am, is, or are: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing.
- 3
Questions
Move am, is, or are to the beginning of the sentence: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?
- 4
Common signal words
Words like now, right now, at the moment, and currently often appear with the Present Continuous.
- 5
Usage, exceptions and scope
Both be and the ing form are needed: She is working, not She working. Not follows be; questions put be before the subject. Notice spelling: make→making, run→running, lie→lying. Now does not automatically require a continuous form: I know the answer now uses know as a mental state. The continuous can also describe a temporary current situation, even when the action is not happening at this exact second.
Useful examples
I am studying English now.
I am studying English at this moment.
Now shows that the action is happening at the time of speaking.
She is cooking dinner.
She is preparing dinner right now.
She uses is because it is third person singular.
They are playing in the garden.
They are having fun in the garden now.
They is followed by are.
We are watching a movie at the moment.
We are watching a film right now.
At the moment is a common Present Continuous expression.
He is not sleeping.
He is awake and not sleeping now.
Not comes after the verb be.
I am not working today.
I am not doing my job today.
The sentence describes a temporary situation.
Are you listening to me?
Are you paying attention to me now?
Questions start with am, is, or are.
Is your brother learning French?
Is your brother studying French now?
Learning is the -ing form of learn.
The weather is getting colder.
The weather is becoming colder now.
Present Continuous can describe changes.
My parents are traveling this week.
My parents are on a trip this week.
A temporary situation can use Present Continuous.
Common mistakes
- ❌ I is reading now. ✅ I am reading now.
- ❌ She am cooking now. ✅ She is cooking now.
- ❌ We is studying now. ✅ We are studying now.
- ❌ She aren't sleeping now; she is reading. ✅ She isn't sleeping now; she is reading.
- ❌ Do you listening to me? ✅ Are you listening to me?
- ❌ The dog is runing now. ✅ The dog is running now.
Learning tips
- Read the context and word roles before choosing an option.
- After feedback, read the reason and make a new sentence.
- After practising, take the test without the table; test mastery is recorded separately from reading.
Use it in your own sentences
Adapt the names, times or places in the models to write six sentences about your own life. Keep the target construction and check that the meaning fits the rule. This is a self-assessment activity; the multiple-choice test has a separate score.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 1.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 2.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 3.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 4.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 5.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 6.
Show the model
I am reading now. She is cooking now. We are studying now. She isn't sleeping now; she is reading. Are you listening to me? The dog is running now.
Check your own work
- I identified the subject, verb and target construction in every sentence.
- I adapted the context instead of only copying the model.
- I checked my choices against this lesson’s rules and exceptions.
Put it into practice
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Related grammar
Frequently asked questions
What should I check for “Positive sentences”?
Use this structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing. Use am with I, is with he/she/it, and are with you/we/they.
What should I check for “Negative sentences”?
Add not after am, is, or are: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing.
What should I check for “Questions”?
Move am, is, or are to the beginning of the sentence: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?
What should I check for “Common signal words”?
Words like now, right now, at the moment, and currently often appear with the Present Continuous.
What should I check for “Usage, exceptions and scope”?
Both be and the ing form are needed: She is working, not She working. Not follows be; questions put be before the subject. Notice spelling: make→making, run→running, lie→lying. Now does not automatically require a continuous form: I know the answer now uses know as a mental state. The continuous can also describe a temporary current situation, even when the action is not happening at this exact second.
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