3 Ways to Use the Present Continuous Tense:With Example Sentence
- Rose Sensei
- Oct 29, 2020
- 8 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
What is the Present Continuous tense?
The Present Continuous tense is used to talk about actions that are happening now, around now, or for temporary situations.
It is also used for future plans that are already arranged.
How to form the Present Continuous?
[subject + am / is / are + verb-ing]
Example: She is learning English at the moment.
👉 This tense is very common in everyday English, especially when talking about work, lifestyle, and daily plans.
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When to use the Present Continuous tense - Example Situation
We use the Present Continuous for:
✔️an action happening now
e.g. I'm making dinner now.
✔️a current or temporary action
e.g. Thomas is learning Japanese at the moment.
e.g. We are meeting Jamie for drinks after work next week.
More Examples:
Isabel is having her dinner now.
My brother is studying for his exams at the moment.
I'm seeing my friend off at the airport later.
My parents are coming to visit next week.
Ben is working in Singapore this month.
Is Tina going to the craft fair tomorrow?
What are you doing this weekend?
Compare Present Continuous & Present Simple.
When to Use the Present Simple tense: Example Sentences:
Example Situation
1. true facts 👉 Isabel loves watermelons.
2. habits & routines 👉 She drinks milk every day.
3. timetables 👉 Her school bus leaves at 7 every morning.
4. programmes / notices 👉 The performance starts at 7.30pm.
5. instruction 👉 Leave your bags on the floor.
Review the Present Simple form:
How to form the Present Continuous Tense - Positive / Negative
- Form= [is, am, are + verb -ing]
(Positive) + short form
I am /'m having
We / They / You are /'re having
He / She / It is /'s having
(Negative) + short form
I am not /'m not having
We / They / You are not /'re not / aren't having
He / She / It is not /'s not / isn't having
Yes/No Questions
Am I having...?
Are we / they / you having...?
Is he / she / it having...?
Short Answers (positive)
Yes, I am.
Yes, we / they / you are.
Yes he / she / it is.
Short Answers (negative) + short form
No, I am not /'m not.
No, we / they / you are not /'re not / aren't.
No, he / she / it is not /'s not / isn't.
Wh-Questions + 'be' verb + subject + verb-ing ...?
What
Who
When are they having ...?
Where
Why
Grammar Check!
*Note the spelling change for some of the -ing verbs
e.g. have ➡️having plan➡️ planning
For more rules & spelling changes for verbs -ing form:
Use The Present Continuous Tense for: an action happening now
🗣️Dialogue A:
🏠 At Home
🧑Mum: Brian, where are you?
🙎♂️Brian: In the bathroom, mum.
🧑Mum: What are you doing? Are you brushing your teeth?
🙎♂️Brian: No, I'm not. Not yet. I'm putting toothpaste on my toothbrush.
🗣️Dialogue B:
🧑👩🦰 Mum is talking to Sarah...
🧑 Mum: Sarah. Mike's here for you.
👩🦰 Sarah: I'm coming, mum. Tell him to wait. I'm getting dressed.
🧑 Mum: (looking out the window)
Ok, then. Take your time. He's getting out of the car. Oh, he's talking to your dad now.
🗣️Dialogue C:
📞 A phone call to the florist
🌼 Shop: Hello. Candy's florist. How may I help you?
👩🦰 Customer: Hello. May I speak to Candy, please?
🌼 Shop: Sorry, she's not available right now. Can I help?
👩🦰 Customer: Oh, is she teaching a workshop now?
🌼 Shop: No, she isn't. She's arranging some flowers and getting ready for this afternoon's class.
👩🦰 Customer: Ok, then. Can you get her to return my call?
🌼 Shop: Sure. You are...?
👩🦰 Customer: Sara here. My number is...
🎯Learning Tip #1 for Spoken English Grammar
Notice that we're using the short form spelling in the conversation examples. Use them for your speaking practice.
Dialogue D
🚪A visit to a neighbour's house
A: Hi Amanda. Is Luke in?
B: No, he's not. He's studying at the library.
A: Is he studying with his classmates?
B: No, he's not. He's revising for his English speaking test with his online tutor.
🎯Vocabulary Check!
revise (verb) meaning: to study something again before you take a test or exam
Use The Present Continuous Tense for:
a current or temporary action or event happening around now
🎯Look out !
Time expressions to show action / event is temporary or current
- e.g. these days, currently, at the moment, etc...
Conversation Example A
Lucie and Pat are old school friends. Lucie lives in the UK with her husband.
They're chatting on video:
Lucie: Hi Pat. Are you in Singapore now?
Pat: Yes, I am. My husband’s working at the main office this year.
Lucie: Are you working? Or studying at the moment?
Pat: I'm spending this year studying.
Lucie: That's fantastic. What courses are you doing?
Pat: I'm taking conversational English lessons 3 times a week.
It's a part-time online course. I'm also doing an art diploma course.
Lucie: Wow, sounds exciting but a bit busy...
Pat: (laughs) It's all right. I'm not working at the moment. So *I've got quite a lot of free on my hands. I'm enjoying my life here in Singapore, meeting new people and experiencing a new culture.
Lucie: You're right. What about the place where you live? Is it in a good area?
Pat: Oh, yes. We're living in an apartment somewhere downtown. It's in a nice residential area. So many interesting shops and restaurants nearby.
🎯Grammar Check!
*have got = I've got
🎯 Learning Tip #2 for Spoken English Grammar
*Note the conversation between the 2 friends. Lucie and Pat.
Notice that we don't need to use the time expressions all the time in the sentences. Especially when a conversation is flowing. It's understood between the speakers. They're talking about some current events happening around now.
Use The Present Continuous Tense for: An action in the future
(Something you plan or arrange to do)
👀Time expressions for the future - tonight, next year, day after tomorrow, week after next… etc
👩🦰 Alison is talking to her mum about plans for the next day.
Speaking Practice #1
👩🦰 Alison: I’m taking part in our school's storytelling contest tomorrow.
🧑Mum: Well done, sweetheart.
👩🦰 Alison: I'm telling the story of "The Missing Snowman."
🧑 Mum: Oh, that's your favourite story. Best of luck, honey.
👩🦰 Alison: Thanks. And... Mum, don't forget we're going to Nando's for dinner after school tomorrow.
🧑 Mum: Sure. Do you still remember your promise to your dad?
👩🦰 Alison: What promise?
🧑 Mum: You're doing the dishes for 2 days starting this Wednesday, remember?
✍🏻 Sasha's writing in her journal / diary ...
1. I'm not cooking dinner this whole week.
2. So I'm not shopping for groceries after work.
3. The boys are spending time at their grandparents' place for the next 6 days.
4. Martin and I are dining out every night this week.
Want to know more about tenses?
Or Learn Grammar through a fun story:
🎯Learning Tip #3 for Spoken English Grammar
Let's look at the following conversation between 2 friends. Christine and Leah. They are talking about some events happening in the future.
💬Conversation Practice
Christine and Leah are on video call.
👩🦱 Christine works in an advertising firm.
👩🦰 Leah is a homemaker. She lives with her husband and little Clara.
👩🦱 Christine: Are you meeting Ling after this?
👩🦰 Leah: Yeah, I am. We're going shopping for some more mother and baby
stuff. She's giving birth next month. I'm so excited for her and her husband.
👩🦱 Christine: Me too. Is her mother coming to stay with her?
👩🦰 Leah: Yeah, her mum's coming at the end of this month. She's helping
Ling out for about 2 weeks.
👩🦱 Christine: Are you taking little Clara out with you?
👩🦰 Leah: No, I'm not. My sister's coming to babysit her at 11.
👩🦱 Christine: Lucky you! Have fun then, send Ling my love.
And don't forget we're attending David's engagement party next weekend.
👩🦰 Leah: (laughs) Of course I won't. You're coming here to help me do my
hair first, remember?
A quick recap!
We use the Present Continuous to talk about these 3 different situations:
✔️for an action happening now - I'm studying.
✔️ *a current or temporary action - They're planning a surprise party for Ruth.
✔️*an action/ event in the future - I'm taking the kids to the zoo this weekend.
💬 Over to You!
Let's practise using the Present Continuous to:
1. Talk about what's going on in your life right now.
I'm ....................................................................................................
2. And your plans for this week, next month, etc.
This week I'm .......................................................................................
💬 Let us know in the comment below.
❓FAQs - Summary Section
This grammar guide helps English learners understand how to use the Present Continuous naturally in real-life situations.
What is the Present Continuous tense used for?
The Present Continuous is used to describe:
Actions happening right now
Temporary actions or situations
Changes happening over time
Planned future actions
Example:
I am working on a new project this week.
❓ How do you form the Present Continuous?
Use: Subject + am / is / are + verb-ing
Example:
I am reading a book.
She is cooking dinner.
They are studying English.
❓What time words are common with the Present Continuous?
Common time expressions include:now, right now, at the moment, today, this week, these days
Example: He is feeling tired today.
❓Can we use the Present Continuous for future plans?
Yes. We use it for future plans that are already decided.
Example:
We are meeting friends tonight.
❓What is the difference between Present Simple and Present Continuous?
Present Simple → habits and routines
Present Continuous → actions happening now or temporary situations
Example:
I drink coffee every morning.
I am drinking coffee right now.
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