Present continuous: talking about actions in progress
To understand the present continuous well, you need to understand the verb to be
What do we use the present continuous for?
We use the present continuous to talk about actions in progress now
I am writing a new article for the Guardian right now
I am currently staying at my girlfriend´s flat
I am currently doing a German course on Upverb.com
I am working in a bank at the moment
We use the present continuous to talk about temporary situations
My parents are saving for a new holiday home
I am living in Madrid at the moment
Hint: it is very different to say
I live in London = I intend to stay in London
I am living in London = It is only for a short time
We use the present continuous to talk about annoying or irritating situations
You are always arriving late to work!
You are always complaining!
We use the situations to talk about amusing situations
You are always telling the funniest stories
You are forever kidding around
Warning: actually does not mean now, it means in fact/reality
We use the word CURRENTLY to say now/right now
Warning: we do not use the phrase, in this moment
Now = at the moment
We do not usually use the present continuous for stative verbs: these are not actions
| AGREE | APPEAR | BELIEVE | BELONG | CONCERN |
| CONSIST | CONTAIN | DEPEND | DESERVE | DISAGREE |
| DISLIKE | DOUBT | FEEL | FIT | HATE |
| HEAR | IMAGINE | IMPRESS | INCLUDE | INVOLVE |
| KNOW | LIKE | MATTER | MEAN | MIND |
| NEED | PREFER | SEEM | UNDERSTAND | WANT |
For example, it would be strange to say:
I am liking playing tennis. We would simply say, I like playing tennis.
I am wanting to buy a new car. We would say, I want to buy a new car.
Form: how to make your own sentences
+ I am working at a language school at the moment
– I am not listening to music at the moment
? Are you doing your homework right now?
| KEY WORDS |
| NOW, RIGHT NOW, AT THE MOMENT, TODAY, CURRENTLY |
The affirmative
| SUBJECT | EXAMPLE |
| I | I am doing my homework now. |
| YOU | You are listening to music right now. |
| HE | He is watching TV right now. |
| SHE | She is eating a sandwich at the moment. |
| IT | It is happening at the moment. |
| THEY | They are currently talking on the phone. |
| WE | We are currently reading the newspaper. |
Contractions
| SUBJECT | EXAMPLE |
| I | I’m doing my homework now. |
| YOU | You’re listening to music right now. |
| HE | He’s watching TV right now. |
| SHE | She’s eating a sandwich at the moment. |
| IT | It’s happening at the moment. |
| THEY | They’re currently talking on the phone. |
| WE | We’re currently reading the newspaper. |
The negative
| SUBJECT | EXAMPLE |
| I | I am not doing my homework now. |
| YOU | You are not listening to music right now. |
| HE | He is not watching TV right now. |
| SHE | She is not eating a sandwich at the moment. |
| IT | It is not happening at the moment. |
| THEY | They are not currently talking on the phone. |
| WE | We are not currently reading the newspaper. |
Contractions
| SUBJECT | EXAMPLE |
| I | I’m not doing my homework now. |
| YOU | You aren’t listening to music right now. |
| HE | He isn’t watching TV right now. |
| SHE | She isn’t eating a sandwich at the moment. |
| IT | It isn’t happening at the moment. |
| THEY | They aren’t currently talking on the phone. |
| WE | We aren’t currently reading the newspaper. |
Questions
| AUXILIARY | SUBJECT | EXAMPLE |
| AM | I | Am I doing my homework correctly? |
| ARE | YOU | Are you learning English at the moment? |
| IS | HE | Is he playing the piano now? |
| IS | SHE | Is she eating fruit now? |
| IS | IT | Is it working correctly? |
| ARE | THEY | Are they looking for a job? |
| ARE | WE | Are we driving to work right now? |
Practice questions:
- What are you doing right now?
- Are you studying at university?
- What are you doing at the moment at work?
- Where are you currently living?
- Are you thinking of changing job soon?
Download exercises in PDF
