The Present Continuous Tense

The following lesson will show you how to use the Present Continuous Tense in English.

FORMS

The Present Continuous Tense has the following forms:

• Affirmative: S + AM/IS/ARE + V-ing
• Negative: S + AM/IS/ARE + NOT + V-ing
• Interrogative/Question: AM/IS/ARE + S + V-ing

USAGE

The Present Continuous Tense is used to express:

• an action that is in progress at the moment of speaking
  
  Examples:
  
  Be quiet! The baby is sleeping.
  I'm trying to concentrate, so please don't disturb me.


• an action that is in progress around the moment of speaking
  
  Examples:
  
  His son is studying for a degree in philosophy in the United States.
  I'm reading a rather long novel by Dickens. I don't know when I can finish it.


• an action that has been planned for the near future
  
  Examples:
  
  My father is coming to see me tomorrow.
  We are having a meeting on Thursday morning.

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