Present Continuous – Examples, Verbs & Exercises

Tenses are the time machines of language rules, as they allow us to leap across moments and capture the essence of what was, what is, and what will be. Among these, the present continuous tense invites us to linger in the now, embracing the fluidity of life as it happens. In this article, we’ll explore the rules and usage of this tense through numerous examples and different exercises.

Definition: Present continuous

The present continuous tense, also known as the present progressive, is a verb tense used to describe actions that are in progress at the moment of speaking, temporary actions, official plans, or anticipated future events. With the help of auxiliary verbs and participles, present continuous conveys a sense of immediacy, movement, and change, often highlighted by specific time expressions.

Formula of present continuous active voice

Subject-verb agreement plays a considerable role when forming the present continuous tense, as it utilizes different forms of “to be” depending on the subject or pronoun. The verb form always stays the same; in the present participle (the “-ing” form of verbs), which makes its form easy to remember.

Similarly to other tenses, such as the future simple tense, contractions can be used with present continuous. Below, we have created a table illustrating the shortened present continuous forms for each pronoun.

Active question form of present continuous

To form questions in the present continuous tense, we need to adjust the sentence structure by moving the helper verb “to be” to the beginning of the sentence. The verb form remains the same with active present continuous questions.

Questions with question words

The fitting question word should precede the “to be” form of interrogative sentences with added question words in the present continuous tense.

Negative question form of present continuous

As with other tenses, such as past simple, you can use a contraction or invert the subject of an active sentence and add “not” before the verb when forming negative present continuous questions.

Negative questions with question words

When forming negative questions with question words (who, what, where, etc.) in present continuous, the question word is simply added in front of the sentence.

We have created an image depicting all structures for the present continuous form in active voice.

Practice worksheet

Before diving into the next sections, let’s test your understanding of the active present continuous tense with this exercise. The answers can be found in the second tab.

Formula of present continuous passive voice

The present continuous passive voice is formed by using the conjugation of the verb “to be” into one of its present forms, the present participle “being,” and the past participle (3^rd past form) of the main verb. If people are involved in the passive sentence, we use the “by” agent to indicate the doer of the action. The object of an active sentence then turns into the subject of the passive sentence.

The illustration below depicts all structures of the present continuous tense in passive voice.

Indicators and usage of present continuous

The present continuous tense is characterized by specific time expressions that signal when an action is happening. Additionally, its usage is quite versatile, which we will further explain in the sections below.

The present progressive is often used to describe temporary events and actions that are or are not happening right now.

The tense also describes actions currently in progress, but may not necessarily be happening at the exact moment of speaking. These actions are ongoing and have not yet been completed.

The present continuous can also be used to describe planned actions or arrangements that will definitely happen in near future events. Compared to future simple, this usage conveys a sense of certainty about future events and plans.

Present progressive can also express actions that are repeated frequently. However, unlike the present simple form, there are negative connotations behind the sentences. In this case, repetition itself is emphasized, often accompanied by adverbs like “always,” “constantly,” or “forever.”

The following time expressions are frequently used with the present continuous tense to indicate the timing of the action:

• Now
• Soon
• Right now
• At the moment
• Currently
• Tonight
• This week
• Next weekend

Short answers in present continuous

Short answers in present continuous follow a simple structure in the active and passive voice, as seen in the examples below.

Active voice

Passive voice

Present simple vs. present continuous

Both tenses are happening at the current time, what sets them apart is that present simple (in purple) is used for regular actions or facts, whereas present continuous (in orange) is specifically used for actions happening right now. Below, we have listed several example sentences, underlining each of their usages.

Possible mistakes

When it comes to the usage of present continuous, it is easy to make mistakes if you are not familiar with certain rules and exceptions. Below are some common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Practice exercise

The practice sentences provided below encompass diverse aspects of the present continuous tense, including both active and passive forms and interrogative and negative structures. The correct verb forms can be found on the second tab.