Present Continuous: Form and Uses

Form of Present Continuous

The Present Continuous or Present Progressive is formed from the present tense of the verb be and the present participle (-ing form) of a verb.

be verb + -ing

Uses

Below are other uses of present continuous. Typically, we use the present continuous to talk about the present.

  • Firstly, present progressive is used for something that is happening at the moment of speaking:

Please be quiet. The baby is sleeping.
I‘m just leaving work. I’ll be home in an hour.

  • Moreover, present progressive is used for something which is happening before and after a given time:

At nine o’clock we are usually watching our favourite TV program.
When I get home, my mom is making dinner in the kitchen.

  • In addition, we can also use present continous for something which we think is temporary:

John is at university. He’s studying Management.
I’m working in London for the next two months.

  • Additionally, it is used for something which is new and contrasts with a previous: state:

These days most people are using email instead of writing letters.
What sort of clothes are teenagers wearing nowadays? What sort of music are they listening to?

  • Another use of present continuous tense is to show that something is changing, growing, or developing:

The children are growing quickly.
The climate is changing rapidly.
Your English is improving.

  • Lastly, present progressive is used for something which happens again and again:

It’s always raining in London.
They are always arguing.
Philip is funny. He’s always telling jokes.

Note: We normally use always with this use.

Present Continuous Exercise

Answer this exercise on present continuous tense.

1. In my country, many people ______ Spanish.

a. are speaking

b. speak

c. is speaking

2. Some old traditions _____ very fast. 

a. disappear

b. are disappearing

c. have disappeared

3. You can’t play with the baby now; she _____ a nap.

a. takes

b. is taking

c. has take

4. Please be quiet, I ______. You know I _____ the paper in the mornings.

a. reads … am reading

b. read … read 

c. am reading … read

5. What time _____ ?

a. does the first class start

b. is the first class starting

c. the first class start

6. I ______ a coat because it’s unusually cold today.

a. am wearing

b. wear

c. wears

7. I finished listening to the podcast you recommended. Now I _____ another one.

a. listen to

b. am listening to

c. listens to

8. What _____ this afternoon?

a. are you doing

b. do

c. you are doing

9. Nobody _____ she will marry him.

a. is thinking

b. thinks 

c. think

10. You look like you are having fun. What _______ ?

a. you are watching

b. are you watching

c. do you watch

Find the answers to this exercise here.

See also: Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous.

For additional information on this topic, check out this British Council lesson.

For other English grammar lessons, go to this page.

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8 replies on “Present Continuous: Form and Uses”

1. In my country, many people are speak Spanish.
2. Some old traditions are disappearing very fast.
3. You can’t play with the baby now; she is taking a nap.
4. Please be quiet, I am reading. You know I read the paper in the mornings.
5. What time does the first class start?
6. I am wearing a coat because it’s unusually cold today.
7. I finished listening to the podcast you recommended. Now I am listening to another one.
8. What are you doing this afternoon?
9. Nobody is thinking she will marry him.
10. You look like you are having fun. What are you watching?

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