Present Continuous Tense Rules, Examples & Structure (Formula)

Present Continuous Tense Rules and Examples & Structure (Present Progressive Tense). Learn what is the present continuous tense? How to make present progressive tense sentences.

When something is happening in front of our eyes, it means the work or action is going on. To express these kinds of actions, present continuous tense is used. Let’s read in brief about the present continuous tense with examples.

What is Present Continuous Tense?

The present continuous tense is used to express the actions that are going on at the moment and are not completed and still continuing. In short, we can say that the present continuous tense tells us that an action is taking place at the time of speaking.

Examples:

1. I am reading the newspaper now.
2. Please keep quiet. My child is sleeping now.
3. Is he coloring the wall of the room?
4. This is my friend James. He’s writing a novel.
5. Where is your son studying English?
6. My cousin is going to London tomorrow.

The Present continuous tense has other meanings and uses and examples. In this post, You can read the correct use and meaning of this tense.

Explanation: Now try to understand what the above examples are expressing;

• The first and the second example show that an action is happening right now.
• In the third example, someone wants to know if this action is happening right now.
• The fourth and the fifth examples express that actions of writing and studying are unfinished and still going on.
• The last example shows that the action will happen in the future.

Let’s take the example to understand the formation of this tense. Look at the picture below for what you can see.

In the above picture, there is a boy. He is riding a bicycle. The action of riding a bicycle is taking place right now. It means that action is incomplete and it is happening in front of our eyes.

Present Continuous Tense Rules and Examples

Present Continuous Tense expresses the actions (incomplete actions) that are going on in the present time. To make the sentences of the Present continuous tense, we use the forms of the auxiliary verb ‘to be‘ and the base form of the verb with -ing. Let’s observe the examples given below:

Examples:

1. He is running now.
2. She is working now.
3. You are cleaning the kitchen.
4. I am writing a book.
5. Tom is going to the office.
6. I am doing my work.
7. She is dancing in the room now.
8. they are cooking the food right now.
9. The child is crying at the moment.
10. The man is riding his bike fast.

Note: In the above examples, you can find ‘is, am, and are’ with subjects and the base form of the verb with -ing.

Let’s read the rules on how to make the sentences of present continuous tense

Rule – 1 We use the helping verb ‘is‘ with the subjects he, she, it, or any other singular noun.

Examples:

1. He is working now.
2. She is walking there.
3. It is hailing today.
4. Tim is waiting for me.

Rule – 2 ‘Am‘ is used only with the subject or personal pronoun ‘I’.

Examples:

1. I am having a party.
2. I am driving now.

Rule – 3 ‘Are‘ is used with the subjects we, you, they, or plural nouns.

Examples:

1. We are moving out now.
2. You are weeping.
3. They are studying in the room.
4. The trains are running.

Note: The above examples are statements or affirmative sentences. Is, am, and are also used in the simple present tense to make simple statements. You may read the examples of tense in detail.

Read also:

• Use of Is, Am and Are Rules and Examples
• Use of Has and Have Rules and Examples
• Use of Had – rules and examples
• Use of Do and Does Rules and Examples

Present Continuous Tense Structure with examples

The sentence structure of the present continuous tense is; subject + verb I + ing + object. Now learn how to make affirmative, negative, or interrogative sentences of present continuous tense.

Here are some sentences structures with examples. First of all, learn to frame simple statement/affirmative sentences.

Rule – 1 If there is a singular subject, put the helping verb ‘is’ after it.

Rule – 2 If there is ‘I’, put the helping verb ‘am’ after it.

Rule – 3 If there is a plural subject, put helping ‘are’ after it.

Rule – 4 Add –ing to the main verb and put the object if there is any.

How to add -ing to the main verb

Rule – 5 If there is a consonant before ‘e’ at the end of a verb, remove ‘e’ and add ‘-ing’.

Examples:

1. Bounce – Bouncing, 2. Prepare – Preparing, 3. Ride – Riding

Rule – 6 If there are a vowel and a consonant at the end of a verb, double the consonant and add –ing.

Examples:

1. Cut – Cutting, 2. Put – Putting, Shut – Shutting

Remember: If there is w, x o y at the end of a verb do not double the w, x, and y.

Examples:

1. Pay – Paying, 2 . Snow – Snowing, 3. Mix – Mixing

Rule – 7 If there are two vowels before a consonant in a verb, add -ing and do not double the letter.

Examples:

1. Keep – Keeping, 2. Read – Reading, 3. Deal – Dealing

Rule – 8 If there are two consonants at the end of a verb, do not double the letter.

Examples:

1. Sing – Singing, 2. Ring – Ringing,

Read also:

• Present Perfect Tense Examples and Rules
• Use of Was and Were Rules and Examples
• What is a noun?
• Examples of nouns 

Affirmative Sentences/Simple Statements

To make affirmative Sentences or simple statements, follow the rules and sentences structures given below:

Person	Singular	Plural
First	I am going.	We are going.
Second	You are going.	You are going.
Third	He is going. She is going. It is raining.	They are going.

Structure: Subject + is/am/are + verb I -ing + object + other words

Examples of Present continuous Tense:

1. He is learning to drive.
2. I am looking for a friend.
3. It is raining outside.
4. The maid is washing the clothes.
5. The boys are smoking there.
6. I am waiting for my turn.
7. Mother is singing at the moment.
8. I am learning English from tenseexamples.com.
9. The birds are flying over the mountains.
10. Your phone is ringing.
11. The cook is preparing testy dishes.
12. Somebody is knocking at the door.
13. The people are admiring him for his act of kindness.
14. The boys are playing loud music.
15. My friend is coming from New York tomorrow.
16. Today I am very happy. I am having a party with my friends tonight.
17. The teacher is teaching the kindergarten students.
18. She is making a kite for her child.
19. Please keep quiet. My child is sleeping now.
20. Everyone is celebrating Christmas today.

Read also:

• Present Perfect Continuous Tense
• Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Negative Sentences/Statements of Present continuous tense

To make the negative sentences or statements, put ‘not’ after the helping verb is, am, and are. Follow the given sentence structure.

Person	Singular	Plural
First	I am not going.	We are not going.
Second	You are not going.	You are not going.
Third	He is not going. She is not going. It is not raining.	They are not going.

Note: We can use the contraction form of is not – isn’t, am not – ain’t, and are not – aren’t.

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing + object.

Examples:

1. Tom is not planting in the garden now.
2. He isn’t eating dinner right now.
3. The teachers are not going to picnic.
4. I am not reading a book about lions. This is a book of tense examples.
5. We are not asking anything right now.
6. Our ower is not establishing.
7. Tony and Jack aren’t eating dinner now.
8. The cab driver is not driving in the city.
9. I’m not going anywhere this weekend.
10. It isn’t raining here today.
11. Don’t wait for them. They are not coming today.
12. You are not obeying me.
13. David is not calling you. He is calling someone else.
14. Margaret isn’t going shopping with her mother.
15. Today we are not going to talk about the population of the world.
16. You are not bothering me.
17. He is not taking his child to the roundabout.
18. Elizabeth is not reading ‘The Merchant of Venice.’
19. I am not going to tell him the truth.
20. It’s not going to rain today.

Interrogative Sentences

To make Interrogative Sentences or questions of present continuous tense, we follow two structures because there are two types of interrogative sentences; yes-no type questions and wh-word type questions.

Yes-No Type Questions

Yes-No Type Questions begin with helping verb or auxiliary verbs ‘is, am, and are’.

Structure: Is/am/are + subject + verb I-ing + object + other words

Examples: 

1. Is Johnny withdrawing money from the bank now?
2. Are you doing this project?
3. Am I insulting you?
4. Are we leaving for California tomorrow?
5. Is she looking at you angrily?
6. Am I watching the old web series?
7. Are they discovering a new medicine?
8. Is this guy breaking the rules?
9. Are you washing the clothes?
10. Is he watching the Avengers movie?
11. Are you playing a match the day after tomorrow?
12. Are you learning French these days?
13. Is your brother uh uh taking participate in this competition?
14. Am I doing it well? I have no idea.
15. Are they making the water dirty?
16. Are we going to meet our friend?
17. He is wearing a new dress. Is he going somewhere?
18. Is that girl standing at the table?
19. Are you learning English from this website?
20. Are your students are learning the Present Continuous Tense in English?

Wh-word Type Questions

Wh-word Type Questions begin with a question word or interrogative word which is used to seek information.

Structure: Question word + is/am/are + verb I-ing + object + ?

Examples:

1. Why are you opening his shop?
2. Who is telling you about the examples of present continuous tense?
3. Where are they showing their magic tricks?
4. What are you repairing at the moment?
5. When are you having a party?
6. When is she going climbing?
7. Whom are you searching for?
8. Where are they carrying these elephants?
9. Who is complaining against him again and again?
10. Whose products are you selling?
11. Why are you investing money in this company?
12. Where is he celebrating his birthday this week?
13. Who is supporting your team?
14. Why is your brother solving the exercise of present continuous tense?
15. What is he searching at the park?

Interrogative Negative Sentences/Questions

In the interrogative negative sentences, we put ‘not’ after the subject and follow the above sentences structures.

Yes-No Type Interrogative Negative Sentences

Examples:

1. Is the teacher not teaching the present continuous tense?
2. Are they not applying for this job? It’s a good chance.
3. Tell me! Am I not helping these kids?
4. Isn’t it raining there?
5. Aren’t we going to his office?

Wh-word Type Questions

Examples: 

1. What is he not giving you back?
2. Why are Bill and Alan not studying here?
3. Who is not telling you the truth?
4. Why am I not looking at him?
5. What is Polly not attending the class?

Read also:

• Simple Past Tense Examples and Rules
• Past Continuous Tense Examples and Rules
• Past Perfect Tense Rules and Examples

Use of Present Continuous Tense with Examples

The present continuous tense is used to describe the ongoing actions at present. It is used for different meanings. In this post, we have explained the use of the present continuous tense. We use this tense to talk about planned future actions and events. Let’s discuss the use of this tense in detail.

An on-going action

The present continuous tense is used to explain an action that goes on at the time of speaking. We use the progressive tense to speak about actions and situations that are happening ‘around now’ and the instant of speaking.

Examples:

1. Hurry up! The bus is coming.
2. They are watching a new web series on Netflix.
3. Where are you now? We are waiting for you.
4. Our gardeners are watering the plants now.
5. I can’t talk now. I am cooking in the kitchen.
6. Mary is boiling eggs at the moment.
7. We are swimming in the pool.
8. Don’t stay there. The vehicles are running.

Note: In the above sentences, we can see the ongoing actions that are happening now. These actions are progressing and imperfect.

Habits or Customs

It is used to express habits or customs. It means that someone is doing something regularly but can’t be seen.

Examples:

• Jack is submitting his projects very regularly nowadays.
• She is coming to the college regularly these days.
• I am taking this medicine prescribed by the doctor regularly.

Temporary Actions

When we talk about temporary actions, we use the present continuous tense. These temporary actions cannot be seen but happening now. Observe the examples given below.

Examples:

• I am reading the newspaper.
• She is living in a flat.
• Your brother is studying French these days.
• The girl is working at Samsung.
• I am writing a book on the English language.

To express ‘Future’

The present continuous tense expresses the fixed program or the event of the nearest future.

Examples:

• The prime minister is going to Bhopal next week.
• I am going home today.
• She is buying a new car tomorrow.
• My dad is leaving for the USA at 5 p.m.
• My friend is singing today.

To express ‘intention’

To express likelihood and intention, the present continuous tense (present progressive) is used.

Examples:

1. We are going to visit the old museum in the city today.
2. The maid is very upset. She is going to kill herself.
3. Mom is going to cook in the kitchen.
4. I am going to learn the present continuous tense.
5. It is going to rain tonight.

Read Also:

• Future Indefinite Tense (Simple Future Tense)
• Future Continuous Tense Rules and Examples

Time Expressing Adverbs

Some time expressing Adverbs are used in this tense. They show that an action is taking place at the moment.

Examples:

1. I am reading the examples of the present progressive tense at the moment.
2. We are watching the movie ‘Jurassic Park’ now.
3. Our car is ruining at the speed of 140 km/hour right now.
4. I am very excited. My grandfather is coming this weekend.
5. I can’t sleep. Who is playing loud music now?

No use of Stative Verbs

We don’t use the Stative Verbs in the Present Continuous Tense. These verbs have other names; non-action verbs, mental verbs, and non-progressive verbs. The meaning of these names is the same.

Some stative verbs like want, understand, and know don’t usually use the present continuous tense. These verbs use the simple present tense even if the action is taking place at the moment.

Examples:

1. It is dark now. I am wanting want to leave right now.

2. Now I am understanding understand why you come here.

3. She didn’t know me two days ago. But now she is knowing knows me very well.

Note: In the above examples, the stative verbs have been stricken through because we don’t use the stative verbs in this tense.

List of Stative Verbs

Here is a list of some common stative verbs with their examples. Remember not to use them in this tense. But the underlined verbs can be used as action verbs also.

agree, doubt, love, remember, amaze, envy, look, resemble, appreciate, equal, matter see, be, exist, mean, seem, believe, fear, mind, smell, belong, feel, need, sound, care, forget, owe, taste, concern, hate, own, think, have, please understand, consist, contain, hear, possess, want, dislike, know, prefer, wish, disagree, like, recognize, weigh

Read also:

• Parts of Speech Exercises
• Collective Noun Exercises

Examples of Stative Verbs

The common verbs ‘think and have’ use both simple present and present continuous tense. These verbs are often used as active and stative verbs.

Think

Think as an active verb: When the verb ‘think’ doesn’t mean ‘believe’ plan, or consider, it uses both simple present and present continuous tense. It is used as other verbs are used.

Examples:

1. I am thinking of examples of the present continuous tense right now.
2. She is thinking about going to the office on Monday.
3. Please keep quiet. We are thinking now.
4. I’m thinking of buying a new BMW car.

Think as a stative verb: When the verb ‘think’ means ‘believe or have an opinion, it is used as the stative verb. It is not used in continuous or progressive tenses.

Examples:

1. The man thinks that climbing is not easy.
2. I don’t think he will come to the office.
3. Do you think it will work?
4. Does she think your audience will like your speech?

Have

The verb ‘have’ has many uses and meanings in English. It is also used as a ‘stative verb’ Let’s read some examples of have with their meaning.

Have as an Active Verb

When ‘have’ is used as an active verb, it shows different meanings but it doesn’t show procession. It is used in the present continuous and simple present tense the equivalent way that the majority of verbs do.

Examples:

1. Our friends are having a party now.
2. Your son is having an ice cream.
3. I am having a wonderful time.

Explanation: In the first sentence, ‘are having’ means ‘giving or throwing a party.’ In the second sentence, ‘is having’ means ‘eating’. In the third sentence, ‘am having a wonderful time’ is an expression. So ‘have’ is an action verb here.

Have as a Stative Verb

When the verb ‘have’ is used as a stative verb it means ‘owns or possesses.’ The forms of have are ‘has and have’ for the simple present tense. Read some examples below.

Examples:

1. The girl has an apartment where she lives.
2. I have a red ball.
3. She has a lot of money.

Watch this video on the present continuous tense (Present progressive tense)

Conclusion

In this post, you have learned about the examples of present continuous tense with rules and structures. As as we know that distance is used to show ongoing actions. Before learning this tense, you must study the simple present tense so that you can understand tenses correctly. You should try to revise every tense that you learn. The present continuous tense shows some actions that will happen in the future. We can use it for both. If you have any doubts or questions please ask in the comments section.