Present Continuous Tense is the tense that helps us talk about what is going on right now. Present Continuous Tense is also known as the Present Progressive Tense.

Let’s take a look at the time line below and understand where to use this Tense.

Tense of a sentence is defined by its verb. Did you notice the verbs of above example sentences? The verbs are underlined there. Let’s list them down and analyze how the verb forms are used.

• am eating
• is falling.

As you can see, there are two parts to the complete verb.

• am + eating
• is + falling

Part 01 - First part of the verb is made up of one of the “be verbs” in the present tense. i.e. am, is, are. Here they are called “Helping verbs” because they help the other incomplete verb (Present Participle form of the main verb) to stand strong in the sentence.

Part 02 - The second part of the verb is made up of the “ing form” of the main verb. This verb form is also known as the “Present Participle form of the verb. It is an incomplete verb form. It cannot stand alone in a sentence as a complete verb.

Verbs used in Present Continuous Tense

Type of verb	Singular	Plural
Helping verbs	am is	are
Main verb (ing form of any action verb)	eg:- eating reading working
Complete verb in a sentence	eg:- am eating is eating	are eating
	am reading is reading	are reading

When we need to communicate what is happening right now and what someone is doing right now, we use the above verbs appropriately.

You need to consider the Subject – verb agreement in choosing the appropriate verb for your sentence.

Use of correct verb according to different subjects:-

Singular	I am working hard.	I am reading a book.
	She is working hard. He is working hard. The dog is wagging its tail. It is wagging its tail. Mary is working hard.	She is reading a book. He is reading a book. The tree is falling. It is raining outside. Mary is reading a book.
Plural	We are working hard. You are working hard. They are working hard. Men are working hard.	We are reading books. You are reading books. They are reading books. Children are reading books.

The following table gives elaborates how we should use the verb for different purposes;-

• Conveying a positive idea. (Say Yes)
• Conveying a negative idea. (Say No)
• Interrogations (Asking Questions)

	Positive Sentences	Negative Sentences	Questions
Singular	I am working. She is working. He is working. Mary is working	I am not working. She is not working. He is not working. Mary is not working	Am I working? Am I not working? Is she working? Is she not working? Is he working? Is he not working? Is Mary working? Is Mary not working?
Plural	We are working. You are working. They are working.	We are not working. You are not working. They are not working.	Are we working? Are we not working? Are you working? Are you not working? Are they working? Are they not working?

Contractions

	Positive Sentences	Negative Sentences	Questions
Singular	I’m working.	I’m not working.	-
	She isn’t working. He isn’t working. Mary isn’t working	Isn’t she working? Isn’t he working? Isn’t Mary working?
Plural	We’re working. You’re working. They’re working.	Aren’t we working? Aren’t you working? Aren’t they working?

Practical Usage of Present Continuous Tense

How to form the present participle form (ing form) of the verb.

1. Go + ing = going
2. Work + ing = working
3. See + ing = seeing
4. Agree + ing = agreeing
5. Be + ing = being

Argue	argue +ing	arguing (Vowels - a,e,i,o,u)
Dye	dye + ing	dyeing
Die	die + ying	dying
Lie	lie + ying	lying

Stop (c+v+c)	stop + ping	stopping
Travel	travel + ling	travelling
Run	run+ning	running
Begin	begin+ning	beginning

Open (c+vx+c)	open+ing	opening
Enjoy	enjoy + ing	enjoying
Carry	carry + ing	carrying

Come (v+c+e)	come + ing	coming
Drive	drive + ing	driving
Live	live+ ing	living
Make	make + ing	making
Write	write + ing	writing

g,m,n,t
Dig	dig + ging	digging
Swim	swim + ming	swimming
Cut	cut + ting	cutting
Sit	sit + ting	sitting