The present continuous tense

Present continuous tense form

Affirmative

I am writing.
She is writing.
You are writing.

Negative

I am not writing.
She is not writing.
You are not writing.

Question

Am I writing?
Is she writing?
Are you writing?

Uses of the present progressive tense

to denote time around now

We use the present progressive to talk about temporary actions and situations that are going on 'around now'.

• It is raining.
• I am writing letters.
• She is having a bath at the moment.
• Hurry up! We are all waiting for you.
• What are you doing? I am doing my homework.
• The kettle is boiling.

The present progressive suggests that the action began before the moment of speaking; it is going on at the moment of speaking and will probably go on after the moment of speaking.

developing and changing situations

The present progressive can be used to talk about developing and changing situations.

• The universe is expanding.
• It is getting darker.
• The climate is getting warmer.
• You are getting younger every day.

talking about the future

We often use the present progressive to talk about the future.

• She is leaving for Mumbai on Monday.
• What are you doing tomorrow evening?
• Janet is coming soon.

physical feelings

Verbs that refer to physical feelings (e.g. hurt, ache, feel) can often be used in simple or progressive tenses without much difference of meaning.

• My tooth aches. OR My tooth is aching.
• How do you feel? OR How are you feeling?

verbs not used in progressive forms

There are some verbs which are never or hardly ever used in progressive forms.

Examples are: believe, love, doubt, hate, suppose, prefer, imagine, realise, understand, know, want remember, wish, like, need etc.

• I like his attitude. (NOT I am liking ...)
• I rang her up because I needed to talk. (NOT ... because I was needing to talk.)
• I have only known her for two days. (NOT I have only been knowing her ...)

Some other verbs are not used in progressive forms when they have certain meanings.

Examples are: feel (= have an opinion), see (= understand), think (= have an opinion), look (= seem).

• I am seeing the doctor at eight o'clock.
• I see (= understand) what you mean. (NOT I am seeing what ...)
• I am feeling fine. OR I fell fine.
• I feel (= have an opinion) we shouldn't do it. (NOT I am feeling we shouldn't do it.)
• I think (= have an opinion) she is right. (NOT I am thinking ...)

Formation of questions and negatives

Affirmative sentences in the present continuous tense can be converted into negative sentences by putting not after be (is, am, are).

• I am writing.
• I am not writing.
• She is singing.
• She is not singing.
• They are waiting for us.
• They are not waiting for us.

Sentences in the present continuous tenses can be converted into questions by putting be before the subject.

• They are going to the park. (Statement)
• Are they going to the park? (Question)
• He is writing letters. (Statement)
• Is he writing letters? (Question)
• I am making a cake. (Statement)
• Am I making a cake? (Question)
• It is raining. (Statement)
• Is it raining? (Question)

Sections in this article

Tenses
The simple present tense
The present progressive tense
The present perfect tense
The present perfect progressive tense
Present tenses to talk about the future
The simple past tense
The past progressive tense
The past perfect tense
The past perfect progressive tense
Past verb forms with present or future meaning
The simple future tense
The future progressive tense
The future perfect tense