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Present Continuous Tense: Complete B1 English Grammar Tutorial with Interactive Practice | LingExam Language Academy
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July 27, 2025
Present Continuous Tense
B1 Grammar Masterclass
1
What is the Present Continuous Tense?
The Present Continuous Tense (also called Present Progressive) is used to talk about actions that are happening right now or around the current time. You can recognize it by the structure: am / is / are + verb-ing.
Use this tense when you want to describe:
- Actions happening at this exact moment
- Temporary situations (not forever)
- Changes and trends
- Future arrangements (very soon)
("learning" is happening at the moment of speaking.) Example: She is living with her friend these days.
(It is not permanent. It is just for now.)
Exercise 1: Understanding Present Continuous
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Focus on actions happening now or around the present time.
1. Which sentence uses the Present Continuous correctly?
Explanation: “He is going to school now” uses the Present Continuous (is + going) for an action happening at this moment. The other sentences are Simple Present and Simple Past.
2. Choose the correct form: "I _____ (study) English at the moment."
Explanation: “I am studying” is Present Continuous (am + verb-ing) for something happening right now. The other forms are incorrect for this context.
3. Which word completes the sentence? "They _____ playing football in the park."
Explanation: “They are playing” is correct. “Are” matches the plural subject “they” for Present Continuous.
4. "She _____ (not / watch) TV right now." Which is correct?
Explanation: “She is not watching” (or “She isn’t watching”) uses “is + not + verb-ing” to make the Present Continuous negative.
5. Choose the correct question:
Explanation: The correct Present Continuous question is “Are you listening?” (“are + subject + verb-ing”). The others are not correct forms.
How to Form the Present Continuous Tense
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Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
The Present Continuous Tense is built in three simple parts:
1) The subject (who or what is doing the action)
2) The correct form of "be" (am / is / are)
3) The main verb with -ing
I am eating breakfast.
("I" = subject, "am" = be, "eating" = verb+ing)
("I" = subject, "am" = be, "eating" = verb+ing)
She is reading a book.
("She" = subject, "is" = be, "reading" = verb+ing)
("She" = subject, "is" = be, "reading" = verb+ing)
We are watching TV.
("We" = subject, "are" = be, "watching" = verb+ing)
("We" = subject, "are" = be, "watching" = verb+ing)
- am – only with I: I am learning.
- is – with he, she, it: She is dancing.
- are – with you, we, they: They are running.
Verb+ing Spelling:
- Add -ing: work → working, read → reading
- If the verb ends in e, drop the "e" and add -ing: make → making, write → writing
- For a short vowel + consonant, double the consonant: run → running, sit → sitting
Exercise 2: Making Present Continuous Verbs
Choose the correct verb-ing form for each sentence.
1. Which is the correct -ing form? run
Explanation: “run” ends in one vowel + one consonant, so double the “n”: running.
2. Which is the correct -ing form? make
Explanation: Remove the “e” and add “-ing”: making.
3. Which is the correct -ing form? sit
Explanation: Double the final “t” because the verb has one vowel + one consonant: sitting.
4. Which is the correct -ing form? read
Explanation: Just add “-ing” to “read”: reading.
5. Which is the correct -ing form? write
Explanation: Remove the “e” and add “-ing”: writing.
Negative & Question Forms in Present Continuous
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How to Make Negatives and Questions
Negatives:
Add not after am/is/are.
I am not working.
She is not listening.
They are not studying.
Short forms:
I am not = I'm not | is not = isn't | are not = aren't
I am not = I'm not | is not = isn't | are not = aren't
Questions: Move am/is/are to the front, before the subject.
Are you reading?
(are + subject "you" + verb-ing)
Is she coming?
(is + subject "she" + verb-ing)
Am I speaking clearly?
(am + subject "I" + verb-ing)
- Yes/No Questions: Are you working? – Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
- Wh- Questions: What are you doing? / Where is he going?
Exercise 3: Negatives & Questions
Choose the correct Present Continuous form for each sentence. Practice negatives and questions.
1. Which is correct? She _______ (not/watch) TV right now.
Explanation: "She" needs "is". Negative: is + not + verb-ing = is not watching.
2. Which is correct? ________ you listening to me?
Explanation: For "you" (plural or singular), use Are you listening?
3. Which is correct? I _______ (not/go) to the party.
Explanation: With "I", the negative is "am not going" (am + not + verb-ing).
4. Which is correct? ________ she wearing a red jacket?
Explanation: For "she", use Is she...? in questions.
5. Which is correct? They _______ (not/play) football today.
Explanation: "They" needs "are". Negative: are + not + verb-ing = are not playing.
When Do We Use the Present Continuous?
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1. Actions Happening Right Now
Use the Present Continuous for things happening at the moment of speaking.
He is talking on the phone right now.
2. Actions Happening Around Now (Temporary)
Use it for actions or situations that are happening these days or for a short period.
I am staying with my cousin this week.
3. Changing or Developing Situations
Use it for things that are changing or developing over time.
The weather is getting warmer.
4. Future Arrangements
Sometimes, we use Present Continuous to talk about plans or arrangements in the near future.
We are meeting our friends tomorrow.
- Now, these days, at the moment are time words often used with Present Continuous.
Exercise 4: When to Use Present Continuous
For each sentence, choose why the Present Continuous is used.
1. She is drawing a picture right now.
Explanation: The action is happening at this exact moment: right now.
2. He is living in Paris for a few months.
Explanation: He is living there for a short period, not forever (temporary situation).
3. We are meeting our teacher tomorrow.
Explanation: The action is a planned event in the near future (future arrangement).
4. The climate is getting warmer.
Explanation: The situation is changing over time.
5. I am reading a great book these days.
Explanation: "These days" means it is a temporary activity.
Common Mistakes & Smart Tips
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Be Careful! Don’t Make These Mistakes
-
✗ I going to school.
→ Correct: I am going to school. -
✗ She are eating.
→ Correct: She is eating. -
✗ They is studying.
→ Correct: They are studying. -
✗ He is play football.
→ Correct: He is playing football. -
✗ Are she listening?
→ Correct: Is she listening?
Top Tips to Remember
- Always use am/is/are + verb-ing.
- Don’t forget the -ing at the end of the verb.
- Use the right “be” verb for the subject (I am, She/He/It is, You/We/They are).
- For negatives, use not: am not, is not (isn’t), are not (aren’t).
- For questions, move am/is/are to the front: Are you coming?
Remember: Practice makes perfect! Speak, write, and check your sentences often.
Exercise 5: Which Sentence is Correct?
For each group, choose the correct Present Continuous sentence.
1. Choose the correct Present Continuous sentence.
Explanation: "She is going to the shop." uses the correct subject-verb agreement (is + verb-ing).
2. Choose the correct Present Continuous sentence.
Explanation: "They are watching TV." matches the plural subject "they" with "are" and verb-ing.
3. Choose the correct Present Continuous sentence.
Explanation: "I am not sleeping." is correct. "Am" goes with "I" for negatives.
4. Choose the correct Present Continuous sentence.
Explanation: "Are you listening?" is the correct Present Continuous question form.
5. Choose the correct Present Continuous sentence.
Explanation: "He is not playing football." uses the correct negative form (is + not + verb-ing).
Short Answers & Everyday Conversation
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How to Give Short Answers in English
In daily life, people often use short answers with the Present Continuous. This makes conversations sound natural.
- Are you working now? – Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
- Is he coming with us? – Yes, he is. / No, he isn't.
- Are they listening? – Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.
Everyday Conversation Examples
— What are you doing?
— I'm watching a movie.
— I'm watching a movie.
— Is your sister coming home?
— Yes, she is.
— Yes, she is.
— Are you going to school today?
— No, I'm not. It's a holiday!
— No, I'm not. It's a holiday!
Tip: Use contractions (“I’m”, “isn’t”, “aren’t”) to sound more fluent and friendly.
Exercise 6: Choose the Correct Short Answer
Choose the best short answer for each question about the Present Continuous.
1. Are you coming to the party?
Explanation: Short answers for Present Continuous use "am/is/are" — "Yes, I am."
2. Is he watching TV?
Explanation: "Yes, he is." is the correct short answer for "Is he...?"
3. Are they listening to music?
Explanation: "No, they aren't." is the correct negative short answer.
4. Is she coming home?
Explanation: The correct negative short answer is "No, she isn't."
5. Are we having lunch now?
Explanation: For "Are we...?", the positive answer is "Yes, we are."
Review: Master the Present Continuous!
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Quick Review Table
| Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I am working. | I am not working. | Am I working? |
| He/She/It | She is eating. | She is not eating. | Is she eating? |
| You/We/They | They are playing. | They are not playing. | Are they playing? |
Practice in Real Life!
- Describe what you and your friends are doing right now.
- Ask someone about their plans using Present Continuous.
- Write a short text about your week, using at least five Present Continuous sentences.
Tip: Try speaking with a partner or even recording yourself. Practice makes your grammar stronger!
Present Continuous Review Quiz
Test yourself! Each time, you’ll get 10 random questions out of 30. Try again for new questions!
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The more you practice, the more fluent you become!
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