Oxford Language Club

Forming the Present Continuous

The Present Continuous of any verb is composed of two parts - the present tense of the verb to be + the present participle of the main verb.

(The form of the Present Participle is: base+ing, e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling)

Affirmative
Subject	+ *to be*	+ base + ing
She	is	talking.
Negative
Subject	+ to be + not	+ base + ing
She	is not (isn't)	talking
Interrogative
*to be*	+ subject	+ base + ing
Is	she	talking?

Examples: TO GO, Present Continuous

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
I am going	I am not going	Am I going?
You are going	You aren't going.	Are you going?
He, she, it is going	He, she, it isn't going	Is he, she, it going?
We are going	We aren't going	Are we going?
You are going	You aren't going	Are you going?
They are going	They aren't going	Are they going?

Note: alternative negative contractions: I'm not going, you're not going, he's not going etc.

Functions of the Present Continuous

As with all tenses in English, the speaker's attitude is as important as the time of the action or event. When someone uses the Present Continuous, they are thinking about something that is unfinished or incomplete

The Present Continuous is used:

to describe an action that is going on at this moment: You are using the Internet. You are studying English grammar.
to describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend: Are you still working for the same company? More and more people are becoming vegetarian.
to describe an action or event in the future, which has already been planned or prepared: We're going on holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visiting you next winter?
to describe a temporary event or situation: He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment.
with "always, forever, constantly", to describe and emphasise a continuing series of repeated actions: Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're constantly complaining about your mother-in-law!