The present continuous tense is used to describe an action that is happening now. It doesn’t talk about when the activity started.
- We are walking to the centre of the city.
(happening now/walking) - The gardener is cutting the grass.
(happening now/cutting the grass)
The present continuous is also be used to describe a planned activity that is going to happen in the future.
- Our train is arriving in five minutes.
(planned activity/train arriving – future/in five minutes) - I am going to Croatia next year.
(planned activity/going to Croatia – future/next year)
The present continuous tense is formed subject + am/is/are + present participle.
- I am cleaning my car.
(subject/I + am + present participle/cleaning) - We are thinking about our holiday.
(subject/We + are + present participle/thinking) - They are visiting Sweden next summer.
(subject/They + are + present participle/visiting + future/next summer)
The negative is formed subject + am/is/are + not + present participle.
- I am not cleaning my car.
(subject/I + not + present participle/cleaning) - We are not thinking about our holiday.
(subject/We + are + not + present participle/thinking) - They are not visiting Sweden next summer.
(subject/They + are + not + present participle/visiting + future/next summer)
The question is formed question word + am/is/are + subject + present participle.
- Why is Gary cleaning his car?
(question word/Why + is + subject/Gary + present participle/cleaning) - What are they thinking about?
(question word/What + are + subject/they + present participle/thinking) - Why are they visiting Sweden next summer?
(question word/Why + are + subject/they + present participle/visiting + future/next summer)
For yes/no questions it is formed am/is/are + subject + present participle.
- Is Gary cleaning his car?
(Is + subject/Gary + present participle/cleaning) - Are we thinking about our holiday?
(Are + subject/we + present participle/thinking) - Are they visiting Sweden next summer?
(Are + subject/they + present participle/visiting + future/next summer)
Common mistakes with tenses.
