The Present Continuous Tense: All uses

Look at the mind map below. It will help you to understand the difference between the Present Simple `and Present Continuous. Pay attention to the special signal words used with these tenses.

You cannot form the Present Continuous unless you already know how to form the Present Simple of the verb ‘to be’. (is, am, are)

Sometimes the spelling can be a bit tricky when you form the present continuous tense:

Function:

Structure – It is formed with the verb to be + -ing on the action verb.

Positive statement:
- I am playing
- You are playing
- He is playing
Negative statement:
- I am not playing (I’m not playing)
- You are not playing (You aren’t playing)
- He is not playing (He isn’t playing)
Questions:
- Are you playing?
- Is he playing?
Negative questions:
- Are you not playing? (Aren’t you playing?)
- Is he not playing? (Isn’t he playing?)

Note: The negative questions normally express a surprise. (Isn’t he working?)

Use

1. We use the present continuous tense for activities that are happening now.

I am learning English at the moment.
You aren’t listening!
Why is he sitting here?

Signal words to look out for: at the moment, now/just now/right now, Listen! Look!

2. We use it for an action happening about this time (today, this week), but not necessarily at the moment of speaking. It is a temporary activity.

I am in London. I am staying at the hotel.
- (But just now you can be somewhere else.)
She can’t go out. She is writing her essay today.
- (But she can be having lunch at the moment.)
You can’t borrow this book today. Mary is reading it.
- (But not right now.)

Signal words to look out for: at the moment, now

3. With a future time expression (soon, on Monday) it is used for definite arrangements/plans in the near future.