The Present Continuous Tense is used to describe actions that are happening now or around now. It is formed using the present tense of the verb "to be" (am, are, is) plus the present participle form of the main verb ending in "-ing". Common uses include denoting ongoing actions at the time of speaking, temporary actions happening today or these days, and expressing ongoing changes. It can also be used to talk about future arrangements involving a specified time.

1. The Present
Continuous Tense
Use and form

2. What is she doing?
• She is reading a book.

3. What is she doing?
• She is crying.

4. What’s he doing?
• He’s watching TV.

5. Where’s he going?
• He’s going to school.

6. And what are you doing right
now?
• We are studying English grammar.

7. Use 1
• The previous examples show that we use
this tense to denote an action happening
at the time of speaking (adverbs: now,
right now, at the moment)

8. What are they wearing today?
• They are wearing T-shirts and mini
skirts today.

9. I’d love to see you. Are you
busy?
• Unfortunately, I’m rather busy. I’m
painting my flat this week.

10. Are you having fun this
summer?
• Not really. I’m working as a waiter. I
need some money for college.

11. Use 2
• These examples show that the Present
Continuous Tense is also used to denote
a temporary action happening today or
these days.

12. What’s wrong with our planet?
• It’s getting warmer.

13. What’ wrong with the air we
breathe?
• It’s becoming more and more polluted.

14. Use 3
• It is also used to express the ongoing
changes, especially with verbs such as
become, get, grow, change, and with
expressions like more and more.

15. • Are you going to the party on Friday?

16. • We’re leaving tomorrow.

17. Use 4
• We use it for future arrangements with
a time reference.

18. Form – am, are, is + ing form
am, is, are + ing form
• Affirmative
I am sleeping.
He/she/it is sleeping.
You/we/they are sleeping.
• Negative
I am not (I’m not) singing.
He/she/it is not (isn’t) singing.
You/we/they are not (aren’t) singing.

19. Form - continued
• Interrogative
Am I dreaming?
Is he/she/it dreaming?
Are you/we/they dreaming?
• Short answers
Yes, I am/he is/we are…
No, I’m not/he isn’t/we aren’t…

20. ing form – spelling rules
• Most verbs just take –ing with no
changes in spelling: watch-watching,
clean-cleaning, listen-listening
• Verbs ending in –e drop it before –ing:
live-living, write-writing
• Verbs with short vowels and one
consonant double the consonant:
run-running, swim-swimming

21. ing form – spelling rules
• Verbs ending in –l, double it: travel-
travelling, cancel-cancelling
• Verbs ending in –ie change it to –y: lie-
lying, die-dying