What is the Present Continuous?
We use the present continuous to talk about things that are happening right now, at this exact moment.
subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
I am working. | She is reading. | They are playing.
Am, is, or are?
| Subject | Verb | Example |
|---|
| I | am | I am eating breakfast. |
| he / she / it | is | He is sleeping. |
| you / we / they | are | We are studying English. |
💡 Short forms: I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're.
Negative: isn't / aren't (e.g. She isn't reading. We aren't watching TV.)
Spelling rules for -ing
Most verbs: add -ing → play → playing, read → reading
Verbs ending in silent -e: drop the e, add -ing → write → writing, make → making
Short verbs with one vowel + one consonant: double the consonant → sit → sitting, run → running
Common mistakes
⚠ Watch out:
✗ I cooking dinner. → ✓ I am cooking dinner. (don't forget am/is/are)
✗ The dogs is barking. → ✓ The dogs are barking. (plural subject = are)
✗ She is writeing a letter. → ✓ She is writing a letter. (drop the silent e)
✗ She not is reading. → ✓ She isn't reading. (word order in negatives)