Categories: Tenses

Present Continuous Tense: Three Familiar Uses

With several tenses to choose from, it’s crucial to understand each English tense to effectively communicate. One important tense that often confuses English learners is the present continuous tense. In this article, you will learn how to master the present continuous tense and see or do practical exercises to help you hone your skills.

Contents hide

1. The Use and Meaning of Present Continuous Tense

1.1. 1. To Describe Actions That Are Happening at the Time of Speaking.

1.2. 2. To Talk about Changing Situations.

1.3. 3. For Future Arrangements

2. Present Continuous Form

3. Examples of the Present Continuous Tense

4. More Examples of the Present Continuous Tense

5. Stative Verbs in the Present Continuous Tense

5.1. Stative Verb Examples

6. Present Continuous Exercises

The Use and Meaning of Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense, also known as the present progressive tense, is used for the following:

1. To Describe Actions That Are Happening at the Time of Speaking.

Remember that you use this tense for temporary actions, ongoing situations, or actions that are happening right now.

Examples:

“Where is Sue?” “She’s having lunch” (We do not say “She has lunch.”
“Please don’t make too much noise. The baby is sleeping.” (We do not say “The baby sleeps.”)

2. To Talk about Changing Situations.

You can also use Present Continuous to talk about changing situations.

Let’s see the following examples!

The price of gasoline is rising very fast.
The earth is really getting hotter and hotter.

3. For Future Arrangements

You can often use the present continuous tense to talk about future arrangements.

See the examples:

I’m meeting her this evening.
Are you doing anything this evening?

Present Continuous Form

To form the present continuous tense, you need a helping verb (to be) in the present tense followed by the present participle of the main verb, which is formed by adding “-ing” to the base verb.

Subject + to be (is, am, are) + verb+ing

Let’s explore some examples to further understand the use the present continuous tense:

Examples of the Present Continuous Tense

I am studying for my exams. In this sentence, the speaker is emphasizing that they are currently engaged in the activity of studying for their exams. The verb “studying” is in the present continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action happening in the present.
She is cooking dinner. Here, the speaker is highlighting that the person referred to as “she” is actively cooking dinner at the moment. The verb “cooking” is in the present continuous tense.
They are watching a movie. The individuals mentioned are currently engaged in the activity of watching a movie. The verb “watching” in this sentence is in the present continuous tense, emphasizing an ongoing action.

More Examples of the Present Continuous Tense

He is running in the park right now.
We are studying for our upcoming exams.
The dog is barking loudly outside.
They are working on a new project.
I am reading an interesting book.
She is playing the piano at the moment.
The children are doing their homework now.
He is repairing his bicycle in the garage.
Look, they are watching TV.
Listen! Somebody’s knocking at the door.

Stative Verbs in the Present Continuous Tense

Some English verbs have stative meaning. They generally describe states. They are not used in the Present Continuous Tense. See the following examples:

This soup tastes good. (We can not say, “This soup is tasting good.”)
She knows me well. (We can not say, “She is knowing me well.”)

Stative Verb Examples

See the following stative verbs you may need.

Stative Verbs	Stative Verbs	Stative Verbs	Stative Verbs	Stative Verbs
taste smell hear feel see	possess have own belong	believe know realize understand need	exist owe seem consist of contain	dislike envy hate like love

Present Continuous Exercises

Exercise I

In this exercise we are going to practice changing the verb into the correct form. Let’s see the examples first!

Please don’t make too much noise. They (pray). Please don’t make too much noise. They are praying.
Don’t go out. It still (rain). Don’t go out. It’s still raining now.

Listen! The people next door (fight).
Why (you/wear) your jacket? It’s not cold here.
Look. It (rain).
Excuse me. I (look) for an Internet Hot Spot, please?
Linda (get) more and more beautiful each day.
The number of poor people (rise) at the moment.
Food (get) more and more expensive these days.
What you (do) alone here?
Please be careful. The dog (approach) you.
The boy is already tall and he (get) taller and taller.

Exercise II

Put the verb into the correct Present Continuous form.

Examples :

Please don’t make so much noise. I am studying. (study)

Let’s go out now. It isn’t running (not/rain) any more.

Please be quiet. I ………….(try) to concentrate.
Look! It …………………….…(rain).
Why …………….(you/look) at me like that? Have I said something wrong?
You…………………….(make) a lot of noise. Be quiet, please!
Excuse me I ……………..(look) for a toilet. Is there one near here?
(in the cinema) It’s a good film, isn’t? ………….(you/enjoy) it?
Listen! Can you hear those people next door? They …….(shout) at each other again.
Why …………..(you/wear) your jacket today? It’s very warm.
I …………..(not/work) this week. I’m on holiday.
I want to lose weight. I …..(not/eat) anything today.

Exercise III

Complete these sentences using the verb in the box.

get become change rise improve get increase

Example :

The population of the world is rising very fast.

The number of people without jobs …………………at the moment.
He is still ill but he ………better slowly.
These days food ………… more and more expensive.
The world ……….. Things never stay the same.
The cost of living ……each year. Things are getting higher and higher.
Ringo has gone to work in Spain. When he arrived, his Spanish wasn’t very good but now it ………
The economic situation is already very bad and it……………… worse.

Answer

Exercise I

Listen! The people next door are fighting.
Why are you wearing your jacket? It’s not cold here.
Look. It is raining.
Excuse me. I am looking for an Internet Hot Spot, please?
Linda is getting more and more beautiful each day.
The number of poor people is rising at the moment.
Food is getting more and more expensive these days.
What are you doing alone here?
Please be careful. The dog is approaching you.
The boy is already tall, and he is getting taller and taller.

Exercise II

Please be quiet. I am trying to concentrate.
Look! It is raining.
Why are you looking at me like that? Have I said something wrong?
You are making a lot of noise. Be quiet, please!
Excuse me. I am looking for a toilet. Is there one near here?
(in the cinema) It’s a good film, isn’t it? Are you enjoying it?
Listen! Can you hear those people next door? They are shouting at each other again.
Why are you wearing your jacket today? It’s very warm.
I am not working this week. I’m on holiday.
I want to lose weight. I am not eating anything today.

Exercise III

The number of people without jobs is increasing at the moment.
He is still ill but he is getting better slowly.
These days food is getting more and more expensive.
The world is changing. Things never stay the same.
The cost of living is rising each year. Things are getting higher and higher.
Ringo has gone to work in Spain. When he arrived, his Spanish wasn’t very good but now it is improving.
The economic situation is already very bad, and it is becoming worse.

Download/print the exercises above here.

By going through these exercises, you develop a clearer understanding of the present continuous tense and how it differs from other tenses. Regular practice and exposure to the correct usage of tenses will help you internalize them and use them naturally in your conversations or writing.

To further enhance your understanding, try using the present continuous tense in different contexts. For example, describe what you or someone else is doing right now, discuss ongoing events, or talk about future plans using the present continuous tense.