The present progressive is one of the most used tenses among the 12 tenses and that’s why it is important to learn it well.
We use the present continuous to talk about events which are in progress at the moment of speaking:
- I am riding my bike
- I am taking an online class
- We are discussing the project
- She is reading a book now
We use the present continuous to talk about temporary states which are true around the moment of speaking:
- I am living with my mother
- I am studying English
- She is working for Walmart
We use the present continuous to describe actions which are repeated or regular, but which we believe to be temporary:
- I am not eating much these days
- She is working in Costa Rica at the moment
- I am working from home during the pandemic
We use the present continuous to refer to the future when we talk about plans and arrangements that have already been made:
- I am moving to Italy in July
- They are building a new house next month
- I am leaving tomorrow morning
- We are buying a new car tomorrow
Table of Contents
Verbs in the Present Continuous
The verbs in the present continuous suffer an small change, we add -ing to the root.
- Play = Playing
- Cook = Cooking
- Send = Sending
In some case you have to remove the -e and add -ing
- Dance = Dancing
- Make = Making
- Paste = Pasting
- Take= Taking
In other instances, we have to add to double the last consonant
- Begin = Beginning
- Beg = Begging
Structure of the Present Progressive
The structure of the affirmative sentences is the following:
| Subject | Verb to be | Verb + Ing |
| I | am | cooking |
| She | is | reading |
| He | is | driving |
| We | are | exercising |
| You | are | working out |
The structure for the negative sentences is similar
| Subject | Verb to be | Verb + Ing |
| I | am not | cooking |
| She | is not | reading |
| He | is not | driving |
| We | are not | exercising |
| You | are not | working out |
Present Progressive Sentences: Affirmative
These are affirmative sentences with the present progressive or present continuous with all the pronouns in English
- I am calling my mom
- I am talking to the Mormon missionaries
- You are working really hard
- You are doing great
- He is playing soccer with his brother
- He is doing his homework
- She is preparing her lunch
- She is fixing her bike
- We are promoting a product
- We are having lunch
- It is working fine
- It is raining
- They are playing ball
- They are doing exercises
Present Progressive Sentences: Negative
These are negative sentences with the present progressive with each one of the pronouns in English
- I am not doing anything wrong
- I am not making lunch for you
- He is not running every day
- He is not watching Anime
- She is not coming today
- She is not leaving
- We are not doing anything illegal
- We are not playing video games
- They are not playing call of duty
- They are not calling the cops
- It is not working
- It is not raining
Present Progressive: Questions and Answers
These are some questions and answers using the present progressive
- What are you doing?
- I am doing Yoga
- Where are you going?
- I am going to the stadium
- What is she studying?
- She is studying math
- Are you doing exercises?
- No, I am not
- Are we going to the beach?
- Yes, we are
- Is she coming back tomorrow?
- I don’t think so, she is angry
- What are you watching?
- I am watching a soccer game
Present Progressive Conversation
This is a shot conversation that uses the Progressive:
| Diane | Hello |
| Jim | Hi Diane |
| Diane | What are you doing? |
| Jim | I am doing Yoga |
| Diane | I didn’t know you were into Yoga |
| JIm | I love it, where are you going? |
| Diane | I am going to the drugstore |
| Jim | What’s matter? |
| Diane | I am feeling a bit sick |
| Jim | I’ll call you later |
| Diane | ok |
Present Progressive Videos
This is a great YouTube video if you want to learn more about the present progressive
These are other great videos that could complement the information from the previous present continuous video
