PRESENT CONTINUOUS
TENSE EXPLANATION
Form
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) Question: Are you playing? Is he playing? Neg. question: Are you not playing?
(Aren't you playing?) Is he not playing? (Isn't he playing?) The present continuous tense is
formed with the verb to be and the present participle (-ing ending). The negative question
normally expresses a surprise: Isn't he working?
Use
1. We use the present continuous for an activity that is happening just now.
I am learning English at the moment. You aren't listening! Why is he sitting here? Online
exercises and grammar rules at www.e-grammar.org/present-simple-continuous
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.)
3. With a future time expression (soon, on Monday) we use the present continuous for
definite arrangements in the near future. It is more personal than the present simple tense,
because it expresses the speaker's plan.
I am leaving soon. We are meeting on Monday.
