Present continuous tense

1 Introduction

What is Kim doing? He is reading a book.

he is reading
He is reading a book.
= He is reading a book right now. past now future

We use the present continuous tense (he is reading/coming/sleeping; I am

reading/eating/etc) to talk about things that are happening right now, at the
moment of speaking or writing.

Positive and negative Questions

He/She/It is (not) speaking Is he/she/it speaking ?
We/You/They are (not) studying Are we/you/they studying ?
I am (not) going Am I going ?

Short forms: is = ’s are = ’re am = ’m

is not = ’s not/isn’t are not = ’re not/aren’t am not = ’m not (Not: amn’t)

 Be quiet. The baby is sleeping.
 It’s raining. Take an umbrella.
 Look! The pipe is leaking.
 Turn the TV off. I’m not watching it.
 Mike isn’t doing anything. He can come with you.
 Is she waiting for me? Tell her to come later.
 Where’re the children? Are they playing
outside?
 Am I speaking correctly? Correct me if I’m
wrong.

2 Wh- questions
 What are you doing?  Who is Tom going with to the party?
 Where is she going?  When are we going home?
 Why are you looking at me like that?  What time are you meeting the manager?

3 Short answers

 Are you reading a book?  Are your parents sleeping?

Yes, I am. / No, I’m not. Yes, they are. / No, they’re not. / No, they aren’t.
 Is Fahad working hard?
Yes, he is. / No, he’s not. / No, he isn’t.

You can’t say: Yes, I’m; Yes, they’re; Yes, he’s; etc.