Present Continuous tense

Por María Auxiliadora Jácome Ortega

The present continuous tense (also known as present progressive tense) is used to describe
actions that are happening right now at the moment of speaking, or actions that are ongoing and
in progress.

Structure:

The present continuous tense is formed with the present tense of the verb "to be" (am, is,
are) followed by the base form of the main verb + ing.

 Affirmative:
o I am working.
o He/She/It is working.
o We/You/They are working.
 Negative:
o I am not working.
o He/She/It is not working.
o We/You/They are not working.
 Interrogative:
o Am I working?
o Is he/she/it working?
o Are we/you/they working?

Examples:

1. Affirmative:
o She is reading a book right now.
o They are playing soccer at the park.
o I am studying for my exam tomorrow.
2. Negative:
o He is not listening to music at the moment.
o We are not watching TV tonight.
o They are not working on the project anymore.
3. Interrogative:
o Are you listening to me?
o Is she coming to the party tonight?
o What are they doing in the garden?

Uses:

 Actions happening now: "She is reading a book."

 Actions that are ongoing: “The sun is shining and the kite is flying around the sky.”
 Temporary actions: "He is working on a project this week."
  Future plans or arrangements: "We are meeting them tomorrow."
 Annoyance or complaints: "She is always talking loudly."

The present continuous emphasizes the ongoing nature of an action happening in the
present moment or a temporary situation. It contrasts with the simple present tense, which
describes habitual actions, general truths, or scheduled events.