Present Continuous Tense - Structure, Rule, Examples, Exercises

Do you often make plans on the go for short trips or a little catch up after work? When you plan about actions in the moment or about those coming up you use action verbs. This in turn is for present continuous tense use.

Present Continuous Tense is an important tense form. When you talk about things in continuation and not separately you often use action verbs. These action verbs suggest some action or planning going on. Here present continuous tense is used. If you are going to appear for any English language proficiency exams then you must practice this grammar topic. These may be tested in fill in the blank form or identifying the right verb use.  
Present continuous as the name suggests discusses actions in the present but can also refer to some actions in the near future also. In order to understand everything about present continuous tense, you will have to read the rules carefully, understand how verbs are used when this tense is being used and practice as many questions as possible. Let's understand what the present continuous tense is, its cases of use, and provide examples, followed by exercises. 

What is Present Continuous Tense?

Tenses form the biggest part of English grammar. Without tenses, it is next to impossible to determine the time of action. A type of the present tense, the present continuous tense suggests an ongoing action. If you are jogging, reading, playing or even writing all these actions are all ongoing, which are used for present continuous tense.  

Present Continuous Tense Examples

• I am going to study at MIT.
• We are driving to the metro station.
• She is sitting idly in the class.
• He is brewing some fresh coffee for the guests.
• You are starting lunch before time again today. 

Thus, to define any ongoing action within a particular moment or time is the present continuous tense. Present Continuous as the name suggests, is an action that is going on continuously in the present. 

Structure of Present Continuous Tense

The structure of the present continuous tense can be better understood from the following sections. Check out the present continuous rule and how present continuous sentences are formed in negative, interrogative and negative-interrogative sentences. Identifying present continuous is simple - when an action is recurring or in action in the present tense that is present continuous. Wherever applicants see - is/am/are + ing suffixed to the verb, an action is happening continuously or in the present. This is how present tense structure is formed, identified and used in certain contexts. 

Present Continuous Tense Rule & Usage

Did you notice something different in the examples given above? Helping verb describes the action verb. Present continuous tense rule is:

Subject is followed by helping verb along with action verbs. 

So present continuous tense sentences go like this based on the structure given above:

• I am going tomorrow. 
• You are coming tonight.
• He is writing his exam.
• We are partying this week. 
• Arun is trekking today.

As given above, the ongoing action verb requires a helping verb and an ing with present participle to show that the action is still ongoing. 

Note: The easiest way to learn present continuous tense is to remember that the helping verb changes with the subject but the ‘ing’ form of the verb remains the same. The spellings of verbs may or may not change after adding an 'ing' to the verb. For example: change becomes changing, travel becomes travelling, lie becomes lying, etc. 

Remember that action verbs are used for progressive verb tenses with auxiliary verbs and in simpler words in present continuous tenses.

Check out:

Present Continuous Tense Use Across Different Sentence Types

There are different types of sentences in English grammar. In this section, we will understand how present continuous tense is used across different types of sentences. 

The present continuous tense structure uses the present participle (ing+V) along with a helping verb. Based on the above present continuous tense sentences, this is how the sentences look when used in negation, interrogation, and negative-interrogative. Also check out the definition, use and examples of other present tenses:

1. Simple Present Tense
2. Present Perfect Tense
3. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Where is Present Continuous Tense Used?

The Present Continuous Tense is used across five major happenings. Each of them has been explained below in the table for reference along with examples:

Understanding the use of the present continuous tense is easy. Let us take a few more examples of present continuous tense:

1. The girls are rehearsing their lines for the play. 
2. The rock band are playing the newly launched bass guitar.
3. I am taking a break from my job for the time being.
4. We are opening another branch of our salon in your block soon.
5. Nowadays people are spending 90% of their time on their phones.
6. Eye problems are increasing among youngsters.
7. I am calling Sophie but she is not answering. 
8. We are preparing dinner for 25 people to celebrate Thanksgiving.
9. I am helping my mom with her assignment checking.
10. She is bringing home cooked food for all of us. 

Based on the above table, mark these sentences based on which present continuous tense case is used. Write to us in the comments below and tell us how many you got right.

Also read about:

• How to Build English Vocabulary?
• Importance of Building Communication Skills
• Best Spoken English Books for Indian Students

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Tense use can be confused in some cases. Here is a list of common mistakes to avoid when using this tense:

1. Do not Forget the ing with Verbs

I am eat the whole portion. 

I am eating the whole portion.

2. Do not Use Present Continuous for Universal Truths or Habits

The sun is rising from the east. 

This is a universal truth so simple present will be used and not present continuous. 

3. Stative Verbs do not change form in Present Continuous

I am knowing the schedule for tomorrow. 

Some of the commonly used stative verbs are as follows:

4. Incorrect Spelling of Present Participles

We are runing a marathon today.

We are running a marathon today.

Avoiding these mistakes will help you score higher on present continuous tense questions.

Present Continuous Tense Exercises

Based on the present continuous examples and rules given above, its now time to practice!  

Present Continuous Tense Exercises for Beginner Level

1. We ......... (eat) lunch right now. 
2. She ......... (read) a book in the garden.
3. They ......... (listen in negative) to the music. (not paying attention right now)
4. ......... it ......... (rain) outside?
5. I ......... (learn) English from your teacher.
6. They ......... (run) a marathon at the club. 
7. The sun ......... (set) beautifully.
8. ......... you ......... (wait) for the bus?
9. We ......... (clean) the house this afternoon. 
10. My friend ......... (visit) me from another country.

Answers:

Present Continuous Tense Exercises for Intermediate Level

1. We ......... (brainstorm) new ideas for the project deadline. 
2. She ......... (feeling in negation) well, so she's skipping her workout today.
3. The delivery person ......... (bring) our groceries right now.
4. ......... you ......... (consider) a career change? 
5. The famous painter, Ms. Dey ......... (exhibit) her work at the gallery this month.
6. They ......... (argue) again! 
7. I ......... (improve) my French daily with help from my French teacher.
8. What ......... you ......... (work) on this weekend? 
9. The new restaurant down the street ......... (get) good reviews.
10. We ......... (rely - negation) solely on luck; we're putting in the hard work. 

Answers: 

Also Read:

Present Continuous Tense Exercises for Advanced Level

1. Our team ......... (research) on a groundbreaking experiment that will bring a big revolution in the field.
2. As the deadline ......... (approach), managers ......... (motivate) everyone in their teams to work harder.
3. The government ......... (facing) increasing pressure to address the climate crisis.
4. The negotiation process ......... (prove) to be more complex than anticipated.
5. The family reunion ......... (take) place next month in Hawaii.
6. ......... (be) we ......... (witness) a paradigm shift in the way we approach education?
7. Despite the criticism, the company ......... (hold) firm to its controversial decision.
8. ......... (be) you ......... (consider) a career change, or are you happy in your current position?
9. These days ......... (be - negation) everyone ......... (use) their phones aimlessly? 
10. Public opinion ......... (lean) towards stricter regulations on social media.

Answers:

Understanding present continuous is the easiest among other types of present tense forms. Anything that is going on or is happening at the moment can be easily identified as present and continuous. Thus, students will not have a problem understanding the usage of present continuous when they read the examples again and again. Students who are preparing for IELTS can use some materials to learn for free through Shiksha's Free Online IELTS Training. This will help them learn faster and more conveniently.