Present Continuous Tense is used to express actions which are happening at the time of speaking. The tasks which are in process but not completed yet. This is also called present progressive tense.
For example ‘Ram is writing a letter’:
- Here Letter writing is happening at the time of speaking and it is in process.
- Letter writing is not completed yet.
- The action has started in past and will keep on happening in future .
Such scenarios are expressed via Present Continuous Tense.
Formation / Rule of Present Continuous Tense:
Subject + IS/AM/ARE + verb + ing + rest of the sentence.
He + is + writing + letter.
Here we are adding ‘ing’ with ‘write’ verb.
IS/AM/ARE are used as per below rule:
‘IS’ used with Singular third person(He,She,It, Name)
‘AM’ used with I.
‘ARE’ used with plural subject (They,We, more than one name).
Present Continuous Tense is used in below scenarios :
1. Present Action :
Most commonly it is used to represent actions which are happening at the time of speaking.
Present Continuous Tense Examples :
Seeta is sleeping.
Ramesh is crying.
They are dancing.
Note – In these sentences, Sleep,Cry,Dance are the actions which started in past and happening at the time of speaking and are in process. They are not complete yet.
2. Longer Actions :
which are not happening necessarily at the time of speaking but are happening and not completed yet.
Present continuous tense is also used to represent actions which might or might not be happening at the time of speaking but they are in process. They are long term actions which will be completed in future.
Present Continuous Tense Examples :
Sonia is studying hard to become an engineer.
I am reading ‘The Alchemist’ now.
Note – Here studying is a long term task. She might not be studying at the time of speaking but this task is in process and has not completed yet.
3. Future Arrangements :
This tense is also used for expressing actions which are planned beforehand and will take place in future.
Present Continuous Tense Examples:
We are going Nainital next week.
I am meeting her next month.
Ram is visiting his parents this weekend.
4. For stating continuous actions with emphasis with ‘always’, ‘constantly’ :
Generally to show irritation about continuously happening things
Present Continuous Tense Examples:
She is constantly complaining about her office work.
She is always coming late to the classes.
Types of Present Continuous Tense:
1. Affirmative Present Continuous:
Rule to form Affirmative Present continuous Tense:
Subject + IS/AM/ARE + verb + ing + rest of the sentence.
He + is + writing + letter.
Here we are adding ‘ing’ with ‘write’ verb.
2. Negative Present Continuous tense:
Rule to form Negative Present Continuous Tense:
Subject + IS/AM/ARE +not+ verb + ing + rest of the sentence.
He + is +not+ writing + letter.
Here we are adding ‘ing’ with ‘write’ verb. And ‘NOT’ is placed after ‘IS/AM/ARE’
3. Interrogative Present Continuous tense:
Rule to form Interrogative Present Continuous Tense:
IS/Am/ARE + Subject + verb + ing + rest of the sentence?
Is + he + writing + letter ?
Here to ask questions in present continuous tense, the sentence is started with ‘IS/AM/ARE’, then subject is added before verb+ing. Question mark is placed at the end of sentence.
4. Interrogative Negative Present Continuous tense:
IS/AM/ARE + Subject +not+ verb + ing + rest of the sentence?
Is + he+ not + writing + letter ?
Note – To ask question with a Negative form, not is added after Subject and before verb+ing.
Examples of Present Continuous Tense:
| Affirmative Present Continuous Tense
He is crying.
|
Negative Present Continuous TenseHe is not crying. Ramesh and Mahesh are not playing chess He is not gifting a ring to her wife on her birthday. She is not always complaining about her work. |
| Interrogative Present Continuous TenseIs he crying? Are Ramesh and Mahesh playing chess? Is he gifting a ring to her wife on her birthday? Is she always complaining about her work? |
Interrogative Negative Continuous TenseIs he not crying? Are Ramesh and Mahesh not playing chess? Is he not gifting a ring to her wife on her birthday? Is she not always complaining about her work? |
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