This present continuous tense is used to describe an event that’s happening right now, a longer action in progress, and something happening shortly. For example:

  •     He is watching a movie.
  •     The machine is making noise.

The present continuous tense can also be used to indicate a lengthy activity that is now taking place. Even though you might not be doing the action right now.  For Example:

  •     John and June are working at a company.
  •     I’m reading an interesting book these days.

Present Continuous Tense: Definition

The present continuous tense is also used to talk about near-future plans.

Eg. I am teaching English.

We employ verbs to describe activities and conditions. To accomplish so, we employ a variety of tenses to express when processes to achieve or things exist. A verb’s subject denotes whenever an event occurred in time. Right now, we’ll look at a phrase that relates to anything which happens in the now but also retains the action continuing in the future: the present continuous tense. It is also called the present progressing tense, which is a flexible verb tense that can indicate acts that occur in the present or the future.

The present continuous tense is frequently utilized to allude to transient situations or acts. To put it another way, we employ the present continuous tense to express an action or situation that is currently taking place and will continue to take place until an unknown period in the future. Here are two phrases that employ the present continuous tense in this manner:

Eg. Marry is reading a book in the bedroom.

Types of sentences in the Present Continuous Tense

There are 4 types of sentences in this tense:-

Affirmative Sentences-

Rule-

  •     I+ Am+ Verb 1st form+ ing
  •     She/It/He/Noun+ Is+ Verb 1st form+ ing  
  •     They/We/You+ Are + Verb 1st form+ ing

Formula-Subject+ Is/are/am + Verb 1st form+ ing+ object +etc.

 Examples 

  •     Anal is writing a letter to his father.
  •     You are running in the garden.
  •     They are going for a picnic.
  •     She is meeting her friends after school.
  •     The girls are reading in the class.
  •     The dogs are barking in tonight.
  •     We are coming from Delhi.

Negative Sentences

To frame a negative sentence, we are adding not after is, are, am.

    Rule-

  •     Singular Number- She/he/it/noun +not  + Verb 1st form + ing
  •     Plural Number- They/We/You + are + not + Verb 1st form + ing
  •     Plural Number- I + am + not + Verb 1st form + ing

Formula- Subject + Helping Verb + Not + Verb 1st form +ing + object + etc.

Examples

  •     They are not eating dinner right now.
  •     Saroj is not playing with her doll.
  •     I am not going to the temple with my friends.
  •     We are not going to college today.
  •     The children are not laughing at the old man.
  •     Jack is not taking selfies with his friends.

Interrogative Sentences

There are two types of interrogative sentences one which starts with the helping verb of the tenses and another which starts with WH words (What, Where, Why, How, When, Which). 

Rule-

  • Is/are/am+ Subject + Verb 1st form + ing + object + etc +?

Formula- What/Where/Why/How/When/Which + Is/are/am + Subject + Verb 1st form + ing + object + etc. +? 

Examples

  •     Is the Sun rising in the sky?
  •     Are the boys reading in the room?
  •     Am I writing a letter?
  •     Are they listening to the teacher?
  •     What is she doing in the room?
  •     Whose book is he reading now?
  •     Why are they learning his lessons?
  •     Who is sleeping in the class?

Interrogative-Negative Sentences

There are two types of interrogative-negative sentences one which starts with the helping verb of the tenses and another which starts with WH words like (What, Where, Why, How, When, Which, Whose).

Rule-

  • Is/are/am+ Subject +not + Verb 1st form + ing + object + etc +?

Formula- What/Where/Why/How/When/Which/Whose + Is/are/am+ Subject + not+ Verb 1st form + ing + object + etc. +? 

Examples

  •     Am I not working in the office?
  •     Are you not going to the market today?
  •     Is she not talking to her classmates?
  •     Where are we not going today?
  •     Why are they not playing with us?
  •     How are you not cooking food?

Conclusion

In this study, we get to know that The Present continuous tense refers to an action occurring at the time it is spoken, and to an event that isn’t completed yet. We use this tense for temporary action, to talk about changes, developments, and trends.