Present Continuous Tense: Definition, Rules & Examples:
Present Continuous Tense:
Present Progressive Tense is also known as name of the Present Continuous Tense in English Grammar.
Present Continuous Tense Definition:
The Present Continuous Tense describes an action or an event
that is happening at the current time.
Definition of Present Continuous Tense:
The Present Continuous Tense describes actions that are
occurring now but may not necessarily be habitual or permanent. The Present
Continuous Tense is used to describe an action that is happening now or around the
present time.
Usage of Present Continuous Tense:
Present Continuous Tense is used to denote that an action that is continuing at the present time.
Usage
Present Progressive Tense describe the following situations:
To describe actions that is happening at the present time
of speaking or writing:
Example: "We are reading newspaper."
To describe an action or situation that is currently in progress:
Example: "We are having a meeting tomorrow."
To describe an action that is happening around the time of
speaking, but not necessarily at the exact moment:
Example: "These days, they are working on a new
project in Peelo Wains."
To describe an action that is happening repeatedly or
frequently:
Example: "She is always forgetting her keys."
Present Continuous Tense Rules / Formula:
In this tense we have three helping verb (is, are and am).
We use “is” with (He,She,It or singular name),”are” with(We, You, They or
Plural Name) and “Am” with (I).
Present Continuous Tense Helping Verb:
Present Continuous Tense has only three helping verb (is,
are, and am).
Present Continuous Tense Structure:
The structure of the Present Continuous Tense involves the
subject followed by a helping verb (am, is, are) and the verb in its 'ing'
form, with the rest of the sentence following. In simpler terms, the formula
for the present continuous tense is: Subject + [helping verb (am, is, are) +
ing form of verb] + Object. This structure is consistent across sentences like
"I am going tomorrow," "You are coming tonight,"
"He/she is writing an exam," and "We are partying this
week".
Positive Sentence using the Present Continuous Tense could
be structured like this which is given below
Subject + (is,are,am)+(1st verb + ing)+Object
Present Continuous Tense Examples:
Affirmative Sentences of Present Continuous Tense:
- I am eating an apple.
- Aslam is going for walk.
- He is catching the fish.
- The cats are eating meat.
- Najma is watching TV.
- He is writing a letter.
Negative Sentences of Present Continuous Tense
- I am not eating an apple.
- You are not telling a lie.
- They are not taking exercise daily.
- Birds are not flying in the air.
- He is not getting up early in the morning.
- It is not raining every day.
Interrogative Sentences of Present Continuous Tense
- Am I eating an apple?
- Are you telling a lie?
- Are they taking exercise daily?
- Are birds flying in the air?
- Is he getting up early in the morning?
- Is it raining every day?
Interrogative Negative Sentence of Present Continuous Tense
- Am I not cleaning my teeth?
- Are you not jumping?
- Is Alia not taking tea?
- Are the poor not being laughed at?
- Is the house not being built?
- Am I not being taught English by the headmaster?
Affirmative Sentence
Affirmative Sentence using the Present Continuous Tense
could be structured like this which is given below
Affirmative Sentence Structure:
Subject + (is,are,am)+(1st verb + ing)+Object
Affirmative Sentences of Present Continuous Tense
- She is washing her face.
- They are writing a letter to his grand-father.
- She is cooking dinner right now.
- The dog is barking in the street.
- It is raining cats and dogs.
- I am waiting for you.
- We are speaking the truth.
- The peon is ringing the bell.
- The well is working.
Negative Sentence
Negative Sentence using the Present Continuous Tense could
be structured like this which is given below
Negative Sentence Structure:
Subject + am not/is not /are not+ verb1 + -ing + Object.
Negative Sentences of Present Continuous Tense
- Aslam is not going for walk.
- He is not catching the fish.
- The cats are not eating meat.
- He is not writing a letter.
- She is not washing her face.
- It is not raining outside.
- He is not learning this poem.
- The gardener is not plucking flowers.
- She is not singing a song.
Interrogative Sentence
To form an interrogative sentence in the Present Continuous
Tense, the structure is
Am/Is/Are + Subject + (V1+ing) + Object?
Interrogative Sentences of Present Continuous Tense
- Are you telling a lie?
- Are they taking exercise daily?
- Is he getting up early in the morning?
- Is he catching the fish?
- Is she washing her face?
- Are we running out of time?
- Are you feeling thirsty?
- Why are they weeping?
- Is the postman delivering letters?
Interrogative & Negative Sentence Structure:
Is /Are/Am+ Subject +
not + verb1 + ing + Object?"
Interrogative Negative Sentence of Present Continuous Tense
- Is he not cleaning my teeth?
- Are we not jumping?
- Is Salma not taking tea?
- Are the poor not laughing at me?
- Is the house not building?
- Am I not teaching English by the headmaster?
- Are they not punishing?
- Am I not inviting by the President?
- Are you not helping anyone?
Questions with Wh Family Words
The "Wh family" words are used to ask questions in English. These words include
"what," "where," "who," "which,"
"why," and "how." When constructing sentences in the
present continuous tense using these words, they are placed at the beginning of
the sentence to inquire about ongoing actions or events.
For example, "What are you doing?" or "Where is she going?"
Wh Words List
What, When, Where, Why and Who
Wh Family Words with Meaning
Wh Family Interrogative Sentence Structure
Wh + is/are/am + Subject + Base form +ing+ Object
Wh Family Sentences
- When are you coming?
- What are you doing now?
- Why are we weeping?
