The Present Continuous: Am/Is/Are Doing

The present continuous (also called the present progressive) is formed with the verb be — am, is or are — plus the -ing form of the main verb. Its core meaning is an action in progress: something that is happening at or around the moment of speaking. Compare I read every day (the present simple, a habit) with I am reading right now (the present continuous, an action in progress). This is one of the first tenses introduced at A2 on the CEFR scale.

Beyond “now”, the present continuous has several important jobs: describing temporary situations, talking about fixed future arrangements, and complaining about repeated, irritating habits with always. Getting comfortable with all of these uses is a key step from elementary to intermediate English.

How to Form the Present Continuous

Choose the correct form of be for your subject, then add the -ing verb.

Subject	Form of be	Example
I	am (’m)	I am working. / I’m working.
he / she / it	is (’s)	She is working. / She’s working.
you / we / they	are (’re)	They are working. / They’re working.

For negatives, add not after be: I’m not working, she isn’t working, they aren’t working. For questions, put be before the subject: Are you working? Is she working? What are you doing?

Spelling of the -ing Form

Most verbs simply add -ing, but three groups need a spelling change.

Rule	How	Examples
Most verbs	add -ing	play → playing, read → reading, go → going
Verbs ending in -e	drop the e, add -ing	make → making, write → writing, come → coming
Short verbs: 1 vowel + 1 consonant	double the final consonant	run → running, sit → sitting, stop → stopping
Verbs ending in -ie	change ie to y, add -ing	lie → lying, die → dying, tie → tying

Use 1: Actions Happening Now

The most basic use is an action in progress at the moment of speaking. Words such as now, right now, at the moment and Look! or Listen! signal this use.

• Look! The baby is sleeping.
• I can’t talk now — I’m driving.
• What are you doing at the moment?
• Listen! Someone is playing the piano.

Use 2: Temporary Situations Around Now

The action need not be happening at this exact second — it can be a temporary situation that is true around the present period. Words such as this week, these days, currently and at the moment are common.

• I’m staying with my parents this month while my flat is being painted.
• She’s studying hard for her exams these days.
• They’re working on a new project at the moment.

Use 3: Fixed Future Arrangements

We use the present continuous for future plans that are already arranged — usually with another person and at a definite time. A future time expression makes it clear we mean the future, not now.

• I’m meeting Sarah tomorrow at six.
• We’re flying to Madrid on Friday.
• What are you doing this weekend?
• She’s starting her new job next Monday.

This use overlaps with going to for plans; see our guide to future tenses for the full comparison.

Use 4: Annoying Habits with ‘always’

We can use the present continuous with always, constantly or forever to talk about a repeated action — usually one that annoys us or that we find surprising. It expresses an emotional reaction, not a simple fact.

• He’s always losing his keys! (annoyance)
• You’re constantly interrupting me.
• My phone’s always running out of battery.

Compare with the neutral present simple: He always loses his keys simply states a fact, while He’s always losing his keys adds irritation.

Stative Verbs: Not Normally Continuous

Some verbs describe states rather than actions and are not normally used in the continuous form. These include verbs of:

• thinking / opinion: know, believe, understand, think (= believe), agree, mean
• feeling: like, love, hate, want, prefer, need
• senses: see, hear, smell, taste (often with can)
• possession: have (= own), belong, own

We say I know the answer, not I am knowing; I want some water, not I am wanting. A few of these verbs can be continuous when their meaning changes (I’m thinking about it = considering; I’m having lunch = eating). See our full guide to stative verbs.

Present Continuous vs Present Simple

Present simple (do)	Present continuous (am/is/are doing)
I work in a bank. (permanent / habit)	I’m working from home today. (temporary / now)
She plays tennis on Sundays. (routine)	She’s playing tennis right now. (in progress)
Water boils at 100°C. (fact)	The water is boiling — turn it off! (now)

Practice Exercises

Explore related grammar topics:

All Grammar Topics Present Simple Future Tenses Future Continuous Stative Verbs Tense Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the present continuous tense?

The present continuous (or present progressive) describes an action in progress at or around the moment of speaking. It is formed with am, is or are plus the -ing form of the verb: I am reading, she is working, they are playing. It also expresses temporary situations, fixed future plans and annoying habits with always.

How do you form the present continuous?

Use the correct form of be for the subject — am with I, is with he/she/it, are with you/we/they — plus the -ing verb: I am working, she is working, they are working. Negatives add not (isn’t, aren’t), and questions put be before the subject: Are you working?

What are the spelling rules for the -ing form?

Most verbs just add -ing (play → playing). Verbs ending in -e drop the e (make → making). Short verbs with one vowel and one consonant double the final consonant (run → running, sit → sitting). Verbs ending in -ie change to -ying (lie → lying, die → dying).

What is the difference between the present continuous and the present simple?

The present simple describes habits, routines and permanent facts: I work in a bank. The present continuous describes actions in progress now or temporary situations: I’m working from home today. Use the simple for what is generally true and the continuous for what is happening now or just for the time being.

Can the present continuous talk about the future?

Yes. We use it for fixed future arrangements, usually planned with another person and at a definite time: I’m meeting Sarah tomorrow, We’re flying to Madrid on Friday. A future time expression makes it clear we mean the future rather than now. This use overlaps with going to for plans.

Why do we use the present continuous with ‘always’?

The present continuous with always, constantly or forever describes a repeated action that usually annoys or surprises us: He’s always losing his keys! It adds an emotional reaction. The neutral present simple He always loses his keys simply states a fact without the irritation.

Which verbs cannot be used in the present continuous?

Stative verbs — verbs of thinking (know, believe, understand), feeling (like, love, want), the senses (see, hear, smell) and possession (have = own, belong) — are not normally used in the continuous. We say I know the answer, not I am knowing; I want water, not I am wanting. Some change meaning and can be continuous, such as I’m having lunch.

What is the difference between ‘I live’ and ‘I’m living’?

I live in London is the present simple and suggests a permanent home. I’m living in London is the present continuous and suggests a temporary situation — perhaps you are there for a few months or while something else is being sorted out. The continuous signals that the arrangement is not permanent.

What time expressions are used with the present continuous?

For actions now: now, right now, at the moment, Look!, Listen! For temporary situations: today, this week, these days, currently. For the future: tomorrow, tonight, next week, on Friday. For annoying habits: always, constantly, forever. The time expression often tells you which use is intended.

At what level should I learn the present continuous?

The basic “happening now” use is taught at A1 to A2, while the future, temporary and “always” uses, plus the contrast with the present simple, are consolidated at A2 to B1 on the CEFR scale. It is one of the first continuous tenses learners meet and forms the foundation for the past, future and perfect continuous tenses.