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Present continuous Exercises

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Read time : 4 minutes

Present Continuous Form : ( To be + verb + -ing )

In English we use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are happening right now or around now, for temporary situations and to describe changes. Another reason to use present continuous is for definite future arrangements. We usually know exactly when the arrangements are happening and they are often the type of arrangements we can write in a diary. There is a suggestion that more than one person is aware of the event, and that some preparation has already happened. In English we often use time phrases such as now, at the moment, at this time, currently, today and this week with the present continuous.

Notes for use of present continuous :

It is not possible to use state verbs in continuous forms. State verbs are generally those which relate to thoughts, senses, emotions, relationships, states of being and measurements such as like, love, hate, own, know, contain, believe and understand. Only action verbs can be used in the present continuous. 

Generally, we take the infinitive of the verb and simply add '-ing' to make the continuous form. For example;

work --> working

go --> going

cook --> cooking

study --> studying

listen --> listening

If the verb ends in 'e', we drop the 'e' before adding '-ing'. For example;

come --> coming

take --> taking

phone --> phoning

If the verb ends in a vowel + consonant, we double the last consonant. For example;

swim --> swimming

sit --> sitting

plan --> planning

If the verb has more than one syllable, we double the consonant at the end only if the last syllable is stressed. For example;

prefer --> preferring

begin --> beginning

regret --> regretting

If the last syllable of a verb is not stressed, we do not double the last consonant. For example;

visit --> visiting

happen --> happening

develop --> developing

In British English, verbs ending in 'l' double the 'l' before '-ing' whether the last syllable is stressed or not. For example;

travel --> travelling

cancel --> cancelling

If the verb ends in a 'y' or a 'w', we do not double it when we add '-ing'. For example;

stay --> staying

play --> playing

sew --> sewing

We do not double the consonant if the verb has two vowels before the last consonant. For example;

boil --> boiling

explain --> explaining

In English we also do not double the consonant if the verb ends in two consonants. For example;

help --> helping

start --> starting

The table below shows the different forms of present continuous :

Example Verb : Go
I
You  / We / They
He / She / It
PositiveI'm going ......'re going ......'s going ... 
NegativeI'm not going ...... aren't going ...... isn't going ...

Questions

Am I going ...?Are ... going ...?Is ... going ...?
Short answers

Yes, I am. /

No, I'm not.

Yes, ... are. /

No, ... aren't.

Yes, ... is. /

No, ... isn't.


Present Continuous Example Sentences : 

Positive Examples of Present Continuous: 

  • I'm reading a good book at the moment.
  • She's staying with us for the summer.
  • They're flying to London on Saturday.
  • We're having dinner now.
  • That dog is barking loudly.
  • The company is growing fast.

Negative Examples of Present Continuous :

  • I'm not living in Australia now.
  • He isn't studying at the moment.
  • We aren't visiting London this year.
  • She isn't working today.
  • Our profits are not increasing.

Question Examples of Present Continuous :

  • Are you going to university?
  • Is he talking on the phone?
  • Am I staying with you next week? 
  • What are we doing tomorrow?
  • Where are you currently working?

In English we also use the present continuous with 'always' to indicate the action we are describing is annoying for us because it is done too often. 

Examples of Present Continuous with Always:

  • You are always working late. (You work late too often)
  • She is always complaining. (She complains too much)
  • They are always eating sweets. (They eat too many sweets)
Present continuous example sentences
I'm Mike, calling about the house for rent in Angel...我是迈克,打电话为了Angel租房的事...
But I don't think I'm being aggressive!!!但是我不认为我现在很暴躁!!!
Who is calling again, please?请问您是谁?
Because I can't see what you are searching on my phone.因为在我的手机上看不到你搜的什么。
We are thinking about taking a bus from this stop.我们正在考虑从这个车站乘公交去。
But for now, I'm just looking for places around 600-ish.但是现在,我只是在找600左右的房子。
What 500 times? Aren't you overexaggerating?什么500次? 难道你没有过分夸张吗?
Don't you think you are exaggerating?你不觉得你很夸张吗?
Alright, so I'm leaving now.好的,那我现在走了。
Great! What are you doing tomorrow?太棒了!你明天有什么安排?
I think you are just trying to change the subject!我觉得你是在切换话题!
Hello, am I speaking to Mr. Jones?您好,是琼斯先生吗?
How is your rice going?你的米饭怎么样了?
Good idea, I am queuing here then!好主意,那我排在这里!
Sorry, are you asking to set up another meeting?对不起,你是在问另设一个开会时间吗?
The best seafood restaurant in Brighton is near where we are going.布莱顿最好的海鲜餐厅就在我开会的地方的附近。
Tiffany, how are you getting to Soho?蒂芙尼,你们怎么去苏豪区?
She's just bullsh*tting!她刚才是在*屁!
Erm, can I smoke in the room again while I'm working?嗯,当我工作时,我能再次在房间里抽烟吗?
I'm just wearing my ring upside down.我只是把我的戒指颠倒了下戴。

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Be going to
Be going to passive
Be used to / Get used to
Comparative
Defining relative clause
Echo tag
Expression
First conditional
Future
Future continuous
Future perfect continuous
Future perfect passive
Future perfect simple
Future simple passive
Greeting
Have/Get something done
Imperative
Implied conditional
Indirect question
Infinitive of purpose
Interjection
Mixed conditional
Modal
Modal passive
Non-defining relative clause
Other
Past continuous
Past continuous passive
Past perfect continuous
Past perfect passive
Past perfect simple
Past simple
Past simple passive
Polite request / offer / suggestion
Present continuous
Present continuous passive
Present perfect continuous
Present perfect passive
Present perfect simple
Present simple
Present simple passive
Question tag
Reduced relative clause
Reported speech imperative
Reported speech question
Reported speech request
Reported speech statement
Second conditional
Short answer
Superlative
Third conditional
Used to / would (past habit)
Was/were going to
Was/were supposed to
Wish
Would rather
Zero conditional