Welcome to your lesson on the Present Continuous Tense! This is a super useful grammar point for talking about actions happening right now, or around now. If you’re learning English at A2 level, understanding the Present Continuous Tense will really boost your speaking and help you describe what’s happening around you. Let’s dive in and make it easy!

What is the Present Continuous Tense?

The Present Continuous Tense (sometimes also called the Present Progressive Tense) is used to describe actions that are in progress at the moment of speaking, or around the present time. It’s like taking a snapshot of what’s happening now. It helps you express actions that are temporary and ongoing. Think of it as the ‘-ing‘ tense!

For example, if you look out the window and see someone running, you can say: “He is running.” This means the action of running is happening right now.

How to Form the Present Continuous Tense

Forming the Present Continuous is quite simple. You need two parts:

1. The verb “to be” in the present tense: This means using am, is, or are.
2. The main verb with “-ing” ending: This is called the present participle.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• I + am + verb-ing (e.g., I am learning)
• You + are + verb-ing (e.g., You are reading)
• He/She/It + is + verb-ing (e.g., She is speaking)
• We + are + verb-ing (e.g., We are practicing)
• They + are + verb-ing (e.g., They are listening)

Let’s look at some more examples:

• I am eating breakfast right now.
• You are studying English grammar today.
• He is playing football in the park.
• She is watching a movie at home.
• It is raining outside.
• We are having fun learning English.
• They are talking about their plans.

Remember to use the correct form of “to be” (am, is, are) depending on the subject! This is a key part of mastering the Present Continuous Tense.

When to Use the Present Continuous Tense

Now, let’s understand when we use this tense in everyday English. There are a few main situations:

1. Actions Happening Right Now (at the moment of speaking)

This is the most common use. We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about things that are happening exactly now, as we speak.

Examples:

• Listen! The birds are singing. (They are singing now, as I tell you to listen.)
• I‘m teaching an English lesson. (I am doing this right now.)
• What are you doing? I‘m cooking dinner. (The actions of cooking and asking are happening at this moment.)

2. Actions Happening Around Now (but not exactly this second)

Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about actions that are happening around the present time, but not necessarily at this exact second. These are actions happening in a period around ‘now’, like ‘these days’ or ‘this week’.

Examples:

• I‘m reading a really interesting book these days. (I’m not reading it right now, but I am in the process of reading it currently.)
• She is learning to drive. (She’s taking driving lessons in this period of time, not necessarily at this very moment.)
• They are working on a new project at work. (They are involved in this project currently, over a period of time.)

3. Future Arrangements (with a time expression)

We can also use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about future plans or arrangements that are already decided. We usually use a future time expression to make it clear we are talking about the future.

Examples:

• I‘m meeting my friend tomorrow. (The future time expression is “tomorrow”.)
• We are going to the cinema tonight. (The future time expression is “tonight”.)
• She is flying to Paris next week. (The future time expression is “next week”.)

It’s important to use a future time word or phrase when using the Present Continuous Tense for future arrangements, so it’s clear you are not talking about the present!

4. Changing or Developing Situations

The Present Continuous Tense can also describe situations that are changing or developing over time.

Examples:

• The weather is getting colder. (The temperature is changing, becoming colder.)
• Your English is improving quickly! (Your English skills are developing and getting better.)
• The city is becoming more and more crowded. (The population is increasing, making the city more crowded.)

Verbs Not Normally Used in the Present Continuous

It’s important to know that some verbs are not usually used in the Present Continuous Tense. These are often called “stative verbs” or “non-continuous verbs.” These verbs describe states, feelings, opinions, senses, or possessions, rather than actions.

Examples of stative verbs include:

• Verbs of emotion: like, love, hate, want, need, prefer
• Verbs of opinion/thought: know, believe, think, understand, remember, agree
• Verbs of senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel (meaning ‘sense’)
• Verbs of possession: have, own, possess, belong
• Other stative verbs: be, seem, appear, look (meaning ‘seem’)

Instead of using the Present Continuous Tense with these verbs, we usually use the Simple Present Tense. For example, we say “I like chocolate” (Simple Present), not “I am liking chocolate” (Present Continuous – usually incorrect).

However, some of these verbs can be used in the Present Continuous Tense when they describe an action rather than a state. For example:

• “I am thinking about the problem.” (Here, “thinking” is an action, a mental process.) – Correct
• “I think it’s a good idea.” (Here, “think” is an opinion, a state.) – Correct, using Simple Present

This is a more advanced point, but good to be aware of as you improve your English grammar!

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s time to practice using the Present Continuous Tense! Complete the exercises below to test your understanding.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct Present Continuous Tense form of the verb in brackets.

1. She ______ (watch) TV right now.
2. They ______ (play) football in the park at the moment.
3. I ______ (study) English grammar this week.
4. We ______ (have) dinner at 7 pm tonight.
5. He ______ (not work) today, he is on holiday.
6. ______ you ______ (listen) to music?
7. What ______ she ______ (wear) to the party?
8. The baby ______ (sleep) peacefully.
9. My parents ______ (travel) to Italy next month.
10. The weather ______ (get) warmer.

Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation

Rewrite the following sentences using the Present Continuous Tense. The sentences are in the Simple Present Tense. Change them to describe actions happening now or around now.

1. I read a book. (Rewrite to: I am reading a book now.)
2. They play games.
3. She cooks dinner.
4. He listens to music.
5. We learn English.

Answers to Practice Exercises

Answers to Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. She is watching TV right now.
2. They are playing football in the park at the moment.
3. I am studying English grammar this week.
4. We are having dinner at 7 pm tonight.
5. He is not working today, he is on holiday.
6. Are you listening to music?
7. What is she wearing to the party?
8. The baby is sleeping peacefully.
9. My parents are traveling to Italy next month.
10. The weather is getting warmer.

Answers to Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation

1. They are playing games. (now/at the moment/these days)
2. She is cooking dinner. (now/tonight)
3. He is listening to music. (now/at the moment)
4. We are learning English. (now/these days/this year)

Practice Speaking with Lingofrnd!

Now that you understand the Present Continuous Tense, the best way to really learn it is to practice speaking! Imagine you are describing what people around you are doing. Use the Present Continuous to talk about actions happening now. For example, “My friend is drinking coffee,” or “The teacher is explaining the lesson.”

Want to practice speaking English and using the Present Continuous Tense with an AI tutor? Try Lingofrnd.com! Lingofrnd is your AI spoken English teacher, ready to help you improve your speaking skills and build your confidence. You can practice using the Present Continuous Tense in real conversations and get instant feedback.

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Keep practicing, and you’ll master the Present Continuous Tense in no time! This is a crucial step in your English language journey. Keep learning and keep speaking!