The tense for 'happening now': The present continuous (also called the present progressive) is the tense for actions in progress. You build it in two parts: the right form of to be (am / is / are) plus the main verb with -ing.
I am studying. · She is working. · They are playing.
It is one of the most common tenses in English B reading, listening and speaking, so getting the two parts right is essential.
- present continuous
- the tense for an action in progress: am/is/are + verb-ing
- auxiliary (helping) verb
- the form of 'to be' (am, is, are) that carries the tense
- -ing form (present participle)
- the main verb with -ing added (working, studying, playing)
- present simple
- the tense for habits and facts (I work, she studies) — contrast it with the continuous
- in progress / ongoing
- happening now or around now, not yet finished
- contraction
- the short, spoken form: I'm, you're, he's, we're, they're
Why it carries the marks: Examiners look for a range of tenses. Mixing the present continuous (for what is happening now) with the present simple (for habits) is exactly the variety that lifts Criterion A (Language). Drop the auxiliary — writing 'I studying' — and you lose marks immediately.
Match 'to be' to the subject, then add -ing: First choose the auxiliary: I am, he / she / it is, and you / we / they are. Then add -ing to the main verb. Three spelling rules cover almost everything:
1. Drop a silent final -e: make → making, write → writing.
2. Double a final consonant after a single stressed vowel: run → running, sit → sitting, begin → beginning.
3. A final -ie becomes -y: lie → lying, die → dying.
| Subject | to be | Example (study) | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | am | I am studying | I am not studying | Am I studying? |
| you | are | you are studying | you are not (aren't) studying | Are you studying? |
| he / she / it | is | she is studying | she is not (isn't) studying | Is she studying? |
| we | are | we are studying | we are not (aren't) studying | Are we studying? |
| they | are | they are studying | they are not (aren't) studying | Are they studying? |
| Spelling rule | Base verb | -ing form |
|---|---|---|
| Drop silent -e | make / write / take | making / writing / taking |
| Double the consonant | run / sit / begin | running / sitting / beginning |
| -ie becomes -y | lie / die | lying / dying |
| Most verbs: just add -ing | play / read / study | playing / reading / studying |
Two parts, both needed: The continuous is always two words: auxiliary + -ing. To make it negative, add not after the auxiliary (she is not working). To ask a question, put the auxiliary first (Is she working?). Never drop the auxiliary, and never add a second -ing.
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Now, temporary, changing — and fixed plans: Use the present continuous when something is in progress rather than a fixed habit. It covers an action happening now, a temporary situation around now, a changing trend, and — importantly — a fixed future arrangement. Compare it with the present simple, which is for permanent habits and facts.
Uses of the present continuous
- Happening right now — 'Be quiet, the baby is sleeping.'
- Temporary situation around now — 'I'm living with my grandparents this month.'
- A changing trend — 'Cities are growing faster than ever.'
- An annoying repeated habit (with 'always') — 'He is always losing his keys!'
- A fixed future arrangement — 'We are meeting Lucia at six tomorrow.'
Present continuous (in progress)
- I'm reading a great novel at the moment.
- She's working from home this week.
- They're learning to drive right now.
Present simple (habit / fact)
- I read every evening before bed.
- She works in a bank.
- They drive to school every day.
Stative verbs stay simple: Some verbs describe states, not actions, and normally stay in the present simple even when you mean 'now': know, like, want, need, believe, understand, belong. Say 'I want a coffee', never 'I am wanting a coffee'. Time markers like now, at the moment, currently, these days, this week signal the continuous; always, usually, every day signal the simple.
A message written entirely 'in the moment': Here is a short informal message built one line at a time. Almost every verb is in the present continuous because the writer is describing what is happening right now and around now — note how the auxiliary changes with the subject (I'm, we're, my aunt is, my cousins are) while the -ing form stays the same.
IB-style task — the present continuous in action
A message, line by line
- Hi Sam! I'm sitting on the train right now, so I'm typing this quickly.
- Things are going really well here. I'm staying with my cousins for the week, and at the moment we're getting ready for a big family dinner.
- My aunt is cooking in the kitchen and my cousins are decorating the table, so the whole house is buzzing.
- I'm also reading a great book these days — I'm learning a lot about how cities are changing, which is fascinating.
- We're meeting your sister on Saturday, by the way — that arrangement is already fixed, so don't make other plans! Talk soon.
Steal this for your writing: When a task asks what is happening now (a message from a trip, a description of a photo, a live event), reach for the present continuous. Mix in the present simple for the background facts ('My aunt lives in Madrid, and right now she is cooking…') to show a range of tenses.
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The slips to watch for: Four mistakes dominate: dropping the auxiliary ('I studying' instead of I am studying), getting the -ing spelling wrong ('runing' instead of running), putting a stative verb in the continuous ('I am wanting' instead of I want), and using the continuous for a permanent habit ('I am going to school every day' instead of I go to school every day). Compare each correct version with the typical mistake.
Correct
- I am studying for my exams this week.
- They are running in the park right now.
- I want a glass of water.
- I go to school every day.
Common mistake
- I studying for my exams this week. (no auxiliary — needs 'am')
- They are runing in the park. (spelling — needs 'running')
- I am wanting a glass of water. ('want' is stative — needs 'I want')
- I am going to school every day. (a daily habit — needs 'I go')
Ask: is it in progress, and did I keep both parts?: Before you write a continuous verb, run two quick checks. 1. Is the action really in progress / temporary (now, this week)? If it is a fixed habit or a state, use the present simple instead. 2. Did you keep both parts — the right form of to be and the -ing with correct spelling?