Present continuous — happening now · Présent continu — en train de se produire maintenant
Happening right now
- Use the present continuous for actions happening at this moment.
- Look! It's raining. The kids are playing outside.
- This is "now", not "every day".
I am cleaning my room now. The dust is making other plans.
Qui se passe maintenant
- Utilisez le présent continu pour les actions qui se déroulent à cet instant précis.
- Regarde ! Il pleut. Les enfants jouent dehors.
- C'est "maintenant", pas "tous les jours".
Je range ma chambre maintenant. La poussière fait d'autres projets.
The form: be + -ing
- am / is / are + verb**-ing**.
- I am reading. She is cooking. They are playing.
- The be verb is essential — never drop it.
La forme : be + -ing
- am / is / are + verbe**-ing**.
- Je lis. Elle cuisine. Ils jouent.
- Le verbe be est essentiel — ne le supprimez jamais.
Which sentence is in the present continuous? · Quelle phrase est au présent continu ?
Present continuous = be + verb-ing: “She is cooking”. · Présent continu = be + verbe-ing : « She is cooking ».
Spelling the -ing
- Most verbs: just add -ing → read → reading.
- Verb ending in -e: drop the e → make → making.
- Short, stressed verbs: double the last letter → run → running, sit → sitting.
Orthographe du -ing
- La plupart des verbes : juste ajouter -ing → read → reading.
- Verbe se terminant par -e : enlever le e → make → making.
- Verbes courts et accentués : doubler la dernière lettre → run → running, sit → sitting.
Make the -ing form · Faire la forme -ing
Most verbs just add -ing; some drop -e, and short stressed verbs double the last letter. · La plupart des verbes ajoutent simplement -ing ; certains retirent le -e, et les verbes courts accentués doublent la dernière lettre.
Write the -ing form of “run”. · Écrivez la forme -ing de « run ».
Short stressed verbs double the last letter: run → running. · Les verbes courts accentués doublent la dernière lettre : run → running.
Now vs always
- Present simple = a habit: I read every night.
- Present continuous = right now: I am reading now.
- Signal words now, at the moment, today point to the continuous.
Maintenant vs toujours
- Présent simple = une habitude : I read every night.
- Présent continu = maintenant : I am reading now.
- Les mots indicateurs now, at the moment, today pointent vers le continu.
“I am reading now.” — Is the present continuous correct here? · « I am reading now. » — Le présent continu est-il correct ici ?
“now” signals an action happening at this moment → present continuous. · « now » signale une action qui se produit à cet instant → présent continu.
Translate into English: 他们正在踢足球。 · Traduisez en anglais : 他们正在踢足球。
Happening now → are + playing: “They are playing football.” · En train de se produire maintenant → are + playing : « They are playing football. »
Common mistakes
- ❌ They are play football. → ✓ They are playing football. — be and -ing go together.
- ❌ She is cooking every day. → ✓ She cooks every day. — habits use the present simple.
- ❌ He is writeing. → ✓ He is writing. — drop the e, then add -ing.
Erreurs courantes
- ❌ They are play football. → ✓ Ils jouent au football. — be et -ing vont ensemble.
- ❌ She is cooking every day. → ✓ Elle cuit tous les jours. — les habitudes utilisent le présent simple.
- ❌ He is writeing. → ✓ Il écrit. — enlever le e, puis ajouter -ing.
Match the verb to its -ing form. · Reliez le verbe à sa forme -ing.
run / sit double the last letter; write drops the e; study just adds -ing. · run / sit doublent la dernière lettre ; write retire le e ; study ajoute simplement -ing.
Is this correct? “I am knowing the answer.” · C'est correct ? « I am knowing the answer. »
know is a state verb — no continuous: “I know the answer.” · know est un verbe d'état — pas de continu : « I know the answer. »
- Present continuous = an action happening now.
- Form: am / is / are + verb-ing.
- Don't drop be: He is working, not He working.
- Présent continu = une action qui se déroule maintenant.
- Forme : am / is / are + verbe-ing.
- Ne supprimez pas be : Il travaille, pas Il working.
Look around you. Write one sentence about what someone is doing right now, using the present continuous. · Regardez autour de vous. Écrivez une phrase sur ce que quelqu'un fait en ce moment, en utilisant le présent continu.
Example: “My friend is listening to music.” (is + listening) · Exemple : « My friend is listening to music. » (is + listening)