Present continuous — happening now
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".
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.
Which sentence is in the present continuous?
Present continuous = be + verb-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.
Make the -ing form
Most verbs just add -ing; some drop -e, and short stressed verbs double the last letter.
Write the -ing form of “run”.
Short stressed verbs double the last letter: 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.
“I am reading now.” — Is the present continuous correct here?
“now” signals an action happening at this moment → present continuous.
Translate into English: 他们正在踢足球。
Happening now → 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.
Match the verb to its -ing form.
run / sit double the last letter; write drops the e; study just adds -ing.
Is this correct? “I am knowing the answer.”
know is a state verb — no continuous: “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.
Look around you. Write one sentence about what someone is doing right now, using the present continuous.
Example: “My friend is listening to music.” (is + listening)