present continuous tense

Present Continuous Tense- All Rules Exercises

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The Present Continuous Tense (also called the Present Progressive Tense) is used to describe actions happening right now or around the present time. It can also indicate future plans in some cases.

Definition of Present Continuous Tense

The Present Continuous Tense is used to express an action that is happening at the moment of speaking or a temporary action that is ongoing.

Formula of Present Continuous Tense

Subject + is/am/are + verb (-ing) + object

Examples

  1. She is reading a book. (Happening now)
  2. They are playing football. (Ongoing action)
  3. I am traveling to London next week. (Planned future action)

What is the Rule for Present Continuous Tense?

The Present Continuous Tense follows a specific structure and is used in different situations.

1. Structure (Formula):

Affirmative:
Subject + is/am/are + verb (-ing) + object

  • She is studying for the exam.
  • We are watching a movie.

Negative:
Subject + is/am/are + not + verb (-ing) + object

  • He is not sleeping now.
  • They are not playing football.

Interrogative:
Is/Am/Are + subject + verb (-ing) + object?

  • Is she cooking dinner?
  • Are they coming to the party?

2. Rules for Usage:

  1. Ongoing Actions (Happening Now)
    • Used for actions happening at the moment of speaking.
    • Example: She is talking on the phone.
  2. Temporary Actions
    • Used for actions happening around the present time but not necessarily at the exact moment.
    • Example: I am reading an interesting novel these days.
  3. Future Plans
    • Used for fixed future arrangements.
    • Example: We are visiting our grandparents next weekend.
  4. Changing or Developing Situations
    • Used for gradual changes or trends.
    • Example: The climate is getting warmer.
  5. Repeated Actions with “Always” (Expressing Irritation)
    • Used to show something happens repeatedly (often with “always” or “constantly”).
    • Example: He is always complaining about work.

3. Spelling Rules for Adding ‘-ing’

Base VerbRuleExample
Play → PlayingJust add “-ing”I am playing.
Make → MakingDrop the final -e before adding “-ing”She is making a cake.
Run → RunningDouble the last consonant if the verb ends in CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant)They are running fast.
Lie → LyingChange -ie to -y and add “-ing”He is lying on the bed.

What are 20 examples of present continuous tense with answers?

Here are 20 examples of Present Continuous Tense with answers:

1. Affirmative Sentences

  1. She is reading a book.
  2. They are playing football in the park.
  3. I am watching a movie right now.
  4. He is writing an email to his boss.
  5. We are learning English.
  6. The baby is sleeping peacefully.
  7. The sun is shining brightly.
  8. My friends are coming over for dinner.
  9. She is baking a cake in the kitchen.
  10. The kids are playing outside.

2. Negative Sentences

  1. I am not feeling well today.
  2. She is not talking to anyone.
  3. They are not watching TV.
  4. He is not studying for his exams.
  5. We are not going to the mall today.

3. Interrogative Sentences

  1. Are you listening to me?
  2. Is she cooking dinner?
  3. Are they playing cricket?
  4. Is he working on his project?
  5. Am I speaking too fast?

Present Continuous Tense Questions

Here are 20 Present Continuous Tense questions categorized into Yes/No Questions and WH-Questions:

1. Yes/No Questions (Answer with Yes/No)

  1. Are you watching TV right now?
  2. Is she reading a novel?
  3. Are they playing football in the park?
  4. Is he working on his project?
  5. Am I speaking too fast?
  6. Is the baby sleeping now?
  7. Are we going to the shopping mall?
  8. Is your brother studying for the exam?
  9. Are the kids making a mess in the living room?
  10. Is the teacher explaining the lesson?

2. WH-Questions (Answer with Information)

  1. What are you doing right now?
  2. Why is she crying?
  3. Where are they going?
  4. Who is he talking to on the phone?
  5. What is she cooking for dinner?
  6. Why are they shouting so loudly?
  7. Which book is he reading?
  8. How is the weather changing these days?
  9. What are you thinking about?
  10. Why is the dog barking?

Present Continuous Tense Examples with Pictures

I can generate Present Continuous Tense examples with pictures for you. Could you specify the type of actions or scenarios you want? For example:

  • Daily activities (eating, running, reading)
  • Classroom scenes (students studying, teacher writing)
  • Outdoor actions (kids playing, people walking)
  • Work-related (typing, presenting, discussing)

Here are more Present Continuous Tense examples with different scenarios:

1. Daily Activities

  1. She is brushing her teeth.
  2. He is drinking coffee.
  3. They are having breakfast together.
  4. I am taking a shower.
  5. The baby is crawling on the floor.

2. Outdoor Actions

  1. The kids are playing in the park.
  2. A man is jogging in the morning.
  3. The birds are flying in the sky.
  4. She is riding a bicycle.
  5. The dog is chasing a cat.

3. Work and Study

  1. The teacher is explaining a lesson.
  2. The students are writing their homework.
  3. He is typing an email.
  4. The boss is conducting a meeting.
  5. They are discussing an important project.

4. Home and Leisure

  1. She is watching TV.
  2. He is playing video games.
  3. They are decorating their house.
  4. The mother is cooking dinner.
  5. The family is enjoying a movie night.

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