Present Continuous Tense

Read the following sentences:  

1. Robert is swimming in the pool.  
2. Students are playing football during the sports hour.  
3. Mary is writing a letter.  

The present progressive tense is used to indicate an action that is happening at the moment or a temporary change from the usual. 

• It expresses the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment.   
• It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.  

Examples:  

1. I’m reading at the moment. [Unfinished action now]  
2. She’s staying with her cousin for a week. [Temporary situation]  
3. He’s eating a lot these days. [Temporary habit]  
4. I’m meeting my father tomorrow. [Definite future plan]  

The structure of a sentence that is written in the Positive Present Continuous – (subject + auxiliary verb + ‘ing’ form of the main verb)  

• Rita is coloring a flower.  
• I am teaching.  

Negative present continuous tense remains the same as the Positive sentences, with the only difference being the addition of ‘not’ between the auxiliary verb and the ‘ing’ form of the main verb. Structure- (Subject + Aux verb + not + ‘ing’ form of verb)  

Examples:  

• John is eating bread.  

Negative: John is not eating bread.  

• We are reading a book.  

Negative: We are not reading a book.  

Questions pattern in the Present Continuous is- Am/is/are + subject + verb +ing.  

Examples:  

• He is running on the jogging track.  

Question: Is he running on the jogging track?  

• She is watching a movie.  

Question: Is she watching a movie?