{"id":176589109,"date":"2018-04-03T10:57:58","date_gmt":"2018-04-03T17:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog-new\/?p=176589109"},"modified":"2025-05-07T10:35:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T17:35:34","slug":"present-continuous-tense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/blog\/present-continuous-tense\/","title":{"rendered":"The Multi-Purpose Present Continuous Tense in English"},"content":{"rendered":"

After covering <\/span>the present simple tense<\/span><\/a> in one of my last articles, it\u2019s only right that we proceed with its little brother – the present continuous tense.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, this article isn\u2019t going to be your typical ABCs of the tense laid out in hierarchical order. On the contrary, I\u2019m going to use my tried-and-tested method that students love when it comes to mastering the present continuous tense.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why? Because I want this one article to teach you more about the present continuous tense than any other source out there.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, I\u2019ll let you in on a little secret: the present continuous tense is the only tense in English that can be used to talk about actions in the past, present, and future.<\/span><\/p>\n

You might ask \u201chow\u2019s that even possible\u201d if the name of the tense itself indicates that it\u2019s used in the present. Well, stick till the end and you\u2019ll learn more than you expect, I guarantee it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

When Do We Use the Present Continuous Tense?<\/b><\/h2>\n

As mentioned earlier, the present continuous tense has multiple use cases which aren\u2019t necessarily limited to the present. Personally, I always divide these use cases into five categories. Let\u2019s dive in!<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Actions that are currently underway<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is a classic example of a present continuous tense use case which most English learners get to master when learning about it for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/b>
\nI\u2019m reading this article.<\/span><\/i>
\nI\u2019m surfing the Internet.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

To emphasize that the action is truly happening at the exact moment of speaking about it, we can add time adverbials such as: \u201cat the moment\u201d, \u201cnow\u201d, \u201ccurrently\u201d, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/b>
\nI\u2019m currently reading this article.<\/span><\/i>
\nI\u2019m surfing the Internet at the moment.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"Learn<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Trends or actions going on for a longer time period<\/b><\/h3>\n

If an action is happening over an extended period of time, it can be considered a trend. When we\u2019re talking about education or employment, it\u2019s an ongoing action but one that lasts for a much longer time period.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/b>
\nI\u2019m still working for the same company.<\/span><\/i>
\nMore and more people are buying bitcoins.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

3. Repeated actions or ones that are annoying the speaker<\/b><\/h3>\n

The previous use case covers actions that \u201clast\u201d over a period of time. This one is about actions that \u201crepeat\u201d over time and happen on a regular basis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/b>
\nJasmin\u2019s always laughing.<\/span><\/i>
\nIt\u2019s always raining in Liverpool.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The downside of actions that happen over and over again is that they often irritate or annoy some people, which is another use case of the present continuous tense.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/b>
\nTom and Tonya are always arguing!<\/span><\/i>
\nThe teacher\u2019s constantly complaining about her salary!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Note: <\/b>We can also put these two sentences in the present simple tense but they won\u2019t have that \u201cannoying\u201d effect which we\u2019re talking about here.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Future events and plans<\/b><\/h3>\n

As previously stated, the present continuous tense can also be used to talk about future actions, plans or scheduled events. You can also use time adverbials for clarity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/b>
\nI\u2019m going to the movies on Friday.<\/span><\/i>
\nWe\u2019re seeing \u201cBlack Panther\u201d tonight.<\/span><\/i>
\nThe train\u2019s leaving at 5 am.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Note:<\/b> These actions can be equally represented through the usage of the future simple, even though there are <\/span>some slight differences<\/span><\/a> which often overlap. Nonetheless, they\u2019re both correct, so my advice is to stick with whatever you feel like saying at the moment.<\/span>
\n\"Learn<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Actions in the past (storytelling)<\/b><\/h3>\n

The lesser-known use case of the present continuous tense is for talking about past events. It\u2019s because these past events are only represented through context and not time adverbials or past verb forms. <\/span><\/p>\n

We often find this when we\u2019re telling a story or summarising something from a book, film or play.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/b>
\nGuys, you won\u2019t believe what just happened to me! So, I\u2019m walking into this room and I see a ghost. It\u2019s telling me to go left but I\u2019m definitely not listening! So, I open the door to the right and enter. Now I\u2019m walking across this dark room and\u2026<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Trust me, you don\u2019t want to hear the ending of this story!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

So, Why Is It Called the \u201cPresent\u201d Continuous Tense?<\/b><\/h2>\n

This is a question my students ask me right after they hear about all of these present continuous tense use cases for the first time. Rightfully so.<\/span><\/p>\n

I mean, seriously\u2026 why does it have the word \u201cpresent\u201d in its name if it can be used for past, present, and future actions?<\/span><\/p>\n

The answer:<\/b> it\u2019s only because of its form.<\/span><\/p>\n

If we look at how the present continuous tense is formed, we\u2019ll find that it only uses the \u201cpresent\u201d forms of the auxiliary verb \u201cto be\u201d, which are: \u201cam\u201d, \u201care\u201d, and \u201cis\u201d, before the main verb in its <\/span>gerund<\/span><\/a> form. <\/span><\/p>\n

Affirmative sentences:<\/b>
\nI am reading a cool story in the newspapers.<\/span><\/i>
\nYou are doing a great job here!<\/span><\/i>
\nShe is having a conversation with some boy.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Negative sentences:<\/b><\/p>\n

I am not reading a cool story in the newspapers.<\/span><\/i>
\nYou are not doing a great job here!<\/span><\/i>
\nShe is having a conversation with some boy.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Interrogative sentences:<\/b>
\nAm I reading a cool story in the newspapers?<\/span><\/i>
\nAre you doing a great job here?<\/span><\/i>
\nIs she having a conversation with some boy?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"The
\nThere\u2019s one important thing to note here\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

If the form of the auxiliary verb \u201cto be\u201d in the sentences above is changed in any way, we can no longer say that these sentences are written in the present continuous tense. <\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/b>
\nI am reading a cool story in the newspapers. <\/span><\/i>(present continuous tense)<\/span>
\nI was reading a cool story in the newspapers. <\/span><\/i>(past continuous tense)<\/span>
\nI have been reading a cool story in the newspapers. <\/span><\/i>(present perfect continuous tense)<\/span>
\nI had been reading a cool story in the newspapers. <\/span><\/i>(past perfect continuous tense)<\/span>
\nI will be reading a cool story in the newspapers. <\/span><\/i>(future continuous tense)<\/span>
\nI will have been reading a cool story in the newspapers. <\/span><\/i>(future perfect continuous tense)<\/span><\/p>\n

And so on and so forth\u2026 You get the picture. Oh, and speaking of cool, once you’re finished reading this post, check out this list of cool English words<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a nutshell, <\/span>the multi-purpose verb \u201cto be\u201d<\/span> is the main reason why any continuous tense in English is named the way it is, including our favourite \u201cpresent\u201d continuous tense.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Can All English Verbs Be Used in the Present Continuous Tense?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The short answer to this question is a definitive \u201cno\u201d. The long one: no, but there are some cases when we can, although the meaning of what we\u2019re saying totally changes.<\/span><\/p>\n

In general, verbs that describe \u201cstates\u201d as opposed to actions or processes are typically used in the present simple, such as: \u201cknow\u201d, \u201cprefer\u201d, \u201cremember\u201d, etc. This rule also applies to verbs that indicate perception, opinion, emotion, desire, measurement, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s have a look at a few examples of this for a better understanding of just what I mean:<\/span><\/p>\n

I know what you mean. <\/span><\/i>(correct)<\/span>
\nI\u2019m knowing what you mean. <\/span><\/i>(incorrect)<\/span><\/p>\n

I fear heights.<\/span><\/i> (correct)<\/span>
\nI\u2019m fearing heights. <\/span><\/i>(incorrect)<\/span><\/p>\n

Jasmin, sit down or I\u2019ll give you an F! I mean it!. <\/span><\/i>(correct)<\/span>
\nJasmin, sit down or I\u2019ll give you an F! I\u2019m meaning it!. <\/span><\/i>(incorrect)<\/span><\/p>\n

Note: <\/b>Some verbs that belong to the categories above can be used in both the present simple and continuous tense, but then the meaning of what we\u2019re saying is different.<\/span><\/p>\n

She has three daughters. <\/span><\/i>(the woman is a mother of three girls)<\/span>
\nShe\u2019s having a daughter. <\/span><\/i>(the woman is pregnant with a baby girl)<\/span><\/p>\n

This jacket feels so warm! <\/span><\/i>(one\u2019s perception of the jacket\u2019s qualities)<\/span>
\nThis jacket\u2019s feeling so warm! <\/span><\/i>(the jacket has senses and feelings)<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, I see him. <\/span><\/i>(perception, sight)<\/span>
\nYes, I\u2019m seeing him. <\/span><\/i>(she\u2019s dating or meeting him regularly)<\/span><\/p>\n

Hope this clears it up! If you want to check the full list of verbs that aren\u2019t usually used in the present continuous tense, check this <\/span>list<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

What Is the Most Important Thing to Remember Here?<\/b><\/h2>\n

When it comes to the present continuous tense, it\u2019s important to know that the plethora of use cases we covered here today are actually not that extreme or noticeable during everyday conversations. <\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, I\u2019m pretty sure that most English language learners use the tense \u201cnaturally\u201d and without hesitation most of the time, which is <\/span>what language fluency is all about<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s safe to say that worrying about the usage of the present continuous tense should not be on your to-do list as an English language learner, nor should it ever be, but knowing about all of them definitely helps!<\/span><\/p>\n

Check out LingQ today to discover the <\/span>best way to learn English<\/span><\/a> from content you love!<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jasmin Ali\u0107 is an award-winning EFL\/ESL teacher and writing aficionado from Bosnia and Herzegovina with years of experience in multicultural learning environments.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After covering the present simple tense in one of my last articles, it\u2019s only right that we proceed with its little brother – the present continuous tense. 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