I am working

Present continuous

Present continuous

We use the present continuous to talk about:
  • actions in progress
  • actions of a temporary nature
  • future arrangements
  • She is eating her dinner.
  • I'm studying Chinese these days.
  • We're meeting Ivan tomorrow.

The present continuous is formed like this: auxiliary verb be + present participle of verb.

Affirmative and negative

I am (not) studying Russian at the moment.
You/We/They are
He/She/It is

Question

Am I studying Russian at the moment?
Are you/we/they
Is he/she/it

1. Present continuous.

Put the words in order to make true sentences about the picture.

 

2. Word order.

Order the words to make sentences and questions.

3. Present participles.

Look at the three groups of present participles. Match each group to the correct rule below.

Group A Group B Group C
making
coming
taking
closing
riding
writing 		sitting
stopping
planning
swmming
running
winning 		listening
speaking
going
working
waiting
looking

4. Present participles.

Write the present participles of these verbs.

5. Picture match.

Match the descriptions to the correct picture.

6. Questions and answers.

Look at the third picture in the previous exercise. Match the questions and answers below.

7. Questions.

Now look at this picture from exercise 5. Write questions for the answers below. Remember to include a question mark at the end.

Use the verbs in the first column. The first one has been done for you as an example.

Use verb
Question
Reply
e.g.   stand Where is the man standing? Next to the table.

For more information about the present continuous see the Grammar Reference.