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English Language Arts
Present Continuous/Present Progressive

Present Continuous/Present Progressive

Concept sheet | English Language Arts
Grade
1-4
Table of contents

Present Continuous Uses

Rules

The present continuous tense (also called present progressive) is used for:

  1. Actions happening right now

  2. Activities or projects that are in progress

  3. Temporary events or situations

  4. Future plans

Examples

  1. Actions happening right now

Sarah, a teenage girl, is captivated by the end of a book.

Right now, Sarah is devouring the last chapter of a very interesting novel.

  1. Activities or projects in progress

A pile of unfinished books on a nightstand.

She is reading lots of books at the same time. She doesn’t always finish them.

  1. Temporary events or situations

Sarah is reading a book next to the christmas tree. She’s very comfy.

She is reading all day during the holidays, much more than she usually does.

  1. Future plans

Today is December 26th and Sarah plans to go to the bookstore tomorrow, on December 27th.

Tomorrow, she is buying the sequel of her favourite novel at the local bookstore.

Tips

Present Continuous Keywords

Some keywords and phrases are used to signal the present continuous.

Actions happening right now

Activities or projects in progress

Temporary events or situations

 Future plans

  • now

  • right now

  • look!

  • listen!

  • at the moment

  • this week

  • this month

  • currently/presently

  • these days

  • this week 

  • this month

  • currently/presently

  • tomorrow

  • next week/month/etc.

  • at noon/tonight

  • in the afternoon

For Advanced Users—Additional Present Continuous Uses

For Advanced Users—Additional Present Continuous Uses

Present Continuous Forms Reminder

Affirmative Forms

I

am

'm

verb + ing

he/she/it

is

's

we
you
they

are

're

Negative Forms

I

am not

'm not

verb + ing

he/she/it

is not

isn't

we
you
they

are not

aren't

Question Form

am

I

verb + ing

is

he/she/it

are

we
you
they
'

See Also