The Present Continuous tense(Rules and Examples)

Time words – Today, This week, This year, 

The Present Continuous is often used with the idea of now. Here is a list of time words that can help you to understand when to use it correctly.

• Now
• At the moment 
• Right now
• Currently 
• Right away
• Today 
• This week
• This year
• This evening
• Tomorrow
• This Saturday

Present Continuous Vs Present Simple

The present simple is often used for habits and routines and things in general. It is not for things happening now. 

Look at the difference in this example:

I play football.  

I am playing football.

In the first example, I want to say that it is my habit to play football. I play football every Tuesday.

In the second example, I want to say that I am playing football now. (or I have a plan to play football in the near future)

Another example:

He is nice 

He is being nice.

In the first example, we mean that he is generally nice but in the second example we mean that he is being nice now but maybe he is not always nice!

(Future)To be Going to- What’s the difference?

If you know your English grammar, you know that we use “Going to” for future plans.

Yes, you can use “Going to” or the “Present Continuous” for future plans.

The only difference is that we prefer to use the present continuous when we make plans with other people. 

I am meeting John later. 

You can also use “I am going to meet John later” but the first example is more common.

If you have a plan by yourself, then you use “going to”

I am going to study later.

Common verbs with Present Continuous

We often use the present continuous when we talk about changes happening around now(actions):

• get 
• change 
• become 
• increase 
• rise 
• fall 
• grow 
• improve 
• begin 
• start

Verbs not used in the Present Continuous

We use continuous forms for actions that are incomplete (We are doing our homework.). Some verbs (for example, know and like) are not normally used in this way. We don’t say ‘I am knowing’ or ‘they are liking’; we say ‘I know’, ‘they like’.

The following verbs are not normally used in the present continuous:

• like 
• want 
• need 
• prefer
• know 
• realize 
• suppose 
• mean 
• understand 
• believe 
• remember

Exercise on Present Continuous

Write the correct form of the Present Continuous

1. Peter _______ football (play)
2. What are you doing? I __  _____ guitar (play)
3. He _ ___ _____ today.(not work)
4. __ you ____ Sandra this evening? (meet)
5. Why _ she _____ that? (do)
6. What __ you____ later? (do)
7. What __ you______? It looks like coffee (drink)
8. I ___ ___ ______ anymore! It is not fair (not play)
9. He _ _____ on the big project for Google (work)
10. ___ you______ in the chess tournament this weekend? (play)

Answers are in the comments 

If you need more help with verb tenses you can watch my course for free if you signup to Skillshare here