Use the present continuous for what is happening right now, for situations that are only temporary, and for plans you have already fixed. It is always be plus an -ing verb, and the be is the part people forget.
1. What Are You Doing?
Zara: What are you doing?
Cole: I'm sorting out my desk. It's a disaster.
Zara: You're throwing away a lot.
Cole: I'm keeping the folders. The rest is paper from 2019.
Zara: I'm doing mine on Friday.
Cole: Then you're already braver than me.
2. I'm on My Way
Nina: Where are you?
Adam: I'm on my way. I'm walking from the station.
Nina: It's raining hard here.
Adam: It's stopping already on this side.
Nina: Are you bringing the laptop?
Adam: I'm carrying it under my coat.
3. She's Not Working Today
Fatima: Is Helen in?
Josh: She isn't working today.
Fatima: Is she coming tomorrow?
Josh: She is, but she's leaving at two.
Fatima: I'm not asking for much. Two minutes.
Josh: Then catch her at the door.
4. Today Is Different
Emre: You take the bus every day, don't you?
Lily: I do, but I'm cycling this week.
Emre: Why the change?
Lily: They're repairing the road, so the bus takes an hour.
Emre: I'm driving until that finishes.
Lily: You drive, I cycle, and we both arrive late.
5. The Printer Is Jamming
Bruno: The printer is jamming again.
Alice: Is the tray leaking paper dust?
Bruno: It's making that noise, yes.
Alice: Somebody is waiting in line behind you, by the way.
Bruno: They're waiting for the same broken machine.
Alice: I'm calling the engineer now.
6. Are You Coming Tomorrow?
Hana: Are you coming tomorrow?
Victor: I'm meeting my sister at seven.
Hana: We're starting at eight, so that works.
Victor: Who else is coming?
Hana: Ravi is bringing his brother.
Victor: Good. I'm not driving, so I can stay late.
7. I Know, I Don't Think
Sam: Do you know that man?
Roza: I know his face. I'm trying to place him.
Sam: He's looking at us.
Roza: I think he's the man from the bank.
Sam: I don't remember him at all.
Roza: I want to say hello, but I'm not sure enough.
8. Just for Now
Paolo: Are you living with your parents?
Mei: I'm staying with them while they decorate my apartment.
Paolo: How long is that taking?
Mei: Two more weeks. They're painting the last room now.
Paolo: You're being very patient.
Mei: I'm sleeping on a sofa. Patience is all I have.
Words to know
| sort out | to tidy something or deal with a problem I'm sorting out my desk. It's a disaster. |
| on my way | already travelling towards the place I'm on my way. I'm walking from the station. |
| repair | to mend something that is damaged They're repairing the road, so the bus takes an hour. |
| jam | to get stuck so that a machine stops working The printer is jamming again. |
| leak | to let liquid or dust escape through a hole Is the tray leaking paper dust? |
| in line | waiting one behind another for your turn Somebody is waiting in line behind you, by the way. |
| place | to remember where you know somebody from I know his face. I'm trying to place him. |
| decorate | to paint a room or put new paper on its walls I'm staying with them while they decorate my apartment. |
Quick practice
Complete each sentence with the present continuous, exactly as it appears in the conversations above.
1. What ____ you ____? (do)
_______________________________________
2. I ____ from the station. (walk)
_______________________________________
3. She ____ today. (not work)
_______________________________________
4. They ____ the road. (repair)
_______________________________________
5. ____ you ____ tomorrow? (come)
_______________________________________
6. They ____ the last room now. (paint)
_______________________________________
Show the answers
1. What are you doing? 2. I'm walking from the station. 3. She isn't working today. 4. They're repairing the road. 5. Are you coming tomorrow? 6. They're painting the last room now.
Common mistakes
Not: I am go now.
Say: I'm going now.
The continuous is be plus the -ing form. Without the -ing there is no continuous.
Not: What you are doing?
Say: What are you doing?
In a question, are jumps in front of the person: are you, is she, am I.
Not: I'm knowing the answer.
Say: I know the answer.
Know, like, want, need and remember describe a state, not an action, so they stay in the simple form.
Your turn
Stand up and say these out loud. The present continuous is the tense you use while you are moving, so use it while you are moving.
- Say what you are doing right now, and what three people near you are doing.
- Phone a friend in your head: I'm on my way, I'm walking, I'm carrying...
- Say three things that are only true this week, using this week: I'm cycling this week.
- Describe your plans for tomorrow with the continuous: I'm meeting, I'm starting, I'm leaving.
- Say five sentences with know, like, want, need and remember, and keep them all simple: I know, I like, I want.
Quick review
The present continuous is be plus an -ing verb: I'm working, she's leaving, they aren't coming. Use it for this moment, for a temporary stretch of time, and for arrangements you have already made. Questions move be to the front. Verbs about states, such as know, like and want, stay in the simple present.