Present Continuous Tense structure with Rules and Examples

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Present Continuous Tense has been discussed here with its structure, rules to use, examples, and exercises. In a practical situation, the Present Continuous tense is used extensively while speaking as well as writing. So, explore the structure, rules, and examples of Present Continuous Tense that are given below.

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Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Tense is used to describe actions happening now, at the time of speaking. For examples,

  • (1) Tom is catching fish.
  • (2) They are playing football.
  • (3) Why are you waiting for me?

Present Continuous Tense structure

The structure of Present Continuous Tense in sentences can be of four types –

  • a Positive or Affirmative Sentence
  • a Negative Sentence
  • an Interrogative Sentence
  • a Negative-Interrogative sentence

All structures are discussed below with a table and examples in an easy way.

Positive or Affirmative Sentence

Structure

Subject + am / is/are / + Verb + ing  + Object.

Table

PersonSingularPlural
1stI am playing football.We are playing football.
2ndYou are playing football.You are playing football.
3rdHe/She/It (any noun) is playing football.They/(two or more nouns) are playing football.

Other examples

  1. He is playing football.
  2. The sun is rising in the East.
  3. You are reading history.
  4. Birds are flying in the Sky.
  5. We are going to school.

Negative Sentence

Structure

Subject + am / is/are /  + not + Verb + ing  + Object.

Table

Person    Singular     Plural
1stI am not eating rice.We are not eating rice.
2ndYou are not eating rice.You are not eating rice.
3rdHe or She or (It)  is not eating rice.They are not eating rice.

Other Examples

  1. They are not playing football.
  2. The sun is not rising in the West.
  3. You are not drinking milk.
  4. Birds are not making houses.
  5. We are not studying now.

Interrogative Sentence

Structure

Am / Is / Are /  +Subject + Verb + ing  + Object?

Table

PERSON   SINGULAR      PLURAL
1stAm I eating rice?Are we eating rice?
2ndAre you eating rice?Are you eating rice?
3rdIs he/she/(it) eating rice?Are they eating rice?

Other Examples

  1. Is he playing football?
  2. Is the sun rising in the East?
  3. Are you reading history?
  4. Are birds flying in the Sky?
  5. Are you watching the movie?

Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure

Structure

Am / Is / Are  + Subject( If Pronoun) + Not  +  Verb + Object?
Am / Is / Are  + Not + Subject (If Noun)+  Verb + Object?
  • If the Subject is “NOUN”, “Not” will be placed before “Subject”.
  • Example:- Is not Messi Playing for Argentina?
  • If the Subject is “PRONOUN”, “Not” will be placed after “Subject”. 
  • Example:- Are they not studying in college?

Table

Person   Singular       Plural
1stAm I not eating rice?Are we not eating rice?
2ndAre you not eating rice?Are you not eating rice?
3rdIs he or she or it( Pro N) not eating rice?               
Is not John( N) eating rice?		Are they not eating rice?

Other Examples

  1. Is not Ram playing football?
  2. Is not the sun rising in the East?
  3. Are you not reading history?
  4. Are we not doing this work?
  5. Are they not growing crops?

Rules to use of Present Continuous Tense

There are some following rules to be observed for the use of Present Continuous Tense in practical situations –

Rule 1. It is used to refer to an action that is going on at the time of speaking. For example,

  • Birds are flying in the sky.

Rule 2. It is used to express an action that is planned for the future. For example,

  • Ravi is going to Delhi next week.

Rule 3. It is used to talk about future arrangements; usually used with time expressions like ‘next week’ /’at Christmas’ / ‘tomorrow’. For example,

  • My father is coming back next week.

Rule 4. There are some verbs that do not describe ‘an action’, are not ( or rarely) used in the Present Continuous Tense. Those verbs are called non-action verbs. Examples of non-action verbs are as follows-

Verbs of SenseVerbs of Feelings/ EmotionsThe verb of mental StateVerbs of Possessions
See
Hear
Taste
smell		Like
Love
Hate
Want
Desire
Fear respect		Know
Understand
Agree
Believe
Doubt
Trust
Think
Suppose
remember		Own
Possess
Belong
contain

Present Continuous Tense in Different Sentences

How different types of sentences are formed in the Present Continuous Tense are shown below.

Present Continuous Tense of different Sentences

Exercises of Present Continuous Tense

1. Use the Present Continuous Tense of the verbs in the brackets.

(i) I am ………………………….. (read) a book
(ii) Suman is …………………. (go) to Delhi.
(iii) She is ……………………………….. (sing) a song.
(iv) Are the boys ………………………………… (swim) in the pond?
(v) Father is ………………………….. (come) next week.
(vi) I am …………………………….. (feel) unwell.
(viii) What are you ………………………. (do) now?
(viii) Are you not ……………………. (go) to do this ?.

2. Fill in the blanks using the correct present tense (simple present or present progressive)
of the verbs in brackets:

1. Father usually ……………… (come) back home at 12 a.m.
2. The woman always……………………………. (sing) this sad song.
3. It…………………………. (rain) here heavily at the end of summer.
4. It ……………………….(rain) very heavily today.
5. Hindus ………………(burn) their dead.
6. The children……………………. (cry) because they’re hungry.
7. This man ……………………….(know) many foreign languages.
8. The school ………………………………(close) on June 1.
9. Time and tide …………………………(wait) for none.
10. We ……………………………….(sce) the moon in the sky.