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A1 · ③ Present continuous
Present continuous
What is happening right now — and how to tell it apart from what happens every day.
45minthe whole
sheet
50questions
in the practice
3pages,
one at a time
01 · First page · the two tenses, side by side
The forms
Present simple
Always, every day, in general. The tense of habits and facts.
- I work in a bank.
- She drinks tea every morning.
- Water boils at 100 degrees.
- They don't live here.
Present continuous
Right now, or around now. The tense of what is going on while you speak.
- I am working from home today.
- She is drinking tea right now.
- Look — the water is boiling!
- They aren't living here at the moment.
present continuous: The present continuous is made of two pieces: the verb be, which changes with the person, and the main verb with -ing, which never changes. It says that something is going on at this moment, or around this period of your life.
the -ing form: The -ing is added to the bare verb and stays the same for every person: I am working, he is working, they are working. Only be moves. This is why the continuous is easier than it looks: there is one ending and it never varies.
state verb: Some verbs describe a state and not an action: know, like, want, need, understand, believe, belong, hate. A state does not happen, it simply is — so these verbs stay in the simple even when you mean right now.
- I am reading a very good book.
- She isn't listening to you.
- Are you working today?
- It's raining again.
- We are learning English this year.
| What you do | ||
|---|---|---|
| Verb ends in… | Rule | Example |
| most verbs | just add -ing | work → working · play → playing |
| silent -e | drop the -e | make → making · write → writing · live → living |
| one vowel + one consonant, stressed | double the consonant | run → running · sit → sitting · get → getting |
| -ie | -ie becomes -y | lie → lying · die → dying |
| -ee, -ye, -oe | keep the -e | see → seeing · agree → agreeing |
Golden rule
Ask one question and one only: is it going on WHILE I speak, or is it what usually happens? Going on now, even for a few weeks, takes the continuous. Usually, always, every day takes the simple. The word now is your friend: if you can add it and the sentence still makes sense, you need the continuous.
State verbs never take -ing, however present the moment is. I am knowing, I am wanting and I am liking are wrong at every level, not just at A1 — you say I know, I want, I like even when you mean right now.
02 · Second page · choosing between the two
The uses
Right now
It is happening while you are speaking. You can point at it.
He's sleeping.Listen — someone is singing.I'm waiting for the bus.
Around now
A temporary period: this week, this year, at the moment. Not this second, but not forever either.
I'm reading a great book.She's studying for an exam.We're living with my parents.
A change
Something is growing, getting better or worse.
Prices are going up.It's getting dark.My English is improving.
A fixed plan
An arrangement already made for the future, with a time and usually another person.
I'm meeting Anna at six.We're flying to Rome on Friday.
Every day → simple
With always, usually, often, never, every day, on Mondays: the simple.
I always take the bus.She never eats meat.
Now → continuous
With now, at the moment, today, this week, right now: the continuous.
I'm taking the bus today.She's eating meat for the first time.
Facts → simple
Something true regardless of the moment stays simple, always.
Water boils at 100 degrees.He comes from Brazil.
States → simple
know, like, want, need, understand, believe: simple even when you mean now.
I don't understand.She wants to go home.
The verbs that change meaning with -ing
A few verbs are states in one meaning and actions in another, and the -ing tells you which. have is a state when it means possess (I have a car — never I am having a car) and an action when it means take part (I'm having lunch, I'm having a shower). think is a state when it means believe (I think you're right) and an action when it means consider (I'm thinking about your offer). see is a state for the eyes (I see it) and an action for meeting (I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow).
🌍 For everyone
In both languages know, want and like behave like any other verb, so nothing warns you that English forbids them the -ing. I am knowing and I am wanting are wrong at every level.
So cosa fai. → I know what you are doing.
The negative and the question do not use do here. be is already an auxiliary, so it does the work by itself: I am not working, Are you working? Putting do in front — Do you are working? — is the classic mix-up between the two tenses.
I am reading every day. → I read every day.
every day is a habit: the simple. This is the aspect trap.
I am knowing the answer. → I know the answer.
know is a state verb: never -ing, however present the moment.
She working now. → She is working now.
The continuous is two pieces: be plus -ing. Dropping be leaves half a verb.
Do you working today? → Are you working today?
be is already the auxiliary here; do belongs to the simple.
He is runing. → He is running.
One vowel plus one stressed consonant: the consonant doubles.
I am having a car. → I have a car.
have as possession is a state; I'm having is only for meals and showers.
What you are doing? → What are you doing?
In a question be comes before the subject, always.
- I usually walk to work, but today I'm taking the bus.
- She speaks four languages and is learning a fifth.
- — What are you doing? — I'm looking for my keys.
- He works in Milan, but he's working in Berlin this month.
03 · Third page · now it's your turn
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