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Present continuous: I am working
A1 A1 grammar · lesson 21 of 24
We use the present continuous for actions that are happening now, at the moment of speaking. You need am / is / are from Lesson 1 and the -ing form from Lesson 20.
Form
Present continuous = am / is / are + verb-ing.
| Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|
| I‘m working. | I‘m not working. | Am I working? |
| He / She / It‘s working. | She isn’t working. | Is she working? |
| You / We / They‘re working. | They aren’t working. | Are they working? |
Short answers: Yes, I am. / No, she isn’t. / Yes, they are.
The -ing spelling rules are the same as in Lesson 20: make → making, sit → sitting, play → playing.
When do we use it?
- Actions happening now: Look! It‘s snowing.
- Actions around now, for a short time: I‘m reading a good book this week.
We often use now, right now, at the moment, today and Look! or Listen! with it.
Anna is cooking dinner now.
The children are playing in the garden.
I‘m not watching TV. You can turn it off.
Listen! The baby is crying.
Are you listening to me?
What is Tom doing? He‘s sleeping.
We‘re waiting for the bus.
It isn’t raining at the moment.
Present simple or present continuous?
Present simple (Lesson 9) is for habits: I work in an office. Present continuous is for now: Today I‘m working at home. You learn more about this difference at A2.
Common mistakes
✗ He reading a book.
✓ He‘s reading a book.
✗ They are play football.
✓ They are playing football.
✗ Do you working now?
✓ Are you working now?
✗ I’m knowing the answer.
✓ I know the answer.