Understanding Continuous Tense: Your Guide to English Verbs (PDF)

The continuous tense, also known as the progressive tense, is used when we want to talk about actions happening right now or ongoing situations. In this post, we’ll learn about how to use continuous tense verbs correctly and give you examples so you can use this grammar right away.

The continuous tense in English is formed by using the auxiliary verb “be” in the present tense (am, is, are) followed by the main verb with the “-ing” suffix. For example, “I am running” or “They are studying.”

Keep reading to level up your language skills! This blog post will help you with practical examples, and clear explanations. Plus, don’t miss out on the free downloadable PDF guide, designed to help you master the art of using the continuous tense effectively.

Present Continuous Tense English Verbs

In English grammar, the present continuous is used for verbs that are happening now or near the time of speaking. The verb has started but has not finished yet.

CONTINUOUS TENSE VERBS

The present continuous tense uses a form of the verb to be + (verb) -ing.

I’m (amdoing
he/she/it is waiting
you/we/they areeating
  • A: “Let’s call Kevin!”
  • B: “It’s only 7:00 am, I think he is sleeping.”
  • “My teacher is yelling at me because I don’t pay attention in class, but I’m not listening.”
  • A: “Where are your children?”
  • B: “They are upstairs getting ready for bed.” = My children are in the middle of changing into their pajamas and brushing their teeth before they go to bed.

“It’s raining, could you please close the window?” = Rain is falling now. The rain has started falling and it hasn’t stopped.

How To Use CONTINUOUS TENSE VERBS

“With the Internet, the world is becoming very small.”

Negative Present Continuous Tense

We use NOT with the present continuous to show something isn’t happening at the time of speaking.

“Let’s go out, it’s not raining anymore.”

“My teacher is yelling at me because I don’t pay attention in class, but I’m not listening.”

Present continuous tense when an action is not happening at the time of speaking

We can also use the present continuous tense if an action has started but not yet finished, even if the action is not happening at the time of speaking.

“I’m reading the biography of Apple founder Steve Jobs now, it’s interesting.”

~ At the time I am writing this sentence I am not reading the book. I started reading the book last week but I haven’t finished it yet. I’m reading the book. (Started but not finished.)

“Dave is studying Japanese, learning a second language will make him a better English teacher.”

~ Dave is not studying Japanese right now but he began studying years ago and he is not finished yet.

“Hector is looking for a new apartment.”

~ Hector is at school now, but he started looking for a new apartment 2 days ago and he hasn’t found one yet. The action has not finished.

We use the present continuous tense to talk about changes that are happening.

Verbs like: change or become

“The weather is changing a lot. Temperatures are getting warmer all over the world.”

“My son will graduate from university this Spring. He is becoming a man. I’m very proud of him!”

Verbs like: increase, rise, grow, decrease, fall, drop

“House prices in Toronto are rising. You should buy a house soon.”

“Japan’s population is decreasing.”

Verbs like: get, improve, start

“It’s getting late, time to go to bed.”

“I’ve been studying hard for 4 months and my English is really improving.”

Future tense VS continuous tense

Verbs not Commonly Used in the Present Continuous Tense

We don’t often use the present continuous form with these verbs: 

think or believe

“I believe in ghosts.” NOT – I am believing in ghosts.


“I think it will rain tomorrow.” NOT – I am thinking it will rain.

*We can say “…thinking about something.”

  • “Jennifer is thinking about going to law school after she graduates.”

Verbs that describe our senses don’t often use –ing

“Do you see me in this company photo?” NOT – are you seeing me

“I don’t like that restaurant, it smells bad.” 

NOT – it is smelling bad

These flowers smell nice.

NOT smelling nice.

We can use the verb ‘TO BE’ in the present continuous tense (being) with adjectives to describe how someone/something is BEING/ACTING/BEHAVING now. This is compared to how they usually act.

“Rick is being very strange today.” = Today he is acting strange, but it is unusual for him.

Compare with

“Rick is strange.” = He is usually strange, this is his regular condition.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

“The students in my first class were being noisy this morning. I guess they are excited about summer vacation.” = Usually they are very calm.

Compare with

“My first class is so noisy.” = The students in that class are always noisy.

What are yoy doing now? Tell us in the comments.

Continuous Tense QUIZ

Answer these Continuous Tense questions and test your English

Fill in the blanks using the verbs at the end of the sentence. [verb]

EXAMPLE Question: Try to keep the noise down, (= try not to make noise) Carrie ________. [sleep] 
Carrie IS SLEEPING.

Carrie wrote her university entrance exam this afternoon so she is tired. She ________ to get accepted to some top schools. [try] 

Two of my friends are in Hawaii now. I bet they ________ a great time! [have] 

I hope the city will elect a new mayor this fall. People  ________ tired of the current mayor’s lies. [get] 

The weather is nice today but unfortunately, I ________ all day. [work]

We should have lunch soon. I ________ to get hungry. [start] 

Paul and Diane had a big fight last night! They  ________ to each other today. [not talk] 

A: I saw Ernie yesterday. He got a job at the fancy new restaurant downtown. 
B: Good for him! ____ he _____ it? [enjoy] 

So many things ________ now. [happen] The world  ____ always _____. [change] 

University entrance exams are next week. Everyone  ________ very hard. [study] 

___ you _____ exams next week too? [write] 

Download the Continuous Tense Quiz PDF printable HERE

Perfect for teachers to use with their own classes!

Quiz ANSWERS

Free PDF Continuous Tense Verbs worksheet

Download your free printable 3-page PDF worksheet. Practice making your own future tense sentences with easy prompts to help you talk about your own life.

Web illustrations by Storyset

Check out these other great posts!

Quiz Answers

University entrance exams are next week. Everyone is studying very hard.  

Are you writing exams next week too? 

Try to keep the noise down, (= try not to make noise) Carrie is sleeping.  

Carrie wrote her university entrance exam this afternoon so she is tired. She is trying to get accepted to some top schools. 

Two of my friends are in Hawaii now. I bet they are having a great time! 

I hope the city will elect a new mayor this fall. People are getting tired of the current mayor’s lies. 

The weather is nice today but unfortunately, I am working all day. 

We should have lunch soon. I am starting to get hungry. 

Paul and Diane had a big fight last night! They are not speaking to each other today. 

A: I saw Ernie yesterday. He got a job at the fancy new restaurant downtown. 

B: Good for him! Is he enjoying it?  
So many things are happening now. The world is always changing.

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