When something is happening right now, English usually reaches for the present continuous, not the present simple: I am reading this sentence. She is talking on the phone.

Quick form: subject + am / is / are + verb**-ing** → I am working. They are talking.

How to form the present continuous

The helper verb is be — the same am / is / are from The verb "to be". Then add the -ing form of the main verb.

Subject Helper -ing form Example
I am working I am working today.
he / she / it is reading He is reading a book.
you / we / they are talking You are talking to your friend.

The am / is / are choice follows the exact same rule you already know: I → am; he/she/it → is; you/we/they → are.

Spelling the -ing form

If the verb ends in… Rule Example
most verbs add -ing work → working, go → going
final silent -e drop the -e, add -ing make → making, write → writing
-ee and be keep the e see → seeing, be → being
one-syllable verb, short vowel + final consonant double the final consonant (not w/x/y) run → running, sit → sitting, fix → fixing
-ie change to -y, add -ing lie → lying, die → dying

Something happening right now

The most common use: an action in progress at this exact moment.

  • I am doing my homework.
  • She is cooking dinner.
  • Look! It is raining.
  • They are watching TV right now.

Something happening around now (not this exact second)

The present continuous also works for temporary situations happening these days, even if the action isn't going on at this precise second:

  • I am learning English this year.
  • He is reading a great book at the moment. (he isn't reading it right now, but it's not finished yet)
  • We are staying with friends this week.

Present simple vs present continuous

These two often get mixed up. The present simple is for habits and things that are generally true; the present continuous is for what's happening now or these days:

  • ✅ I work in a hospital. (a habit — my job in general) vs. ✅ I am working late today. (right now / this specific day)
  • ✅ She usually walks to school. vs. ✅ She is walking to school right now.

Words like now, right now, at the moment, and Look! often signal the present continuous. Words like usually and every day often signal the present simple — see Adverbs of frequency for more on those.

Negatives

Add not after am / is / are. Short forms are very common:

  • I am not working today. → I'm not working today.
  • He is not listening. → He isn't listening. / He's not listening.
  • They are not sleeping. → They aren't sleeping. / They're not sleeping.

Questions

Put am / is / are before the subject to make a question:

  • Are you listening?
  • Is she working today?
  • What are you doing?
  • Why is he crying?

Short answers repeat am, is, or are:

  • "Are you working?" — "Yes, I am." / "No, I'm not."

Verbs that usually don't take the continuous

Some verbs usually describe states, not actions in progress — know, like, want, understand, love, need. These usually stay in the present simple, even when talking about now:

  • ❌ I am knowing the answer. → ✅ I know the answer.
  • ❌ She is wanting a coffee. → ✅ She wants a coffee.
  • ❌ I am needing help. → ✅ I need help.

Common mistakes

  • ❌ I working now. → ✅ I am working now. (don't forget am/is/are)
  • ❌ She is work now. → ✅ She is working now. (need the -ing form)
  • ❌ He is runing. → ✅ He is running. (double the consonant: run → running)
  • ❌ I am know the answer. → ✅ I know the answer. (state verbs don't take -ing)
  • ❌ What you are doing? → ✅ What are you doing? (am/is/are comes before the subject in a question)

Quick check

Make the present continuous:

  1. (I / read) a book right now.
  2. (she / not / listen) to music at the moment.
  3. (they / play) football now.
  4. (what / you / do)?
Show answers
  1. I am reading a book right now.   2. She isn't listening to music at the moment.   3. They are playing football now.   4. What are you doing?

Key takeaways

  • The present continuous = am / is / are + verb-ing — it describes what's happening now or these days.
  • Use it for: an action happening this exact moment, or a temporary situation happening around now.
  • The present simple, not the continuous, is for habits and general facts — I work vs. I am working.
  • Negatives: isn't / aren't / I'm not + -ing. Questions: am/is/are + subject + -ing?
  • State verbs (know, want, like…) usually stay in the present simple, even when talking about now.