The present continuous tense is formed using:
subject + verb 'be' + present participle (-ing)
Subject | Present form 'be' | Present Participle |
I | am | planting a tree. |
You | are | |
He, She, It | is | |
We, You, They | are |
We can also use the present continuous tense to make negative sentences using:
subject + verb 'be' + not + present participle (-ing)
Subject | Present form 'be' | not | Present Participle |
I | am | not | wasting water. |
You | are | ||
He, She, It | is | ||
We, You, They | are |
Remember, you can always use contractions for 'be,' like 'I'm' and 'you're.'
Here are some examples of sentences that use the present continuous.
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/1/2-1g1.jpg)
I'm cooking a very hot dish.
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/1/2-1g2.jpg)
We are wearing matching clothes!
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/1/2-1g3.jpg)
Come on, you're driving to school!
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/1/2-1g4.jpg)
They're riding horses together.
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/1/2-1g5.jpg)
I'm not cleaning this up!
![group image](https://smrt.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/core/LMLA/YOUTH/ENGL115Youth/Unit%2002/Images/Grammar/1/2-1g6.jpg)
He's playing the piano very well.