​Events happening now

We use the Present Contiunuous to talk about things that are happening right now.

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Example: ​I am going to the cinema => They are reading a book => We are studying English.

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Present Continuous

​Events that are temporary

We use the Present Continuous to talk about events that happen for a period of time.​

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Examples: ​She is staying at that hotel => They are studying at the university => I am not working this week

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Present Continuous

​The form of Present Continuous

We form the Present Continuous in sentences with the subject + verb to be + -ing.

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​Examples: They are planning the holidays => He is sleeping.

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In questions we form it with the verb to be + subject + -ing.

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Examples: Am I dreaming? => Are they working? => Is him studying?​​

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Present Continuous

​Time expressions

We often use time expressions with Present Continuous to emphasize when we are doing something.

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Examples: Right now, I am working => ​This year they are living in Capital Federal => I am studying a lot today

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Remember that we use time expressions at the start or the end of the sentence, not in the middle​.

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Present Continuous

​State verbs

There are some verbs that can't be used with the Present Continuous because they describe a state of the person, not an action. In short, verbs that describe feelings, thoughts and opinions and states are not usually used with the Present Continuous.

Feelings: Like-Love-Hate-Need-Prefer- Want

Thoughts or opinions: Know-Believe-Understand-Remember-Forget

States: Exist-Belong-Own-Look like-Seem

Examples: I'm liking this movie - He is knowing the truth - They are owning that car.

​Present Simple & Continuous

Even though Present Continuous and Present Simple are different they can be used together sometimes. We use them together when we want to talk about things that are always true but temporarily are different.

Examples: I work in the morning, but this week I am working in the evenings - This week, we are having the meeting on Tuesday, but we always have it on Wednesdays.