We use am, are, is + the -ing form of the verb. We use the short form more often than the full form, especially when speaking.

+

I,

you, we, they

she, he, it

(full form)

am

are,

is

working.

I,

you, we, they

she, he, it

(short form)

’m

’re

’s

−

I,

you, we, they

she, he, it

(full form)

am not

are not

is not

working.

I,

you, we, they

she, he, it

(short form)

’m not

’re not or aren’

t’s not or isn’t

? +

Am

Are,

Is

I

you, we, they

she, he, it

working?

? −

(full form)

Am

Are

Is

I

you, we, they

she, he, it

not

working?

(short form)

Aren’t

Isn’t

I, you, we, they

she, he, it

For most verbs we add -ing to the base form to make the -ing form:

be → being

eat → eating

order → ordering

cry → crying

fix → fixing

play → playing

do → doing

go → going

For other verbs the spelling changes are (note the underlined syllables are stressed):

verb

-ing form

When the verb ends in -e, we take off the -e and add -ing.

move

moving

face

facing

come

coming

When the verb ends in a vowel followed by a single consonant and if the last syllable is stressed, then the consonant is doubled.

commit

committing

prefer

preferring

rub

rubbing

BUT:

cover

covering

remember

remembering

When the verb ends in a vowel + l, we double the consonant.

travel

travelling*

control

controlling

* American English spelling is traveling.

See also:

Regular verbs

Irregular verbs

Spelling

We use the present continuous to talk about events which are in progress at the moment of speaking:

What time’s dinner?

I’m cooking now so it’ll be ready in about half an hour.

She’s pressing the button but nothing is happening.

We use the present continuous to talk about temporary states which are true around the moment of speaking:

Her mother’s living with her at the moment. She’s just come out of hospital.

Who’s looking after the children while you’re here?

We use the present continuous to describe actions which are repeated or regular, but which we believe to be temporary:

I’m not drinking much coffee these days. I’m trying to cut down.

She’s working a lot in London at the moment. (She doesn’t usually work in London.)

We use the present continuous to talk about a gradual change:

They’re building a new stand at the football ground.

Maria, 37, is getting better and doctors are optimistic she will make a full recovery.

Recent evidence suggests that the economic situation is improving.

We often use the present continuous with words like always, constantly, continually and forever (adverbs of indefinite frequency) to describe events which are regular but not planned, and often not wanted:

My wife, she’s always throwing things out. I like to keep everything.

I’m constantly spilling things.

We use the present continuous to refer to the future when we talk about plans and arrangements that have already been made:

We’re moving to Cambridge in July.

Sarah isn’t taking Rory to football training later. She hasn’t got the car tonight.

Aren’t you playing tennis on Saturday?

See also:

Future: present continuous to talk about the future (I’m working tomorrow)