The Present Continuous describes actions happening now. It also describes temporary situations and changing situations. It uses the verb be and a main verb with -ing.

The auxiliary verb changes with the subject. Use am with I. Use is with he, she, and it. Use are with you, we, and they.

Subject	Form
I	am
he	is
she	is
it	is
you	are
we	are
they	are

The main verb takes the present participle form. For most verbs, add -ing. Some verbs change spelling before -ing.

Verb	Form
work	working
read	reading
eat	eating
make	making
write	writing
sit	sitting
run	running

An affirmative sentence uses subject + be + verb-ing. This form says that an action is happening now or that a situation is temporary.

Rule
Use subject + am + verb-ing with I.
Use subject + is + verb-ing with he, she, and it.
Use subject + are + verb-ing with you, we, and they.

A negative sentence adds not after the verb be. The order is subject + be + not + verb-ing. This form says the action or situation is not happening now.

Rule
Put not after am in negative sentences.
Put not after is in negative sentences.
Put not after are in negative sentences.

A yes or no question changes the order of the subject and the verb be. Put am, is, or are before the subject. Then use the verb with -ing.

Rule
Put am before I to make a question.
Put is before he, she, and it to make a question.
Put are before you, we, and they to make a question.

Use the Present Continuous for actions happening at this moment. Use it when the action is in progress now. It describes what a person or thing is doing now.

Rule
Use it for an action happening now.
Use it when the action is in progress at this moment.
Use it to describe what someone is doing now.

Use the Present Continuous for temporary situations. These situations are true now but not permanent. Use it also for changing situations that are developing now.

Rule
Use it for a temporary situation that is true now.
Use it for a situation that is not permanent.
Use it for a changing situation happening now.

You can now describe actions happening now with the Present Continuous. You can also describe temporary and changing situations. You can build affirmative sentences, negative sentences, and yes or no questions with am, is, are, and verb-ing.