The present continuous describes actions happening now, around now, or temporary situations. It is formed with the present tense of be plus the verb ending in -ing. It can also express planned future arrangements, especially with a time or place mentioned. Understanding when to choose it instead of the present simple helps you sound natural and precise.

Use the present continuous for actions in progress at the moment of speaking: something is happening right now. It also works for actions happening “these days” even if not at this exact second, especially when the activity is temporary or in progress. The key idea is activity that is ongoing, not finished, and connected to the present time frame.

The basic structure is subject + be + verb-ing. Choose am, is, or are based on the subject, and keep the main verb in the -ing form. You can add time expressions like now, right now, today, this week to show the time frame, but they are optional if the context is clear.

In affirmative sentences, place be directly after the subject, then use the -ing form of the main verb. This tense often includes a context marker like now or at the moment, but it can also be used without one when the situation is obvious. Word order is stable and does not change for different verbs because be carries the tense.

Subject	🇨🇳 中文 主语	Form	🇨🇳 中文 形式	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例句
I	👤 我	am + verb-ing	🧩 am + verb-ing	I am working now.	💬 我现在正在工作。
You	👤 你	are + verb-ing	🧩 are + verb-ing	You are listening to me.	💬 你正在听我说话。
He	👤 他	is + verb-ing	🧩 is + verb-ing	He is cooking dinner.	💬 他正在做晚饭。
She	👤 她	is + verb-ing	🧩 is + verb-ing	She is reading.	💬 她正在读书。
It	👤 它	is + verb-ing	🧩 is + verb-ing	It is raining.	💬 它正在下雨。
We	👤 我们	are + verb-ing	🧩 are + verb-ing	We are studying this week.	💬 我们本周正在学习。
They	👤 他们	are + verb-ing	🧩 are + verb-ing	They are playing outside.	💬 他们正在外面玩耍。

To make the present continuous negative, put not after be. This creates am not, is not, or are not, followed by the -ing verb. In everyday English, contractions are common and sound more natural, especially in conversation.

Subject	🇨🇳 中文 主语	Form	🇨🇳 中文 形式	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例句
I	👤 我	am not + verb-ing	🧩 am not + verb-ing	I am not sleeping.	💬 我没在睡觉。
You	👤 你	are not + verb-ing	🧩 are not + verb-ing	You are not paying attention.	💬 你没有在留心。
He	👤 他	is not + verb-ing	🧩 is not + verb-ing	He is not coming today.	💬 他今天不来。
She	👤 她	is not + verb-ing	🧩 is not + verb-ing	She is not working now.	💬 她现在没在工作。
It	👤 它	is not + verb-ing	🧩 is not + verb-ing	It is not working.	💬 它现在不起作用。
We	👤 我们	are not + verb-ing	🧩 are not + verb-ing	We are not waiting anymore.	💬 我们不再等了。
They	👤 他们	are not + verb-ing	🧩 are not + verb-ing	They are not studying.	💬 他们没有在学习。

To form yes-no questions, invert be and the subject: Be + subject + verb-ing. For information questions, put a question word first, then be, then the subject and verb-ing. The main verb stays in the -ing form; only be moves to create the question.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例句
Yes-no: be + subject + verb-ing	📌 是非问句：be + 主语 + 动词-ing	Are you coming?	💬 你来吗？
Wh-question: wh-word + be + subject + verb-ing	📌 Wh-问句：wh-词 + be + 主语 + 动词-ing	What are you doing?	💬 你在做什么？
Short answers use be, not the main verb	📌 简短回答使用 be，而不是主要动词	Yes, I am. No, they aren’t.	💬 是的，我在。 不，他们不是。

Most verbs add -ing directly, but some change spelling to keep pronunciation and spelling patterns consistent. Pay attention to final -e, one-syllable verbs with a vowel plus consonant, and verbs ending in -ie. These spelling rules affect writing, not the grammar structure.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Most verbs: add -ing	📌 大多数动词：加 -ing	work → working	💬 work → working
Final -e: drop -e + ing	📌 末尾 -e：去掉 -e + ing	make → making	💬 make → making
-ie: change to -y + ing	📌 -ie：改为 -y + ing	lie → lying	💬 lie → lying
Vowel + consonant: double final consonant in many cases	📌 元音 + 辅音：在许多情况下将重读辅音字母重复	sit → sitting	💬 sit → sitting

Use the present continuous to show that a situation is temporary or not part of a long-term routine. This often contrasts with the present simple, which typically describes habits and permanent facts. The continuous highlights that the situation can change and is limited in time.

The present continuous can refer to the future when you talk about a fixed plan or arrangement, often with a specific time, place, or meeting. It usually implies that the plan is organized and likely to happen. This use is common for social plans, appointments, travel, and schedules that involve people.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例句
Use for planned arrangements with future time	📌 用于带有未来时间的计划安排	I’m meeting Anna tomorrow.	💬 I’m meeting Anna tomorrow.
Often includes time or place details	📌 常包含时间或地点细节	We’re flying to Berlin on Friday.	💬 We’re flying to Berlin on Friday.
Focus is on the plan, not prediction	📌 重点在计划上，而非预测	They’re having lunch at 1.	💬 They’re having lunch at 1.

Some verbs usually describe states, not actions, so they are often not used in the present continuous. These include many verbs of knowledge, possession, and preference. When these verbs are used in the continuous, the meaning often changes to an active or temporary interpretation.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例句
know	🧠 知道	knowledge state	📝 知识状态	I know the answer.	💬 我知道答案。
like	❤️ 喜欢	preference state	📝 偏好状态	She likes jazz.	💬 她喜欢爵士乐。
see	👀 看见	perception state	📝 感知状态	I see what you mean.	💬 我明白你的意思。
own	🤝 拥有	possession state	📝 拥有状态	They own a car.	💬 他们有一辆车。
think	🧠 认为	opinion state	📝 观点状态	I think it’s true.	💬 我认为这是真的。
be thinking	🧠 正在思考	activity in progress	📝 正在进行的活动	I’m thinking about it.	💬 我正在考虑这件事。

Choose the present continuous when you want to express an ongoing action, a temporary situation, or a planned future arrangement. Build it with am, is, or are plus the -ing form, and form questions by moving be before the subject. When you are describing habits, repeated routines, or general truths, you will usually choose the present simple instead.