Present continuous
El present continuous describe lo que está sin terminar: lo que ocurre ahora, lo que ocurre en estos días o lo que ya está planificado para el futuro. Aquí trabajas la estructura be + -ing, los adverbios de tiempo y la trampa de los verbos de estado.
Aprendizaje rápido
El present continuous se usa para lo que no está terminado: lo que pasa ahora, lo que pasa por estos días o lo que ya está acordado para el futuro.
Recuerda
- be + la forma en -ing del verbo; lo que cambia según la persona y el número es be.
- now, at the moment, currently y this week lo señalan.
- También sirve para un futuro ya acordado: I am meeting her on Friday.
Ejemplos
- 1Listen carefully! The birds are singing beautifully in the garden trees.
- 2My brother is studying for his medical exams at the university library right now.
Error común que evitar
Los verbos de estado rechazan la forma en -ing. I am knowing e I am wanting le suenan mal a un oído nativo aunque el significado sea claramente el de ahora.
Profundiza
La regla
Form and meaning
The Present Continuous describes activities that are ongoing right at the moment of speaking or temporary situations taking place around the present time. It is constructed using the auxiliary verb be (am, is, are) followed by the present participle (-ing form of the main verb): Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing.
Spelling the -ing
Spelling rules for -ing:
(1) Verbs ending in a silent -e drop the -e (write → writing, make → making, dance → dancing).
(2) Single-syllable verbs with a short vowel followed by a single consonant double the final consonant (sit → sitting, run → running, swim → swimming, stop → stopping).
(3) Two-syllable verbs double the consonant only if the second syllable is stressed (begin → beginning, but visit → visiting).
(4) Verbs ending in -ie change -ie to -y (lie → lying, die → dying).
Negatives and questions
Negatives add not directly after the auxiliary be:
- I am not working today
- She isn't listening
- They aren't sleeping
Questions invert the subject and be:
- Are you listening to me?
- What is he cooking in the kitchen?
Time words
Time expressions commonly paired with this tense include right now, at the moment, currently, today, this week, and look! or listen!.
Anatomía de la frase
Frases de esta lección, separadas en sus partes en el orden que exige el inglés.
SujetoMy brotherVerbo auxiliarisVerbostudyingComplementofor his medical examsLugarat the university libraryTiemporight now.
SujetoThe chefVerbo auxiliarisVerbopreparingObjetoa special seafood pasta dishComplementofor the evening guests.
SujetoTheyVerbo auxiliarareVerbotravellingLugaracross northern PortugalModoby trainTiempothis week.
Guía visual
How to read this A2 topic
At A2, the challenge is choosing between similar time frames, pronouns, and quantity patterns.
1. Look for the time clue
Yesterday, now, every day, already, and since often decide the tense.
I watched it yesterday.
2. Choose the pattern first
Pick the whole grammar structure before choosing the final word.
I am going to study.
3. Check word position
Adverbs, objects, and pronouns must sit in natural English order.
I know him well.
Present continuous
Use be + -ing for actions happening now or around now, not for most stative verbs.
| Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | am + -ing | I am studying. |
| you / we / they | are + -ing | They are waiting. |
| he / she / it | is + -ing | She is working. |
| negative | be + not + -ing | He is not listening. |
| question | be + subject + -ing | Are you coming? |
Decision path before answering
Use these checks before choosing between close options.
- 1Mark the subject, main verb, object, and any connector.
- 2Underline the time expression or discourse clue.
- 3Reject any option with the wrong agreement, tense, article, pronoun case, or word order.
- 4Read the whole sentence once more for naturalness and register.
Ejemplos
- 1Listen carefully! The birds are singing beautifully in the garden trees.
- 2My brother is studying for his medical exams at the university library right now.
- 3We are staying at a seaside hotel while our house is being painted.
- 4Why are you wearing a heavy winter jacket on such a sunny afternoon?
- 5The chef is preparing a special seafood pasta dish for the evening guests.
- 6I am not reading any books at the moment because I am very busy.
- 7The little children are playing quietly with building blocks on the rug.
- 8Is your father working in his home office or relaxing in the living room?
- 9They are travelling across northern Portugal by train this week.
- 10Look outside! It is starting to snow over the mountain hills.
Excepciones
Stative verbs express mental states, emotions, senses, and permanent possession (like, love, hate, want, need, know, believe, understand, remember, own, belong). These verbs are not normally used in the continuous aspect: say "I understand the grammar rule", never "I am understanding the grammar rule". Some verbs have both stative and dynamic meanings: have as possession is stative ("I have two cats"), but have as an activity is dynamic ("I am having lunch right now").
Errores frecuentes
Omitting the auxiliary verb be
Error
The children playing in the yard.
Correcto
The children are playing in the yard.
Continuous tenses always require am, is, or are.
Using continuous with stative verbs
Error
I am needing assistance.
Correcto
I need assistance.
Need expresses a state, not an activity.
Incorrect consonant doubling
Error
She is swiming in the pool.
Correcto
She is swimming in the pool.
Short CVC verbs double the consonant.
Repaso
Lo esencial de la lección en una tarjeta, antes de ponerte a prueba.
Recuerda
- be + la forma en -ing del verbo; lo que cambia según la persona y el número es be.
- now, at the moment, currently y this week lo señalan.
- También sirve para un futuro ya acordado: I am meeting her on Friday.
Errores frecuentes
Error: The children playing in the yard.
Correcto: The children are playing in the yard.Error: I am needing assistance.
Correcto: I need assistance.Error: She is swiming in the pool.
Correcto: She is swimming in the pool.
Ponte a prueba
Describe lo que están haciendo tres personas a tu alrededor y luego practica este tema.
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