Present Continuous Examples
The present continuous describes actions happening right now or around the present time. Use it for temporary activities and changing situations. Below are practical examples at A2 level, showing different contexts: daily life, work, hobbies, weather, and emotions.
Formula
✔ Positive
Subject
+
am/is/are
+
verb + -ing
She is working at home today.
✖ Negative
Subject
+
am/is/are not
+
verb + -ing
They are not watching television.
? Question
Am/Is/Are
+
subject
+
verb + -ing
Are you enjoying the movie?
Examples — page 1 of 4
I am eating breakfast right now.
Daily routine · Present moment
She is studying for her exam at the moment.
Education · Temporary action
They are playing football in the park.
Leisure · Ongoing activity
He is not listening to the teacher right now.
Classroom · Negative form
Is it raining outside?
Weather · Question form
We are building a new house this year.
Project · Extended period
The baby is sleeping peacefully in her crib.
Family · State description
What are you doing this evening?
Plans · Question form
My friends are not coming to the party tonight.
Social · Negative statement
The company is expanding to five new countries.
Business · Change/development
When to use it
Actions happening now
Describe what someone is doing at this exact moment or in this current period.
"I am eating lunch right now."
Temporary situations
Talk about changes or temporary conditions that are happening around now.
"We are moving to a new apartment next month."
Current projects
Explain work or activities in progress that will be finished soon.
"She is writing her thesis this semester."
Asking about present
Make questions to find out what someone is doing or what is happening now.
"Are you watching the game tonight?"
Signal words
right now
at the moment
now
this evening
tonight
these days
this year
currently
Common Mistakes
✕
Wrong
I am go to the store.
✓
Correct
I am going to the store.
Must use -ing form (going), not base verb (go) with present continuous.
✕
Wrong
She not is sleeping right now.
✓
Correct
She is not sleeping right now.
Negation comes after the auxiliary verb (is), not before.
✕
Wrong
What you are doing?
✓
Correct
What are you doing?
In questions, auxiliary verb (are) comes before the subject (you).
✕
Wrong
He is work in the office.
✓
Correct
He is working in the office.
Must add -ing to verb (working), not use base form (work).
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What to Remember
- Use am/is/are + verb-ing to describe actions happening right now or around now.
- Remember the -ing form: add -ing to the base verb, but drop silent -e first.
- Use present continuous for temporary situations, not permanent facts or repeated habits.
- Don't forget: some verbs (like, know, want) don't use continuous forms, use simple present instead.
- Time expressions like now, at the moment, and today often signal present continuous.