📘 Present Continuous – I’m doing / I’m not doing / Are you doing?

🔧 How to Form

am / is / are + verb-ing

  • I am eating breakfast now.
  • She is reading a story at the moment.
  • They are making a cake right now.

✂️ Short Forms

  • I am → I’m
  • She is → She’s
  • They are → They’re

Examples: I’m eating, She’s reading, They’re making

🚫 Negative Forms

  • I am not → I’m not
  • She is not → She isn’t
  • They are not → They aren’t

Examples: I’m not eating, She isn’t reading, They aren’t making

🗣️ Short Answers

Yes, I am.

Yes, I’m. ❌ (incorrect!)

No, I’m not / I am not.

⏱️ When to Use

🕐 Actions Happening Now

  • What are you doing? – I’m doing my homework.
  • He’s washing the dishes right now.

📅 Actions Happening Around Now

  • I’m learning English these days.
  • She’s practising English this week.

🕓 Time Expressions

  • now
  • at the moment
  • these days
  • this week
  • today

🟢 -ing Spelling Rules

📘 General Rule

  • ➕ Just add -ing
  • walk → walking 🚶
  • read → reading 📖
  • clean → cleaning 🧹
  • listen → listening 🎧

❌ Drop the 'e'

  • If the verb ends in silent e, drop it
  • dance → dancing 💃
  • take → taking 🎒
  • use → using 🖊️

🔁 Double the Consonant

  • One syllable + short vowel + one consonant → double it
  • run → running 🏃
  • sit → sitting 🪑
  • shop → shopping 🛍️
  • get → getting 🎁

💡 Note

  • Do not double consonants in words like open → opening
  • In UK English, verbs ending in -l often double it: travel → travelling 🇬🇧
Exercises:

Present Continuous – I’m doing / I’m not doing / Are you doing?

Write positive or negative sentences in present continuous using the verbs in brackets. Use short forms when possible.
1
She (study) for her exams at the moment.
2
They (not work) on the project this week.
3
My cousins (build) a sandcastle on the beach.
4
I (not use) my phone during class.
5
We (learn) Spanish in an online course.
6
He (not drive) his car today because it’s broken.
7
The flowers (bloom) beautifully in the garden.
8
You (not wear) a coat even though it’s cold.
9
Kids (play) football in the park.
10
It (not snow) in the mountains right now.

Present Continuous – I’m doing / I’m not doing / Are you doing?

Write questions and short answers in present continuous with the words in brackets. Use short forms when possible.
1
A: (you/finish) your homework at the moment?
B: Yes, I .
2
A: (she/listen) to music right now?
B: No, she .
3
A: (they/prepare) dinner in the kitchen?
B: Yes, they .
4
A: (he/drive) to work today?
B: No, he .
5
A: (we/learn) English in class now?
B: Yes, we .
6
A: (it/get) dark outside?
B: No, it .
7
A: (I/disturb) you?
B: No, you .
8
A: (they/play) tennis this afternoon?
B: Yes, the .
9
A: (she/try) on that dress?
B: No, she .
10
A: (we/meet) at 6 o’clock?
B: Yes, we .

Present Continuous – I’m doing / I’m not doing / Are you doing?

Complete the dialogues with the verbs in brackets in present continuous. Use short forms when possible.
1
Anna: Hey, Leo! What (you/do) right now?
2
Leo: I’m (sit) in the park and (read) a novel. What about you?
3
Anna: I’m (wait) for Sarah at the coffee shop.
4
Leo: Oh, nice! Are you (drink) something?
5
Anna: Yes, I’m (have) a latte, and she’s buying some pastries.
6
Leo: The weather’s perfect today. Are the kids (play) on the swings?
7
Anna: They are, and my dog is (chase) a ball nearby.
8
Leo: That sounds fun. I’m (plan) a picnic for this afternoon. Are you coming?
9
Anna: I’m sorry, I can’t — I’m (study) for an exam tomorrow.