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Formation and usage of the Present Continuous tense.
The Present Continuous is used to describe actions and situations that are happening now, around the present time, or during a temporary period.
It is also used for changing situations, current trends, repeated behaviour with certain adverbs, and personal arrangements in the future.
I am reading a book now.
Я сейчас читаю книгу.
Action happening at the moment of speaking.
She is working from home this week.
На этой неделе она работает из дома.
Temporary situation around now.
The weather is getting warmer.
Погода становится теплее.
Changing situation.
We are meeting Sarah tomorrow.
Завтра мы встречаемся с Сарой.
Future arrangement.
The Present Continuous is formed with the present form of be followed by the present participle of the main verb.
The basic structure is subject + am, is, or are + verb-ing. For example, I am working and They are studying.
I am working.
Я работаю.
am + verb-ing for I.
She is working.
Она работает.
is + verb-ing for she/he/it.
They are working.
Они работают.
are + verb-ing for they/we/you.
You are working.
Ты работаешь.
are + verb-ing for you.
Affirmative Present Continuous sentences use am, is, or are followed by the -ing form of the main verb.
Use am with I, is with he, she, and it, and are with you, we, and they.
I am reading a newspaper.
Я читаю газету.
Affirmative with am.
He is watching TV.
Он смотрит телевизор.
Affirmative with is.
They are cooking dinner.
Они готовят ужин.
Affirmative with are.
We are playing football.
Мы играем в футбол.
Affirmative with are.
Form negative Present Continuous sentences by adding not after am, is, or are.
For example, I am not working, She is not sleeping, and They are not waiting.
I am not working today.
Я сегодня не работаю.
Negative with am not.
She is not sleeping.
Она не спит.
Negative with is not.
They are not waiting.
Они не ждут.
Negative with are not.
He is not listening.
Он не слушает.
Negative with is not.
Form Present Continuous questions by placing am, is, or are before the subject.
For example, Are you listening? Is she coming? and What are they doing?
Are you listening?
Ты слушаешь?
Yes/no question with are.
Is she coming?
Она идёт?
Yes/no question with is.
What are they doing?
Что они делают?
Wh-question with are.
Where is he going?
Куда он идёт?
Wh-question with is.
Short answers use am, is, or are without repeating the main verb.
For example, Yes, I am. No, she is not. Yes, they are.
Are you busy? — Yes, I am.
Ты занят? — Да.
Short answer with am.
Is she working? — No, she isn't.
Она работает? — Нет.
Short answer with is not.
Are they waiting? — Yes, they are.
Они ждут? — Да.
Short answer with are.
Is he sleeping? — No, he isn't.
Он спит? — Нет.
Short answer with isn't.
Most verbs form the present participle by adding -ing to the base form.
For example, work becomes working, read becomes reading, and play becomes playing.
work → working
работать → работающий
Most verbs add -ing.
read → reading
читать → читающий
Add -ing.
play → playing
играть → играющий
Add -ing.
watch → watching
смотреть → смотрящий
Add -ing.
Some verbs change their spelling before -ing is added.
For example, make becomes making, run becomes running, sit becomes sitting, and lie becomes lying.
make → making
делать → делающий
Drop final -e before -ing.
run → running
бегать → бегущий
Double final consonant after short vowel.
sit → sitting
сидеть → сидящий
Double final consonant.
lie → lying
лежать → лежащий
Change -ie to -y before -ing.
Use the Present Continuous for actions happening at or very close to the moment of speaking.
For example, I am talking to you, She is cooking dinner, and They are playing outside.
I am talking to you.
Я разговариваю с тобой.
Action at the moment of speaking.
She is cooking dinner.
Она готовит ужин.
Happening now.
They are playing outside.
Они играют на улице.
Action in progress now.
He is sleeping on the sofa.
Он спит на диване.
Happening now.
The Present Continuous can describe activities that are in progress during the current period, even if they are not happening at the exact moment of speaking.
For example, I am reading an interesting book means that the activity is currently in progress, but not necessarily at this exact moment.
I am reading an interesting book these days.
В эти дни я читаю интересную книгу.
Action in progress around now, not necessarily this moment.
She is taking a course this month.
В этом месяце она проходит курс.
Around the present period.
We are renovating our flat.
Мы делаем ремонт в квартире.
Ongoing project around now.
He is studying for exams this week.
На этой неделе он готовится к экзаменам.
Temporary period.
Use the Present Continuous to describe situations that are temporary rather than permanent.
For example, I am staying with a friend this week and She is working in Berlin for the summer.
I am staying with a friend this week.
На этой неделе я живу у друга.
Temporary living situation.
She is working in Berlin for the summer.
Летом она работает в Берлине.
Temporary job.
He is staying at a hotel until his flat is ready.
Он живёт в отеле, пока его квартира не будет готова.
Temporary accommodation.
They are living in a rented house this year.
В этом году они живут в арендованном доме.
Temporary arrangement.
Use the Present Continuous to describe situations that are changing or developing.
For example, The weather is getting warmer and Technology is changing rapidly.
The weather is getting warmer.
Погода становится теплее.
Change over time.
Technology is changing rapidly.
Технологии быстро меняются.
Development in progress.
The cost of living is increasing.
Стоимость жизни растёт.
Change in progress.
His English is improving.
Его английский улучшается.
Developing situation.
The Present Continuous can describe trends and developments happening during the present period.
For example, More people are working remotely and Prices are increasing.
More people are working remotely.
Всё больше людей работают удалённо.
Trend.
Prices are increasing.
Цены растут.
Current trend.
People are becoming more health-conscious.
Люди всё больше заботятся о здоровье.
Societal trend.
Online shopping is growing quickly.
Интернет-покупки быстро растут.
Trend in commerce.
The Present Continuous can be used with always, constantly, or continually to describe repeated behaviour.
This use often expresses annoyance, criticism, surprise, or strong emphasis. For example, He is always losing his keys.
He is always losing his keys.
Он постоянно теряет свои ключи.
Annoyance: repeated action with always.
She is constantly checking her phone.
Она постоянно проверяет телефон.
Criticism or annoyance.
They are continually complaining about the weather.
Они постоянно жалуются на погоду.
Repeated behaviour with criticism.
He is always telling funny stories.
Он постоянно рассказывает смешные истории.
Positive emphasis on repeated action.
The Present Continuous can describe personal future arrangements that have already been planned.
For example, I am meeting Sarah tomorrow and We are flying to Rome next week.
I am meeting Sarah tomorrow.
Завтра я встречаюсь с Сарой.
Planned future arrangement.
We are flying to Rome next week.
На следующей неделе мы летим в Рим.
Fixed future plan.
She is having dinner with friends on Friday.
В пятницу она ужинает с друзьями.
Arrangement with specific time.
They are moving to a new flat next month.
В следующем месяце они переезжают в новую квартиру.
Planned future event.
Present Continuous future arrangements are usually connected to a specific time, place, person, or other details that show an existing plan.
Compare I am meeting the doctor at three with I will call the doctor later.
I am meeting the doctor at three.
Я встречаюсь с врачом в три.
Specific time and person.
I will call the doctor later.
Я позвоню врачу позже.
No specific arrangement, just intention.
We are visiting our grandparents on Sunday.
В воскресенье мы навещаем бабушку и дедушку.
Fixed plan with time.
She is starting her new job on Monday.
В понедельник она выходит на новую работу.
Specific arrangement.
Words and expressions such as now, right now, at the moment, currently, today, and these days are commonly used with the Present Continuous.
These expressions help show that an action or situation is temporary or in progress.
I am working now.
Я сейчас работаю.
now.
She is studying at the moment.
В данный момент она учится.
at the moment.
They are currently living in London.
В настоящее время они живут в Лондоне.
currently.
We are staying with friends today.
Сегодня мы остаёмся у друзей.
today.
Many stative verbs are not normally used in continuous forms because they describe states rather than actions or processes.
Common examples include know, believe, understand, want, need, own, and belong.
I know the answer.
Я знаю ответ.
Stative: not "I am knowing".
She believes in ghosts.
Она верит в привидений.
Stative: not continuous.
They need help now.
Им сейчас нужна помощь.
Stative: need not used in continuous.
He owns two cars.
У него две машины.
Stative: possession.
Some verbs can be used in either the Present Simple or the Present Continuous depending on their meaning.
Examples include think, have, see, taste, feel, and look.
I think you are right.
Я думаю, что ты прав.
Stative: opinion.
I am thinking about your suggestion.
Я обдумываю твоё предложение.
Dynamic: mental process.
She has a new car.
У неё новая машина.
Stative: possession.
She is having lunch.
Она обедает.
Dynamic: activity.
The verb be can sometimes be used in the Present Continuous to describe temporary or unusual behaviour.
Compare He is rude, which describes his general character, with He is being rude, which describes his behaviour at the moment.
He is rude.
Он грубый.
General character: simple form.
He is being rude.
Он ведёт себя грубо.
Temporary behaviour: continuous form.
She is very kind.
Она очень добрая.
General trait.
She is being very kind today.
Сегодня она очень добра.
Temporary behaviour.
The Present Simple usually describes general, regular, or permanent situations, while the Present Continuous describes temporary, ongoing, or developing situations.
Compare She works in London with She is working from home this week.
She works in London.
Она работает в Лондоне.
Permanent: Present Simple.
She is working from home this week.
На этой неделе она работает из дома.
Temporary: Present Continuous.
I usually drink tea, but today I am drinking coffee.
Обычно я пью чай, но сегодня пью кофе.
Contrast.
The sun rises in the east.
Солнце встаёт на востоке.
General fact: Present Simple.
Both the Present Continuous and be going to can refer to the future, but they emphasize different meanings.
The Present Continuous usually describes a specific personal arrangement, while be going to commonly expresses an intention or a prediction based on present evidence.
I am meeting Sarah tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Завтра в 2 часа я встречаюсь с Сарой.
Specific arrangement.
I am going to visit my grandmother next week.
На следующей неделе я собираюсь навестить бабушку.
Intention, not necessarily fixed arrangement.
Look at those clouds! It is going to rain.
Посмотри на тучи! Собирается дождь.
Prediction based on evidence.
We are flying to Rome next week.
На следующей неделе мы летим в Рим.
Fixed arrangement.
The Present Continuous is commonly used to describe actions happening in pictures, photographs, and scenes.
For example, In this picture, a woman is sitting at a table and two children are playing in the garden.
In this picture, a woman is sitting at a table.
На этой картинке женщина сидит за столом.
Description of action in a picture.
Two children are playing in the garden.
Двое детей играют в саду.
Scene description.
The man is reading a newspaper.
Мужчина читает газету.
Action in a picture.
The dog is running after the ball.
Собака бежит за мячом.
Action in a scene.
The Present Continuous can be used in narratives to describe an action in progress while another event happens.
This use often helps create a background situation or show simultaneous actions.
She was walking down the street when suddenly she heard a noise.
Она шла по улице, когда вдруг услышала шум.
Past continuous as background action, but for present narrative: "She is walking..."
I am sitting in a café while she is talking on the phone.
Я сижу в кафе, пока она говорит по телефону.
Simultaneous actions in the present.
The children are playing while the adults are talking.
Дети играют, пока взрослые разговаривают.
Two ongoing actions.
He is watching the news while I am cooking dinner.
Он смотрит новости, пока я готовлю ужин.
Simultaneous activities.
Use the correct form of be together with the correct -ing form of the main verb.
Common mistakes include omitting be, using the base verb instead of the -ing form, making spelling mistakes, and using the Present Continuous with verbs that normally describe states.
I working now.
Я сейчас работаю.
Incorrect: need be: "I am working now."
She is work right now.
Она сейчас работает.
Incorrect: need -ing form: "is working".
He is runing.
Он бежит.
Incorrect spelling: should be "running" (double n).
I am knowing the answer.
Я знаю ответ.
Incorrect: stative verb know not used in continuous.
They is playing football.
Они играют в футбол.
Incorrect: subject-verb agreement: "They are playing football."