Present Continuous — Now (vs Present Simple)

A1 — grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, writing

Common mistake: “Right now, Sofía cooks dinner.” — Correct: “Right now, Sofía is cooking dinner.”

We use the present continuous (am/is/are + verb-ing) for actions happening now; the present simple for routines and things that are always true.

• reading — leyendo
• cooking — cocinando
• working — trabajando
• sleeping — durmiendo
• studying — estudiando
• running — corriendo
• watching TV — viendo tele
• playing — jugando

• Sofía is working now, and the children are playing.
• Look! Ben is reading and Kenji is cooking.
• Ben isn't sleeping; he is reading.
• The kids aren't studying right now.
• What are you doing? Is Kenji studying now?
• What is your father doing now?
• Are you working now? Yes, I am.
• Is she sleeping? No, she isn't.

Practice

1. Look! The baby ___. (cries, is crying, cry)
2. Every day Sofía ___ to work, but today she is staying home. (goes, is going, go)
3. We use present continuous (am/is/are + -ing) for actions happening now.
4. Be quiet! The baby ___ (sleep) right now.
5. Sofía usually cooks dinner, but tonight Ben ___ (cook).
6. Find the mistake: She is cook dinner.
7. Find the mistake: What does your father doing now?
8. You are working. — Turn it into a question.
9. Sofía reads every day. — Change it to NOW (present continuous).
10. What are you doing right now?

Listening

Kenji: Ben, what do you do?

Ben: I work in a bookshop.

Kenji: And what are you doing now?

Ben: Right now, I am drinking coffee and reading.

Kenji: Sofía usually cooks on Sundays. What is she doing now?

Ben: Ha! Right now she is dancing in the kitchen!

Reading

There are two ways to talk about the present. Present simple is for your life in general: 'Sofía works in Medellín. Her father is a doctor.' Present continuous is for this exact moment: 'Right now, Sofía is drinking coffee, and her father is examining a patient.' See the difference? 'What do you do?' asks about your job. 'What are you doing?' asks about now. Two questions, two answers!

• Present continuous is for this exact moment.
• 'What do you do?' asks about right now.
• Present simple is for your life in general.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Present Continuous formed in English?

It always requires two elements: the auxiliary verb 'to be' (am/is/are) + the main verb with '-ing' (e.g., 'Sofía is typing an email'). Never omit the verb to be!

What verbs cannot be used in the Present Continuous?

Stative verbs (verbs of thinking, feeling, and possession) are usually not used in continuous forms: like, love, hate, know, understand, believe, want, need. Say 'I understand now', not 'I am understanding now'.

Can Present Continuous be used to talk about the future?

Yes! When you have a confirmed personal arrangement or appointment in the diary: 'I am meeting Kenji tomorrow at 5 PM'.