Present Continuous (Progressive) Tense| Fucntion | Activities Practice

 

A Busy Morning

It is Monday morning. The sun is shining, and the birds are singing in the trees. Rahul is getting ready for school. His mother is preparing breakfast in the kitchen. His father is reading the newspaper, and his little sister is playing with her toys.

Rahul is wearing his school uniform and is packing his schoolbag. He is looking for his English book because he cannot find it. His mother is calling him for breakfast.

Outside, the school bus is waiting near the gate. Some children are talking and laughing. The driver is sitting in the bus and is checking the mirrors. Rahul is running towards the bus because he is getting late.

Finally, Rahul gets on the bus and smiles. “I am coming, school!” he says happily.

🔎 Your Task

Find and underline all the Present Continuous Tense verbs in the story.

💡 Hint: Look for the pattern:

am / is / are + Verb-ing

⭐ Challenge

How many Present Continuous verbs did you find?

Write five of them below:

1. ...................................................................2.........................................................................................3................................................................4........................................................................................5.................................................................6.......................................................................................

Present Continuous Tense

Look Around You!

Look at what is happening right now.

• Ali is reading a book.

• Sara is writing in her notebook.

• The teacher is explaining the lesson.

• The students are listening carefully.

• A bird is flying in the sky.

What do you notice?

The actions are happening now or around the present time.

This is the Present Continuous Tense.

---

1. What is the Present Continuous Tense?

We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about an action that is happening now or around the present time.

Basic Structure

Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing + Object/Other words

Examples

• I am reading a book.

• He is playing cricket.

• She is cooking dinner.

• We are learning English.

• They are watching a movie.

Remember! 🧠

The Present Continuous Tense has two important verbs:

Helping Verb + Main Verb

Example:

Riya is dancing.

• is → Helping Verb

• dancing → Main Verb

---

2. Helping Verbs: AM, IS and ARE

Choosing the correct helping verb is very important.

Subject	Helping Verb	Example
I	am	I am studying.
He	is	He is running.
She	is	She is singing.
It	is	It is raining.
You	are	You are reading.
We	are	We are playing.
They	are	They are talking.

Easy Rule

I → am

He / She / It / Singular noun → is

You / We / They / Plural noun → are

---

Exercise 3. Spot the Helping Verb and Main Verb 🔎

Underline the helping verb once and the main verb twice.

Example:

Rohan is playing football.

• Helping verb (HV) → is

• Main verb (MV) → playing

Your Turn

1. The baby is crying.

2. We are watching television.

3. I am doing my homework.

4. The girls are dancing.

5. My mother is cooking food.

Exercise 4: Challenge

Find the helping verb and main verb in these sentences:

6. The boys are playing cricket.

7. She is drawing a picture.

8. I am learning English.

9. The dog is barking.

10. They are waiting for the bus.

---

When Do We Use the Present Continuous Tense?

The Present Continuous Tense has several important functions.

Function 1: An action happening now

Something is happening at the time of speaking.

• I am writing a letter.

• The teacher is teaching English.

• The children are playing outside.

👉 Ask yourself:

“Is the action happening now?”

If yes, Present Continuous may be used.

---

Function 2: An action happening around the present time

The action may not be happening at this exact moment, but it is happening these days or around now.

• I am preparing for my exams.

• My brother is learning to swim.

• We are studying a new chapter this week.

---

Function 3: A temporary situation

We can use it for something that is happening for a short period of time.

• Rahul is staying with his uncle this week.

• We are living in Delhi for a few months.

• She is working at a school this year.

---

Function 4: A changing or developing situation

We can use it when something is gradually changing.

• The weather is becoming warmer.

• Technology is changing our lives.

• Your English is improving.

---

Function 5: A planned future arrangement

The Present Continuous can also describe a fixed arrangement in the near future.

• We are visiting our grandparents tomorrow.

• I am meeting my friend this evening.

• Our class is going on a picnic next Friday.

---

Exercise 5. Complete the Sentences ✏️

Fill in the blanks using am, is or are.

1. I _____ reading a story.

2. She _____ singing a song.

3. They _____ playing football.

4. We _____ learning grammar.

5. He _____ writing a letter.

6. You _____ speaking very loudly.

7. The dog _____ sleeping.

8. My friends _____ waiting for me.

---

Some spelling changes

write → writing

make → making

come → coming

run → running

sit → sitting

swim → swimming

Don't worry! You will learn these spelling rules separately through practice.

---

Exercise 7. Make Meaningful Sentences 🧩

Put the words in the correct order.

Example:

is / Riya / reading / a book

Riya is reading a book.

Now You Try:

1. playing / the boys / are / cricket

2. am / I / English / learning

3. is / mother / cooking / my / dinner

4. watching / they / are / television

5. singing / is / the girl / a song

6. school / walking / to / he / is

7. are / the children / in the park / playing

---

Exercise 8. Find the Error and Rewrite It 🔍

Each sentence has one mistake. Find it and rewrite the sentence correctly.

Example:

❌ She are reading a book.

✅ She is reading a book.

Your Turn

1. I is writing a letter.

2. They is playing cricket.

3. He are watching television.

4. We am studying English.

5. She are cooking dinner.

6. The boys is running.

7. You is making a cake.

8. My sister are singing.

---

Exercise 9. Complete the Conversation 💬

Read the conversation and fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs given in brackets.

Mother: What are you doing, Ahmed?

Ahmed: I __________ my homework. 

Mother: What is your sister doing?

Ahmed: She __________ a storybook. 

Mother: And what are your brothers doing?

Ahmed: They __________ cricket in the garden.

Mother: Are you all studying?

Ahmed: No. We __________ a short break now.

---

10. Look and Imagine 👀

Imagine that you are standing in a busy school playground.

Complete the sentences using the Present Continuous Tense.

1. Two boys __________ cricket.

2. A girl __________ under a tree.

3. Some children __________ together.

4. A teacher __________ towards the classroom.

5. A boy __________ a ball.

6. The students __________ happily.

---

11. Make Negative Sentences 🚫

To make a negative sentence, put not after the helping verb.

Structure : Subject + am/is/are + not + Verb-ing

Examples

• I am not sleeping.

• He is not playing.

• She is not watching TV.

• They are not studying.

Exercise 10 : Practise

Change these sentences into negative sentences.

1. She is dancing.

2. They are playing cricket.

3. I am watching television.

4. He is eating lunch.

5. We are making a project.

---

12. Make Questions ❓

To make a question, put am/is/are before the subject.

Statement:

She is reading.

Question:

Is she reading?

Structure

Am/Is/Are + Subject + Verb-ing + ...?

Examples

• Are you studying?

• Is he playing?

• Are they coming?

• Is she cooking?

• Am I speaking too fast?

Exercise 11. Your Turn

Change the statements into questions.

1. He is sleeping.

2. They are watching a movie.

3. She is writing a letter.

4. You are learning English.

5. The children are playing outside.

---

13. Quick Conversation Practice 🗣️

Practise with a partner.

Student A:

What are you doing?

Student B:

I am __________.

Student A:

What is your friend doing?

Student B:

He/She is __________.

Student A:

What are your classmates doing?

Student B:

They are __________.

Now change the answers and practise again.

---

Exercise 14. Correct or Incorrect? ✅❌

Read each sentence and decide whether it is Correct or Incorrect.

1. I am reading a book.

2. She are singing.

3. They are playing football.

4. He is write a letter.

5. We are learning English.

6. The dog is barking.

7. I is eating lunch.

8. You are speaking English.

Now correct the incorrect sentences.

---

Exercise 15. Master Challenge

Complete the paragraph using the Present Continuous Tense.

It is Saturday morning. The children are in the park. Ali __________ (play) football. Sara __________ (read) a book. Two boys __________ (ride) bicycles. Their mother __________ (sit) under a tree. Some birds __________ (fly) in the sky. Everyone __________ (enjoy) the morning.

---

🧠 Remember the Formula

Positive: Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing

Example: She is reading.

Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + Verb-ing

Example: She is not reading.

Yes/ No Type Question: Am/Is/Are + Subject + Verb-ing?

Example : Is she reading?

Wh type Question: Am/Is/Are + Subject + Verb-ing?

Example : Where ar you reading?