What you'll learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to describe actions happening right now using am, is, and are with the verb + -ing.
When do I use it?
Use the present continuous for actions in progress at this moment, and for temporary situations: "I am writing an email now," "She is staying with her aunt this week."
How do I form it?
| I | am working |
|---|---|
| You | are working |
| He/She/It | is working |
| We | are working |
| They | are working |
Never drop the verb 'to be': 'I working' is wrong. Only 'am' works with 'I'.
Common mistakes for Spanish speakers
In Spanish "Estoy comiendo" is two words, but English needs three pieces: subject + am/is/are + verb-ing. "Yo comiendo" becomes "I am eating", never "I eating". Also don't use the continuous for routines — that's the present simple: "I am eating pizza on Fridays" is wrong if it's a habit, say "I eat pizza on Fridays."
Listen for the melody: I am, she is, they are, and then the -ing arrives.
Practice
Multiple Choice
A1Which sentence describes something happening right now?
Fill in the Blank
A1Right now, they playing football.
Hint: 'They' + 'are' + playing.
Find the Error
A1Sentence Transformation
A1Task: Rewrite to describe what you are doing right now
Hint: Add 'am' and change the verb to -ing.
Practice Speaking
Apply what you've learned in a real conversation with AI feedback.
Level: A1