Present continuous
exercises PDF

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Present continuous exercises + PDF worksheets


PDF book 1: English tenses exercises

PDF book 2: English grammar exercises

PDF book 3: English grammar rules

Read more about English grammar books PDF on e-grammar.org.


Online exercises with answers:

Present continuous exercise 1 (multiple choice) Choose the correct answers.

Present continuous exercise 2 (complete) Complete sentences with the verbs in brackets.

Present continuous exercise 3 (negative) Make negative answers in short dialogues.

Present continuous exercise 4 (questions) Make positive and negative questions.

Present continuous exercise 5 (mixed forms) A multiple choice test on all forms.

Compare:

Present simple + present continuous exercises Learn the difference.

PDF exercises with answers:

Present continuous exercise PDF 1 (multiple choice)

  • Choose correct affirmative forms.

Present continuous exercise PDF 2 (complete)

  • Complete sentences with verbs in brackets.

Present continuous exercise PDF 3 (questions)

  • Make positive questions.

Present continuous exercise PDF 4 (negative questions)

  • Make negative questions.

Present continuous exercise PDF 5 (negative sentences)

  • Make negative answers. Use full forms.

Present continuous exercise PDF 6 (negative short forms)

  • Make negative sentences. Use short forms.

Compare:

Present simple vs. present continuous exercises PDF

  • Compare the simple and continuous forms.

Present continuous

Present continuous PDF rules PDF grammar rules on the present continuous.

English tenses rules PDF The use and forms of all English tenses.

English grammar PDF All PDF grammar rules on this website.

Form

Positive statement: I am playing, you are playing, he is playing, we are playing, they are playing
Short forms: I'm playing, you're playing, he's playing, we're playing, they're playing
Negative statement: I am not sitting, you are not sitting, he is not sitting
Short forms: I'm not sitting, you aren't sitting (you're not...), he isn't sitting (he's not...)
Questions: Am I eating? Are you eating? Is he eating?
Negative questions: Am I not watching? Are you not watching? Is he not watching?
Short forms: Aren't you watching? Isn't he watching?

Negative questions normally express a surprise.
Isn't he working?

Use

1. We use the present continuous tense to say that something is happening at the time of speaking. We often use it with time expressions such as now or at the moment.

Examples:
I am doing housework at the moment.
You aren't listening to me now!
Look at him! What is he doing?

2. It is used for temporary activities that are true now, but not necessarily happening at the time of speaking. Time expressions such as today, this week or these days are typical of this use.

Examples:
I am in London. I am learning English here.
She can't go out today. She is preparing for an exam.
You can't meet him this week. He is working in Bath.

3. We use the present continuous for planned future arrangements. The time of the action must be given in the sentence (soon, tomorrow, on Monday, next week), otherwise it is not clear that we talk about future.

Examples:
I am coming soon.
We are leaving on Monday.
She is starting next week.

4. With always the present continuous tense expresses the idea that something happens too often and it annoys the speaker.

Examples:
I am always forgetting my keys.
He is always smoking in the living room!

5. We do not normally use these groups of verbs (state verbs) in the continuous form:

A. Verbs of senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste. On the other hand, look, watch or listen are action verbs and can be used in the continuous:
I can hear you. - I am listening to you.
Can you see the bird? - Are you looking at the bird?

B. Verbs of liking and disliking: like, love, hate, fear, detest, want, wish...
I like animals.
I hate snakes.

C. Verbs of mental states: agree, believe, forget, know, remember, suppose, think...
I agree with you.
I suppose you are right.

D. Verbs of permanent states: be, have, belong, contain, owe, own, possess...
This pen belongs to me.
I have a new pet.

E. Verbs of appearance: seem, appear, look, sound...
It seems that it will rain.
Your new haircut looks really good.

If some of these verbs are used in the present continuous tense, they have a different meaning. In such a case they become action verbs.
I think he is my best friend. (mental state)
I'm thinking of giving him a present. (mental activitiy)
He has a new bathroom. (possess)
He is having a bath. (take a bath)
I see what you mean. (know)
I am seeing a doctor. I am ill. (visit)
The flower smells beautiful. (scent)
The dog is smelling the sausage. (sniff)
This wine tastes sour. (It is sour.)
She is tasting the soup if it is warm enough.

All these materials are written for students and teachers of English as a foreign language.

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