Module 1 · Verb Tenses

Present Continuous

Beginner–Intermediate45 min25 questions8 sections

Step 1

Quick Look

The Present Continuous describes actions happening right now, temporary situations, and fixed future plans. In Hindi, this is the ‘rahā hai / rahī hai’ tense — and the most common formation error is forgetting the helping verb am/is/are.

Sentence TypeStructure + Example

Affirmative

Subject+am/is/are+verb-ing

She is talking to a client.

Negative

Subject+am/is/are+not+verb-ing

She is not talking to anyone.

Question

Am/Is/Are+subject+verb-ing?

Is she talking to a client?

The golden rule: Present Continuous ALWAYS needs two parts — a form of ‘be’ (am/is/are) AND the -ing verb. Drop either one and the sentence breaks.

Two parts, always

A form of be (am / is / are) AND the -ing verb. Drop either one and the sentence breaks.

Step 2

When to Use It

Use 1

Actions happening right now

The action is in progress at this exact moment.

Please call back later — I am driving.
Look! It is raining outside.
The children are playing in the park.

Use 2

Temporary situations

The situation is happening these days, but it is not permanent.

He is staying with his uncle until his flat is ready.
I am working from home this month.
She is preparing for her board exams.

Use 3

Changing and developing situations (trends)

Something is increasing, decreasing, or changing over time.

Property prices in Noida Extension are rising fast.
More and more people are shifting to electric scooters.
Your English is improving every week.

Use 4

Fixed future arrangements

A plan that is already decided and arranged — usually with a time expression.

We are meeting the builder tomorrow at 11.
I am flying to Mumbai on Friday.
They are getting married in December.

Use 5

Irritating habits (with ‘always’)

A repeated habit that annoys the speaker. ‘Always’ + continuous shows frustration.

He is always coming late to meetings.
You are always losing your keys!

Extra

Spelling Rules for -ing

Rule	Examples
Most verbs: just add -ing	work working, play playing, go going
Verb ends in silent -e: drop the e	make making, write writing, come coming
Short verb, one vowel + one consonant: double the consonant	run running, sit sitting, plan planning
Verb ends in -ie: change to -y	lie lying, die dying, tie tying

Step 4

Hindi Concept Note

अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए

Present Continuous वो tense है जो अभी चल रहे काम को बताता है।

हिंदी में जब वाक्य ‘रहा है / रही है / रहे हैं’ पर ख़त्म हो, तो अंग्रेज़ी में Present Continuous लगेगा:

वह खाना बना रही है।

She is cooking food.

बच्चे खेल रहे हैं।

The children are playing.

सबसे ज़रूरी बात: हिंदी में helping verb छुपी होती है, पर English में am/is/are लिखना ज़रूरी है। ‘He going to market’ गलत है — ‘He is going to the market’ सही है।

Step 5

Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make

Wrong

Right

Why

He going to the market.

He is going to the market.

Missing am/is/are. The -ing verb cannot stand alone.

I am go to office now.

I am going to the office now.

After am/is/are, the verb must take -ing.

She is comeing home.

She is coming home.

Silent -e drops before -ing: come coming.

I am going to gym every day.

I go to the gym every day.

Daily habits use Simple Present, not Continuous. ‘Every day’ is the signal.

They is watching TV.

They are watching TV.

They takes ‘are’. Match the helping verb to the subject.

I am loving this song.

I love this song.

‘Love’ is a stative verb — no continuous form in standard English.

Step 6

Signal Words

If you see these words, Present Continuous is usually the right choice:

nowright nowat the momentat presentcurrentlythese daysthis week / this month

Look! Listen! (something is happening in front of you)

still (for something not yet finished: He is still sleeping.)

Step 7

Practice

Set A

Fill in the blanks

0 / 10

1
Quiet please — the baby (sleep).
2
She (not/come) to the party tonight.
3
you (listen) to me?
4
We (build) a new website for the company.
5
Prices of flats (increase) in this area.
6
He (stay) at a hotel near the airport this week.
7
Why the dog (bark)?
8
I (meet) the lawyer tomorrow morning.
9
They (not/use) the old office anymore.
10
Hurry up! Everyone (wait) for you.

Set B

Correct the mistake

0 / 8

11
She cooking dinner right now.
12
I am understand the lesson.
13
He is runing very fast.
14
We are go to Jaipur next week.
15
You is making too much noise.
16
It is rain heavily outside.
17
I am drinking tea every morning.
18
Rohit are talking on the phone.

Set C

Translate into English

0 / 7

19
वह अभी नहा रहा है।
20
बच्चे क्रिकेट खेल रहे हैं।
21
क्या तुम मेरी बात सुन रहे हो?
22
मैं आजकल एक नई किताब पढ़ रहा हूँ।
23
वे कल दिल्ली जा रहे हैं।
24
बारिश हो रही है।
25
वह इन दिनों अपने मामा के घर रह रही है।

Step 8

Answer Key

Show answersHide answers

Answers · Set A

is sleeping

is not (isn’t) coming

Are ... listening

are building

are increasing

is staying

is ... barking

am meeting

are not (aren’t) using

is waiting

Answers · Set B

She is cooking dinner right now. (Missing ‘is’.)

I understand the lesson. (‘Understand’ is stative — Simple Present.)

He is running very fast. (Double the ‘n’: run running.)

We are going to Jaipur next week. (-ing needed after ‘are’.)

You are making too much noise. (‘You’ takes ‘are’.)

It is raining heavily outside. (-ing needed.)

I drink tea every morning. (‘Every morning’ = habit = Simple Present.)

Rohit is talking on the phone. (Singular subject takes ‘is’.)

Answers · Set C

He is taking a bath right now. / He is bathing right now.

The children are playing cricket.

Are you listening to me?

I am reading a new book these days.

They are going to Delhi tomorrow.

It is raining.

She is staying at her uncle’s house these days.

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Your notes for this chapter

Next up · Chapter 3Simple Present vs. Present Continuous

The head-to-head chapter that ends the confusion between ‘karta hai’ and ‘kar raha hai’.