Present Continuous

Structure
be + verb (present participle)
E.g.: I am studying right now.
Is She having lunch now?
Theyre not taking the exam next month.
Spelling: Present participle form

Generally, the suffix ing is added to most of the verbs to form

the present participle form.
E.g.: work > working; read > reading; etc.

Verbs which end with consonant + e have the letter e removed

(for it is not pronounced) and then the suffix ing is added to
them.
E.g.: make > making; type > typing; etc.

Verbs which end with consonant sound + vowel sound +

consonant sound, and which last syllable is stressed have the
last letter doubled and then the suffix ing is added to them.
E.g.: stop > stopping; get > getting; etc.
Note the following verbs:
shop -> __________
visit -> __________
open -> __________

grow -> __________

swim -> __________
play -> __________

Verbs which end with ie have ie exchanged for y and then the
suffix ing is added to them.
E.g.: lie > lying; die > dying;

In standard British English, verbs which end with l have this

letter doubled and then the suffix ing is added to them.
E.g.: travel > travelled; cancel > cancelled; etc.

Uses
The present continuous tense may be used to describe ongoing
actions in the present and future.
Since this verb tense is used to describe ongoing actions, in most
cases, verbs with action meanings are used rather than verbs with
state meanings.
Action verbs State verbs
Walk
Love
Study
Like
Work
Understand
Write
Know
E.g.: I am walking down the street.
I am understanding this subject. [for these verbs, the simple
present is used]
I understand this subject.
Describing present actions:
I am studying math right now.
Describing future actions:
She is visiting her parents next weekend.
Negative form:
She is not working late tonight.
Interrogative form:
Are we getting up early tomorrow morning?