Present Continuous ing
The present continuous is a verb form made by combining the verb 'to be' (am, is, are) with the main verb plus '-ing', used to describe an action that is happening right now. Year 2 pupils meet it as part of learning how verbs change to show when something happens, for example 'She is playing' instead of just 'She play'.
Method
- Find the main verb describing the action and check if it is happening right now.
- Add '-ing' to the end of the verb, dropping a silent 'e' first if there is one, e.g. 'make' becomes 'making'.
- Choose the correct part of 'to be' to match the subject: 'am' for I, 'is' for he/she/it, 'are' for you/we/they.
- Place the 'to be' word directly before the '-ing' verb, e.g. 'is jumping'.
- Check the sentence describes something happening right now, not something already finished.
Worked example
Write this sentence in the present continuous: 'The cat (sit) on the mat.'
- Find the subject: 'the cat', which works like 'it', so the 'to be' word is 'is'.
- Take the verb 'sit' and add '-ing' to make 'sitting'.
- Put 'is' directly before 'sitting'.
- Final answer: 'The cat is sitting on the mat.'
Practice questions
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Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a English exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Rewrite the sentence below so the underlined verb is in the present continuous tense: 'The children swim in the pool.'
Write two sentences about a picnic, one using the present simple and one using the present continuous, to show you understand the difference between the two tenses.
A pupil wrote: 'Look, the sun shine!' to describe something happening right now. Explain why this is not correct present continuous, rewrite the sentence correctly, then write one more sentence of your own using the present continuous tense to describe an action happening in the classroom right now.
Free printable worksheet
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