aka Present Continuous

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE

Last updated: 2023-03-24

The English present progressive emphasises the course or duration of an action. It expresses:

1. actions taking place at the moment of speaking
2. actions taking place only for a limited period of time
3. actions planned for the future

Certain words typically signal the use of the present progressive:

• at the moment
• just
• just now
• Listen!
• Look!
• now
• right now

For example:

• Affirmative
  • I am speaking at the moment.
  • I am watching that Bond film tomorrow.
• Negative
  • Look! He's not watching TV.
  • We're not leaving right now.  
• Interrogative
  • Are you doing that now?
  • Is she going university next year?