I am reading now.
Grammar · A1
Present continuous
Say what someone is doing now.
She is reading a book.
01 · The idea
Look. Compare these examples.
Say what someone is doing now.
I am not working.
Are you listening? Yes, I am.
02 · More examples
Look at what changes.
Use am/is/are and the action with ing.
I am reading now.
She is making lunch.
They are running. Run → running.
Add not after am, is or are. Keep the action with ing.
I am not working.
He isn't sleeping.
We aren't waiting.
She is reading. → Is she reading?
Are you listening? Yes, I am.
Is he cooking? No, he isn't.
What are they doing?
Look a little closer
Watch the last letters
Compare the whole pair. Keep am, is or are before the action.
play → playing; read → reading
make → making; write → writing; dance → dancing
run → running; sit → sitting; swim → swimming
03 · Build a sentence
Make a choice. See what changes.
Change one choice at a time. Watch the sentence blocks.
I am reading a book.
What do you want to say?
Who?
What now?
04 · Try it together
Choose the correct answer.
Quick check 1
She ___ reading a book now.
Look at the person before the action with ing.
Quick check 2
She ___ working today.
Negative.Say no about the action happening now. Keep am/is/are and ing.
Quick check 3
___ you waiting for someone?
Look at the person before the action with ing.
05 · Real-life English
Use it in a conversation.
A: Can you talk? B: Not now. I'm cooking. A: Is Ben there? B: Yes. He's reading.
Imagine you are at home. Tell a caller what you and someone else are doing now.
A: Where are you? B: I'm waiting outside the café. A: Are you wearing a red coat? B: Yes, I am.
Pretend you are meeting in a busy place. Describe what you are wearing and doing.
06 · Common mistakes
Which sentence is correct?
07 · Keep this
The lesson in three small steps.
Look! It is happening now
I am reading. She is cooking. They are running.
Not now
I am not working. She isn't working.
What is happening?
Is she cooking? Yes, she is. / No, she isn't.
08 · Practice
Ready to try?
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