science

Present continuous

Present continuous is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Present continuous rather than just read about it. In short: The present continuous, also called the present progressive or present imperfect, is a verb form used in modern English that combines the present tense with the continuous aspect. It is formed by the present tense form of be and the present participle of a verb.

Key takeaways

Present continuous belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Present continuous to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Present continuous from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The present continuous, also called the present progressive or present imperfect, is a verb form used in modern English that combines the present tense with the continuous aspect. It is formed by the present tense form of be and the present participle of a verb. The present continuous is generally used to describe something that is taking place at the present moment and can be employed in both the indicative and subjunctive moods. According to an analysis of verb usage by tense and aspect, the present continuous accounts for around 5% of verb conjugation in spoken English.

Formation The present continuous is formed by the present tense form of be and the present participle (-ing form) of the verb. For example, the verb work is written in the present continuous form by adding the -ing suffix to the verb and placing a present tense form of be (am, are, is) in front of it:

I am working. You are working. She is working. We are working. They are working.

Uses The present continuous is used in several instances. Its most common use is to describe something that is happening at the exact moment of speech:

The boy is laughing. This contrasts with the simple present, which is used to refer to something that occurs habitually (i.e. habits, unchanging situations, general truths, and fixed arrangements). The present continuous is also used to describe a temporary activity, even if it is not taking place at the exact moment of speech, or a temporary situation:

They are working in Dubai. I am writing a book. I am living in Scotland until the end of the year. This contrasts with permanent activities or situations, which are described using the simple present: I live on Main Street. Present continuous can also describe an event planned in the future, particularly when combined with a time indicator for the future:

I am resitting my French exam on Tuesday. What're we having (for a meal)? When combined with always, but meaning 'often', the present continuous can be used to emphasize the frequency of an action in a humorous or hyperbolic way:

My parents are always making me go to school! She is always playing with that doll! He is always eating chocolate!

See also Simple present Uses of English verb forms

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Present continuous

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Present continuous claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Present continuous before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Present continuous ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Present continuous

In research: Present continuous appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Present continuous in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Present continuous is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics English grammar, Grammatical tenses, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Present continuous outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Present continuous in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Present continuous means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Present continuous out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Present continuous in simple terms?

Why does Present continuous matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Present continuous?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Present continuous.