1. What is the present continuous tense?

The present continuous is used for things happening (and continuing to happen) now.

*Note: The present continuous is also sometimes used for future plans, as it is easier than the future tense.

2. How to make the present continuous tense

The present continuous tense is made by:
subject + be + …ing verb

‘Be’ changes to match the subject.

subject	be	verb + ing	present continuous
I	am	eating	I am eating
You	are	going	You are going
He	is	sleeping	He is sleeping
She	is	drinking	She is drinking
It	is	watching	It is watching
We	are	driving	We are driving
They	are	wearing	They are wearing

3. Examples of the present continuous tense

I am going to school.	It is raining.
You are eating breakfast.	We are taking the train.
Alan is running in the playground. (Alan = he)	George and Russell are playing basketball. (George and Russell = they)
Shakira is fighting with her parents. (Shakira = she)	The plants by the window are dying.

4. Comparing the present tense and the present continuous tense

The present tense is for things that are true, schedules, or opinions.
The present continuous tense is for things happening now, or as a quick way to say future plans.

Present tense	Present continuous tense
I am Mike. (true)	Mike is talking to Rob. (happening now)
The sky is blue. (true)	It is snowing. (happening now)
She is on the train. (true)	She is taking the train to Washington. (happening now or future plan)
We have class tomorrow. (schedule)	We are going to class tomorrow. (future plan)
They sell rubbish. (true / opinion)	They are selling fake shoes. (happening now).