CARROTTA
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⏳ Compendium
Grammar
EN
English — continuous tenses (be + -ing)
The continuous (progressive) shows an action in progress at a moment. Build it with be + the -ing form.
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How it works
✓ Rule
continuous = be + verb-ing: I am working, she is working, they were working. It describes an action in progress: I'm reading now. She was cooking when I arrived.
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Across the tenses
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| present continuous | I am working now. |
| past continuous | She was sleeping at 10. |
| future continuous | We will be travelling tomorrow. |
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Good to know
⚠ Note
State verbs (know, like, want, believe, understand) are not usually used in the continuous: say I know (not I am knowing). Spelling: make → making, run → running, lie → lying.