Present and Past Continuous Tense

The continuous tense is formed by adding ‘ ing’ to the verb:

Present Continuous Tense  [is / are / am] + [verb + ing]

Past Continuous Tense [was / were] + [verb + ing]

The present continuous tense is used to show a continuous action that is still going on at the time of speaking.

I	am
He
She	is
It		sleeping on a mat now.
You
We	are
They

The past continuous tense is used to show a continuous action that was going on in the past.

I
He
She	was
It		eating when Suzie entered the kitchen.
You
We	were
They

Exercise

Choose the correct answer.

1.     The dog ( is barking , are barking ) at the boys now.

2.     The goats ( is grazing , are grazing ) on the field.

3.     She ( is singing , were singing ) on the stage now.

4.     Mei Lin ( is drawing , are drawing ) a picture now.

5.     The carpenter ( is making , was making ) a chair now.

6.     The children ( was playing , are playing ) on the slide.

7.     The ducks ( is swimming , are swimming ) in the pond now.

8.     The aeroplane ( is taking , were taking ) off from the lane.

9.     My friends ( is coming , are coming ) to my house for tea now.

10. Puan Mona ( is watering , are watering ) the plants in the garden.

           Answer:

1.     is barking                           6. are playing

2.     are grazing                          7. are swimming

3.     is singing                            8. is talking

4.     is drawing                          9. are coming

5.     is making                            10. is watering