Present Progressive
Build the form with am/is/are + -ing, then choose it when the situation is viewed as ongoing or temporary rather than as a general fact or stable state. The construction can also describe current behavior and planned future arrangements when context makes the time clear.
The present progressive, also called the present continuous, uses a present form of be plus the -ing form: “is working,” “are changing.” It commonly describes activity in progress, temporary or developing situations, and some arranged future events; many stative verbs normally use the simple form instead.
Key details
Important caveats
Stative Boundary
Verbs such as know, understand, contain, and belong normally resist the progressive in their stative meanings, though some verbs can take progressive forms when the meaning shifts to current behavior or activity.
Further guidance
Form
Use am/is/are + -ing: “I am reviewing,” “She is reviewing,” “They are reviewing.” Questions invert the auxiliary: “Are they reviewing it?”
Future Arrangements
With a future-time expression, it can describe an arranged plan: “We are meeting the supplier tomorrow.”
Now And Around Now
Use it for an activity in progress now or around the present period: “The team is testing the new system this week.”
Temporary And Developing
It can present a situation as temporary or changing: “Prices are rising,” “He is staying with friends.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Present continuous (I am working) (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Current Cambridge grammar guidance gives the am/is/are + -ing form and its principal present-continuous uses; present continuous is also called present progressive.
- Present simple or present continuous? (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Current grammar guidance distinguishes temporary/current progressive uses from simple-present patterns and identifies verbs not normally used progressively.