Present Continuous: Negative and question forms

This grammar works by playing with three main pieces: the subject, the be verb (am, is, are), and the action verb with an -ing ending. In a standard positive sentence, they sit in a nice, straight line. To make it negative, we just drop a not into the middle. To make it a question, we play a game of musical chairs and swap the subject with the be verb. It is a very logical system once you see the pattern. Think of the be verb as the engine of the sentence. In the negative form, not acts like a brake. In the question form, the engine moves to the front to lead the way. Even native speakers occasionally trip over their tongues with these, so don't worry if it feels like a mental workout at first. It’s like learning to ride a bike; once you find the balance, you’ll do it without thinking.

1. 1To build these sentences, follow these simple steps:
2. 2For Negatives: Start with your Subject. Add the correct be verb (am, is, or are). Add not. Finally, add your verb-ing.
3. 3I + am + not + working.
4. 4They + are + not + listening.
5. 5For Questions: Start with the be verb (Am, Is, or Are). Add the Subject. Finally, add the verb-ing and a question mark.
6. 6Am + I + dreaming?
7. 7Is + he + coming to the party?
8. 8For Short Answers: We usually don't just say "Yes" or "No." We use a mini-version of the rule.
9. 9"Are you eating?" -> "Yes, I am." or "No, I'm not."
10. 10"Is she calling?" -> "Yes, she is." or "No, she isn't."

You use these forms whenever you are talking about the immediate moment or the temporary present. Imagine you are in a job interview. The interviewer asks, "Are you currently working for another company?" You might answer, "No, I am not working right now." This is a real-world scenario where the negative form is essential. You also use it when you see something confusing. If you see a friend walking the wrong way, you might ask, "Where are you going?" or "Are you looking for the station?" It is perfect for:

• Correcting mistakes: "No, I'm not ordering the fish, I'm ordering the steak!"
• Checking on people: "Are you feeling okay?"
• Phone conversations: "I can't talk, I'm not driving, but I am walking into a meeting."
• Describing photos: "In this picture, we aren't wearing coats because it was warm."

Don't use these forms for things that are always true or happen every single day as a habit. For example, you wouldn't say "I am not usually eating meat." Instead, you say "I don't usually eat meat." Also, avoid using them with "stative" verbs. These are verbs about thinking or feeling, not physical actions. You shouldn't say "Are you wanting coffee?" or "I am not knowing the answer." In those cases, keep it simple: "Do you want coffee?" or "I don't know the answer." Think of the Present Continuous like a camera. If the camera can't "see" the action happening (like the act of "knowing"), you probably shouldn't use the -ing form. It’s a grammar traffic light: green for actions, red for states of mind.

One of the biggest traps is forgetting the be verb entirely. You might want to say "I not going," but your sentence will feel lonely without its engine! Always remember: I am not going. Another common slip-up is using do or does to ask a question. You might say "Do you working?" but that is mixing two different worlds. In the Present Continuous world, am/is/are does all the heavy lifting. Finally, watch out for the double negative. "I'm not doing nothing" is common in some dialects, but in standard English, "I'm not doing anything" is the way to go. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are in a hurry, but you’ll look like a pro if you get it right.

It is easy to confuse this with the Present Simple. The Present Simple (I do / I don't / Do you?) is for your life story and your routine. The Present Continuous (I am doing / I am not doing / Are you doing?) is for the movie playing right now.

• Present Simple: "I don't smoke." (This is a general fact about my life).
• Present Continuous: "I'm not smoking." (I might be a smoker, but right now, there is no cigarette in my hand).

Think of the Present Simple as a map of a city, and the Present Continuous as the GPS showing exactly where you are driving at this second. One is the big picture; the other is the zoom-in.