The Present Continuous describes what is happening right now, at this moment. You already know all its ingredients: the verb to be (Lesson 1) + a verb with -ing.
| Subject | Form | Example | Romanian |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am eating | I am eating breakfast. | Eu mănânc micul dejun (acum). |
| You | are reading | You are reading this sentence! | Tu citești această propoziție! |
| He / She / It | is sleeping | The cat is sleeping. | Pisica doarme (acum). |
| We | are learning | We are learning English. | Noi învățăm engleză. |
| They | are playing | They are playing outside. | Ei se joacă afară. |
💡 The Big Difference from Romanian
Romanian uses one present tense for everything: "Mănânc" can mean "I eat (every day)" or "I am eating (now)".
English separates them:
• Habit, routine, always true → Present Simple: "I eat breakfast at 7."
• Happening right now → Present Continuous: "I am eating breakfast (at this moment)."
Time markers – your clues
When you see these words → Present Continuous. (Compare with every day, usually, always, on Mondays → Present Simple.)
Negative & Questions
| Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|
| She is sleeping. | She isn't sleeping. | Is she sleeping? |
| I am working. | I'm not working. | Am I working? |
| They are coming. | They aren't coming. | Are they coming? |
Is it raining? → Yes, it is. / No, it isn't.
The normal case.
The silent e disappears.
But never double w, x, y: play → playing.
Rare but fun.
⚙️ Feed the machine!
Type the -ing form of each verb and press Enter. Get them all — and watch your streak. 🔥
Choose the correct sentence for each scene
✏️ Now write the sentences yourself
Use the words in brackets to write a full Present Continuous sentence.
| Present Simple | Present Continuous | |
|---|---|---|
| When? | habits, routines, facts | right now, temporary |
| Clue words | every day, usually, always, on Mondays | now, at the moment, Look!, today |
| Example | I drink coffee every morning. | I am drinking tea right now. |
| Romanian | Beau cafea în fiecare dimineață. | Beau ceai chiar acum. |
✏️ Choose the correct form
Read the clue words carefully, then click the correct verb.
Play each sentence and type exactly what you hear. Use 🐢 Slow if you need it.
It is Saturday morning in Cluj-Napoca. Usually, Ana cleans the flat on Saturday, but today is different. Right now, she is sitting in the kitchen and she is drinking a big cup of coffee. The radio is playing quiet music.
Her brother Radu is here too. He is fixing the washing machine — again! He visits Ana every weekend, and something in the flat is always broken. "You are not helping, Mici!" he says. The cat is sleeping inside the empty washing machine.
Look! Outside, it is starting to rain. The neighbours are running to their cars. But Ana and Radu don't care — they are laughing, the coffee is hot, and the weekend is beginning perfectly.
Comprehension Questions – Answer in English
2. She is sitting in the kitchen and drinking a big cup of coffee.
3. He is fixing the washing machine.
4. Mici is sleeping inside the empty washing machine.
5. It is starting to rain, and the neighbours are running to their cars.
Translation – English → Romanian
Careful: some sentences are about now (continuous) and one is a habit (simple)!
2. The children are playing in the park.
3. What are you doing?
4. I am not watching TV. / I'm not watching TV.
5. He reads a book every evening. (habit → Present Simple!)
6. It is raining. / It's raining.
7. We are waiting for the bus.
Topic: Stop. Look around you. What is happening right now?
Write at least 80 words describing this exact moment: What are you doing? What are you wearing? What is happening around you — people, sounds, weather? Finish with one habit sentence for contrast (e.g. "Usually at this time I…"). The checklist ticks itself as you write.
Lesson Complete!
Here is your final score for the graded exercises:
correct answers