Present Continuous: Negatives and Questions

Introduction

In the present continuous tense, negative forms are made using NOT, and question forms are made by changing the word order of the sentence. This page explains the rules.

1. Forming a negative

Negatives in the present continuous are formed by adding not or n't after the verb BE:

Positive sentence	Negative sentence	Contracted negative
I am eating.	I am not eating.	I'm not eating.
You are working.	You are not working.	You aren't working.
He is driving.	He is not driving.	He isn't driving.
She is teaching.	She is not teaching.	She isn't teaching.
It is raining.	It is not raining.	It isn't raining.
We are reading.	We are not reading.	We aren't reading.
They are writing.	They are not writing.	They aren't writing.

2. Forming a question

Yes/no questions are created by moving the verb BE to the beginning of the sentence. WH-questions are formed by moving the verb BE, and then adding the WH- word. Here are the rules:

Statement	Yes/no question	WH- question
I am eating.	Am I eating?	What am I eating?
You are crying.	Are you crying?	Why are you crying?
He is going.	Is he going?	Where is he going?
She is arriving.	Is she arriving?	When is she arriving?
It is sleeping.	Is it sleeping?	Why is it sleeping?
We are leaving.	Are we leaving?	When are we leaving?
They are fighting.	Are they fighting?	Why are they fighting?

When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercises.

Present Continuous: Negatives

Change each sentence to a negative.

Fill in all of the sentences and click on "Check".

Make the following sentences negative. Don't forget to include the period at the end!

1. I am thinking.
2. You are singing.
3. He is eating jelly.
4. She is studying hard.
5. It is raining now.
6. We are having tea.
7. They are driving to Toronto.

Present Continuous: Questions

Change each sentence into a question in the present continuous tense. The question type is in brackets. For example: "She is eating cheese. [WHAT]" becomes "What is she eating?"

Type the question in the blank and click on "Check".

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1. She is having a party. [YES/NO]
   
   
   
2. It's raining hard. [YES/NO]
   
   
   
3. She's going to work. [WHERE]
   
   
   
4. We are waiting because the bus is late. [WHY]
   
   
   
5. We are travelling by ship. [HOW]
   
   
   
6. You're giving her flowers because it's her birthday. [WHY]
   
   
   
7. He's cooking bacon for supper. [WHAT]
   
   
   
8. He's riding a bike. [WHAT]