{"id":273213,"date":"2026-09-07T03:01:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T08:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/?p=273213"},"modified":"2026-09-07T03:01:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T08:01:10","slug":"present-continuous-affirmative-negative-pre-a1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/blog\/present-continuous-affirmative-negative-pre-a1\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn the Present Continuous: Actions Happening Now (Pre-A1)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"lc-answer\">\n<p><strong>The present continuous helps us talk about actions that are happening at this exact moment, right now.<\/strong> It is very useful for describing what you see or what people are doing in a picture, or what you are doing as you speak. To form it, you need a form of the verb <span data-no-translation>to be<\/span> (<span data-no-translation>am<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>is<\/span>, o <span data-no-translation>are<\/span>) and the <span data-no-translation>-ing<\/span> form of the main verb. For example, <span data-no-translation>I am reading<\/span> means you are reading at this moment. To make it negative, you simply add <span data-no-translation>not<\/span> despu\u00e9s de <span data-no-translation>am<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>is<\/span>, o <span data-no-translation>are<\/span>, como <span data-no-translation>She is not sleeping<\/span>. This grammar point is fundamental for describing ongoing activities in English.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What is the Present Continuous?<\/h2>\n<p>We use the present continuous to talk about actions that are happening <span data-no-translation>now<\/span>, at <span data-no-translation>this moment<\/span>, o <span data-no-translation>today<\/span>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It describes something in progress.<\/li>\n<li>It is not for habits or general truths.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-blended\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0E63C4,#0A2540);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\ud83c\udf93 Aprende ingl\u00e9s con el m\u00e9todo mixto<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;opacity:.95;\">Grupos reducidos \u00b7 Tutor de IA disponible las 24 horas del d\u00eda, los 7 d\u00edas de la semana \u00b7 Preparaci\u00f3n para los ex\u00e1menes de Cambridge<\/p><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;font-size:18px;\">Planes de <strong><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><bdi><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\" translate=\"no\" dir=\"auto\">$<\/span>39<\/bdi><\/span><\/strong> <s style=\"opacity:.6;\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><bdi><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\" translate=\"no\" dir=\"auto\">$<\/span>79<\/bdi><\/span><\/s> al mes<\/p><a href=\"\/es\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#fff;color:#0E63C4;\">Reserva tu clase<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>How Do We Form the Present Continuous (Affirmative)?<\/h2>\n<p>To make a present continuous sentence, we use two parts:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>El verbo <span data-no-translation>to be<\/span> (<span data-no-translation>am<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>is<\/span>, o <span data-no-translation>are<\/span>).<\/li>\n<li>El verbo principal con <span data-no-translation>-ing<\/span> at the end.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>El patr\u00f3n es el siguiente: <span data-no-translation>Subject + am\/is\/are + verb-ing<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h2>Making Sentences Negative with the Present Continuous<\/h2>\n<p>To say that an action is NOT happening now, we add <span data-no-translation>not<\/span> despu\u00e9s de <span data-no-translation>am<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>is<\/span>, o <span data-no-translation>are<\/span>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>El patr\u00f3n es el siguiente: <span data-no-translation>Subject + am\/is\/are + not + verb-ing<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>You can use contractions: <span data-no-translation>isn't<\/span> (is not) and <span data-no-translation>aren't<\/span> (are not).<\/li>\n<li>Para <span data-no-translation>I am not<\/span>, we usually say <span data-no-translation>I'm not<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Spelling Rules for -ing Verbs<\/h2>\n<p>Most verbs just add <span data-no-translation>-ing<\/span>. But some verbs have special spelling rules:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Verbs ending in -e:<\/strong> Remove the <span data-no-translation>-e<\/span>, y luego a\u00f1ade <span data-no-translation>-ing<\/span>.<br \/>Ejemplo: <span data-no-translation>make<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>making<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>write<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>writing<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Verbs ending in consonant + vowel + consonant:<\/strong> Double the last consonant, then add <span data-no-translation>-ing<\/span>. This is common for short verbs.<br \/>Ejemplo: <span data-no-translation>run<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>running<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>sit<\/span> \u2192 <span data-no-translation>sitting<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<caption>Present Continuous: Affirmative and Negative Forms<\/caption>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Asunto<\/th>\n<th>Affirmative Form<\/th>\n<th>Forma negativa<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>I<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>am + verb-ing<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>am not + verb-ing<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>He \/ She \/ It<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>is + verb-ing<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>is not (isn't) + verb-ing<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>You \/ We \/ They<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>are + verb-ing<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>are not (aren't) + verb-ing<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Ejemplos<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>I am studying English now.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>She is watching TV at the moment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>They are playing football outside.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>He is not sleeping.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>We are not eating dinner yet.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>The dog isn't barking.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Pr\u00e1ctica<\/h2>\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-1149\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"1149\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"JR08 L5 READING AND GRAMMAR The present continuous\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-whatsapp\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#3DB16A,#1f8a4c);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\ud83d\udcac \u00bfNecesitas asesoramiento personalizado?<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;opacity:.95;\">Como centro autorizado de preparaci\u00f3n para los ex\u00e1menes de Cambridge, podemos orientarte para que elijas el curso y la certificaci\u00f3n m\u00e1s adecuados. Habla hoy mismo con nuestros asesores.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/51980473286?text=Hi%2C%20I%27m%20interested%20in%20Langcom%27s%20courses%20and%20would%20like%20some%20guidance%20choosing%20the%20right%20one.\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#fff;color:#1f8a4c;\">Chatea con un asesor por WhatsApp<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Errores habituales de los hispanohablantes<\/h2>\n<p>Los hispanohablantes a veces cometen estos errores:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Forgetting 'to be':<\/strong> In Spanish, you might say 'Yo comiendo' (I eating). In English, you MUST use <span data-no-translation>am<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>is<\/span>, o <span data-no-translation>are<\/span>.<br \/>Incorrecto: <span data-no-translation>She reading a book.<\/span><br \/>Correcto: <span data-no-translation>She is reading a book.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Using Simple Present for 'now' actions:<\/strong> In Spanish, 'como ahora' (I eat now) is common. In English, use the present continuous for actions happening at this moment.<br \/>Incorrecto: <span data-no-translation>I eat breakfast now.<\/span><br \/>Correcto: <span data-no-translation>I am eating breakfast now.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Preguntas m\u00e1s frecuentes<\/h2>\n<h3>What does 'continuous' mean?<\/h3>\n<p>In grammar, 'continuous' means an action is ongoing or in progress. It is not finished.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I use the present continuous for future plans?<\/h3>\n<p>At Pre-A1 level, focus on using the present continuous only for actions happening <span data-no-translation>now<\/span>. Later, you will learn it can also be used for future plans.<\/p>\n<h3>Why do some verbs double their last letter before -ing?<\/h3>\n<p>This happens with short verbs that end in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern (like <span data-no-translation>run<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>sit<\/span>). We double the last consonant to keep the short vowel sound clear when adding <span data-no-translation>-ing<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h2>Lecciones relacionadas<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/?p=272740\">Presente de tiempo continuo<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/?p=272742\">Presente de tiempo continuo<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/?p=272808\">Presente de tiempo continuo<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/?p=272971\">Presente de tiempo continuo<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The present continuous helps us talk about actions that are happening at this exact moment, right now. It is very useful for describing what you see or what people are doing in a picture, or what you are doing as you speak. To form it, you need a form of the verb to be (am, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":192,"featured_media":274102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"bwfblock_default_font":"","langcom_teaches":"Present continuous","langcom_cefr":"Pre-A1","langcom_type":"grammar","langcom_faq":"[{\"q\": \"What does 'continuous' mean?\", \"a\": \"In grammar, 'continuous' means an action is ongoing or in progress. It is not finished.\"}, {\"q\": \"Can I use the present continuous for future plans?\", \"a\": \"At Pre-A1 level, focus on using the present continuous only for actions happening <span data-no-translation>now<\/span>. Later, you will learn it can also be used for future plans.\"}, {\"q\": \"Why do some verbs double their last letter before -ing?\", \"a\": \"This happens with short verbs that end in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern (like <span data-no-translation>run<\/span>, <span data-no-translation>sit<\/span>). We double the last consonant to keep the short vowel sound clear when adding <span data-no-translation>-ing<\/span>.\"}]","_kiss_seo_title":"","_kiss_seo_excerpt":"The present continuous helps us talk about actions that are happening at this exact moment, right now.","_mwseo_canonical":"","_mwseo_keywords":"","_mwseo_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[607],"tags":[651,986],"formats":[],"class_list":["post-273213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pre-a1-beginner-english-for-kids","tag-grammar","tag-the-present-continuous"],"dsm_author":{"name":"Ra\u00fal","avatar_url":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/nsl_avatars\/1de86ea706740d324aaef3dd8bf0843b.png","archive_link":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/blog\/author\/raulmaguinahamann\/","biodata":""},"dsm_categories":[{"term_name":"Pre A1 Beginner English for 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