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.