Camp one · present continuous
The ripple
Every route starts from where you're standing. This camp is about now — and everything close enough to now that it's still moving.
Basecamp briefing
When to use it
Happening right now
Something is in progress at this exact moment.
"I'm watching a film right now."
A temporary situation
True for now, but not permanent — it's set to change.
"She's staying with her cousins this month."
A trend
Something is changing over a stretch of time.
"House prices are rising rapidly."
A fixed future plan
A personal arrangement already set for a specific time.
"We're meeting the Berlin team tomorrow."
Describing a photo
What's visibly happening in an image, frozen in the moment.
"The children are building a sandcastle."
An annoying habit
A repeated action that irritates the speaker — always plus continuous.
"He's always borrowing my things!"
Building the tense
How it's built
Affirmative
subject + am / is / are + verb-ing
"I am reading a great book."
Negative
subject + am / is / are + not + verb-ing
"She isn't listening to me."
Yes / No questions
Am / Is / Are + subject + verb-ing?
"Are you coming to the party?"
Wh- questions
question word + am / is / are + subject + verb-ing?
"What are you doing?"
Conjugation chart
Every person, every form — using the verb "to work" as the model.
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I am working | I am not working (I'm not) | Am I working? |
| You | You are working | You are not working (aren't) | Are you working? |
| He | He is working | He is not working (isn't) | Is he working? |
| She | She is working | She is not working (isn't) | Is she working? |
| It | It is working | It is not working (isn't) | Is it working? |
| We | We are working | We are not working (aren't) | Are we working? |
| They | They are working | They are not working (aren't) | Are they working? |
Trail markers
Signal words
The now cluster
- now / right now
- at the moment
- currently
- as we speak
- today / these days
The widening rings
- today
- this week
- this month
- this year
The climb
Practice
Checkpoint 1 of 8
Score: 0