Understanding the continuous verb tense in English | Learn English with Cambridge

Oh, hi.

Have you ever felt lost in a grammar class?

Or thought it was difficult

because it was so different from your native language?

I’ve prepared a short series

of videos to help you with some verbal tenses.

Today, we’ll start with the continuous form.

When you hear the world continuous,

you should think about an ongoing action,

or an action that happened

for a period of time, something that’s happening right now,

or some time in the past.

To form the continuous, you’re going to use two things.

The verb be and ING.

The verb be will be in the tense of the phrase,

and the ING will be at the end of the main verb.

For example, let’s take the phrase she is cooking now.

Notice is is in the present form,

so this phrase is in the present continuous.

It’s something that she’s doing right now.

If it were in the past, it would be she was cooking.

Notice was is in the past.

So, this is past continuous.

Some time in the past, she was cooking,

but now she’s not anymore.

She’s stopped that action.

So, when you’re using the continuous form,

always remember to use the verb be and ING.

How about creating a phrase

using the continuous form down here in the comments section?

I can’t wait to read your phrase.

I hope this video has helped you.

Don’t forget to share it

with your friends, family, students,

and give it a big thumbs up.

I’ll see you soon.

Bye.