present continuous 

form

affirmative

• i'm (am) reading.
• you / we / they are reading.
• he / she / it's (is) reading.

spelling rules

general rule: eat → eating

exceptions:

• write → writing
• cry → crying
• die → dying
• swim → swimming
• begin → beginning
• travel → travelling
• picnic → picnicking

negative

• i'm not (am not) reading.
• you / we / they aren't (are not) reading.
• he / she / it isn't (is not) reading.

interrogative

• am i reading?
• are you / we / they reading?
• is he / she / it reading?

short answers

• yes, i am.
• yes, you / we / they are.
• yes, he / she / it is.
• no, i am not.
• no, you / we / they are not.
• no, he / she / it is not.

use

• actions taking place or in progress at the moment of speaking - example:  i am studying right now.
• temporary actions - example: i am living in the city temporarily.
• to express annoyance with an action - example: he is always interrupting me.

vs

present simple

use

• routines, habits - example:  i have breakfast at 7 in the morning.
• permanent situations and things that are always true - example: the earth revolves around the sun.
• timetables in the near future - example: my train arrives at 10 am tomorrow.

signal words

present continuous:

• (right) now, at the moment, currently, presently

present simple:

• usually, always, often, sometimes, rarely, never