45+ Continuous Tense Examples in English for Students!

Ever wondered how to describe actions that are happening right now, were happening in the past, or will be happening in the future? That’s where continuous tenses come in! Join us on this grammatical journey as we unravel the mysteries of these dynamic verb forms. We’ll provide easy-to-understand explanations, real-life examples, and a free PDF at the end to practice your understanding.

Read more blogs on Tenses here!

Continuous Tense: Present, Past and Future

Continuous tenses in English grammar describe actions that are happening at a specific point in time or over a period. Let’s understand the three main types of continuous tenses in brief below.

Present Continuous:

• Form: am/is/are + verb-ing
• Use: Actions happening now, temporary situations, future arrangements
• Example: I am eating breakfast.

Past Continuous:

• Form: was/were + verb-ing
• Use: Actions happening at a specific time in the past, simultaneous past actions
• Example: She was watching TV when the phone rang.

Future Continuous:

• Form: will be + verb-ing
• Use: Actions that will be in progress at a future time
• Example: We will be travelling to France next summer.

Also Read: Tenses Rules in English: Charts & Tenses PDF With Examples

Present Continuous Tense Examples

Here are 20 sentences on the present perfect continuous tense which will be helpful for you. 

1. I am writing a book. 
2. She is singing a song. 
3. They are playing football in the park. 
4. It is raining heavily outside. 
5. We are eating dinner at the moment. 
6. He is studying for his exams. 
7. I am learning to play the guitar. 
8. She is working on a new project.
9. They are travelling around the world. 
10. We are moving to a new house next week. 
11. He is meeting his friends for coffee later. 
12. I am going to the cinema tonight.
13. She is taking a language course this summer. 
14. They are getting married next month. 
15. We are having a party for my birthday. 
16. The children are building a sandcastle on the beach.
17. The dog is barking at the mailman.
18. My phone is ringing constantly.
19. The teacher is explaining the lesson to the students.
20. I am feeling a bit tired today.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Examples

Here are 5 sentences in the present perfect continuous tense:

1. I have been working on this project all day. 
2. She has been learning French for two years.
3. They have been living in this city since 2010. 
4. It has been raining heavily for the past hour. 
5. We have been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes. 

Also Read:

Present Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous and Present Perfect Simple Exercises

Past Continuous Tense Examples

Here are 15 sentences in the Past Continuous Tense which will give you an idea on the formation of similar sentences.

1. I was reading a book when the phone rang. 
2. She was singing a song while she was cooking dinner. 
3. They were playing football in the park when it started to rain. 
4. It was raining heavily all afternoon yesterday. 
5. We were eating dinner when the lights went out. 
6. He was studying for his exams all night long. 
7. I was learning to play the guitar last year. 
8. She was working on a new project when she got sick. 
9. They were travelling around Europe when they met. 
10. We were moving house last weekend. 
11. He was meeting his friends for coffee every Friday.
12. I was going to the cinema every other week.
13. She was taking a language course last summer. 
14. They were getting married next month. 
15. We were having a party for my birthday last year. 

Must Read:

Past Continuous Tense Voice Change Exercises

Past Continuous Tense

Future Continuous Tense Examples

Here are 15 sentences in the Future Continuous Tense:

1. I will be working from home tomorrow. 
2. She will be singing at the concert next week.
3. They will be playing football in the park this afternoon. 
4. It will be raining all day tomorrow. 
5. We will be eating dinner at 7 PM tonight. 
6. He will be studying for his exams all weekend. 
7. I will be learning to play the piano next month. 
8. She will be working on a new project next year. 
9. They will be travelling to Italy next summer. 
10. We will be moving to a new apartment next month. 
11. He will be meeting his friends for coffee later today. 
12. I will be going to the cinema tonight. 
13. She will be taking a language course next semester. 
14. They will be getting married next year. 
15. We will be having a party for my birthday next weekend.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense Examples

Here are 5 sentences in the Future Perfect Continuous Tense:

1. I will have been working on this project for two years by next month. 
2. She will have been learning French for five years by the time she graduates. 
3. They will have been living in this city for ten years by the end of next year. 
4. It will have been raining for hours by the time we get home. 
5. We will have been waiting for the bus for an hour by the time it arrives. 

Also Read:

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Future Continuous Tense

Future Continuous Tense Adverbs

Exercise on Continuous Tense with Answers

Check these exercises on Continuous Tense along with the answers in the end. These exercises will help you practice and reinforce your understanding.

Present Continuous Tense

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Instructions: Complete the sentences using the present continuous tense.

1. I _______ (read) a book right now.
2. They _______ (play) soccer in the park.
3. She _______ (cook) dinner at the moment.
4. We _______ (watch) a movie.
5. He _______ (study) for his exams.

Answers:

1. am reading
2. are playing
3. is cooking
4. are watching
5. is studying

Exercise 2: Convert to Present Continuous Tense

Instructions: Rewrite the following sentences in the present continuous tense.

1. I write a letter.
2. They play chess.
3. She listens to music.
4. We prepare for a meeting.
5. He cleans his room.

Answers:

1. I am writing a letter.
2. They are playing chess.
3. She is listening to music.
4. We are preparing for a meeting.
5. He is cleaning his room.

Past Continuous Tense

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Instructions: Complete the sentences using the past continuous tense of the verbs provided in brackets.

1. I _______ (watch) TV at eight o’clock yesterday evening.
2. I _______ (paint) all day yesterday.
3. They _______ (quarrel) the whole time they were together.
4. As I _______ (walk) down the road, I saw Philip.
5. The phone rang while I _______ (have) dinner.
6. It happened while I _______ (live) in Southampton last year.
7. When I entered her room, she _______ (play) the piano.
8. When I got up this morning, the sun _______ (shine).
9. At the time when it happened, I _______ (go) to the opera a lot.

Answers:

1. I was watching TV at eight o’clock yesterday evening.
2. I was painting all day yesterday.
3. They were quarrelling the whole time they were together.
4. As I was walking down the road, I saw Philip.
5. The phone rang while I was having dinner.
6. It happened while I was living in Southampton last year.
7. When I entered her room, she was playing the piano.
8. When I got up this morning, the sun was shining.
9. At the time when it happened, I was going to the opera a lot

Exercise 2

Instructions: Determine if the following sentences are correct or incorrect based on past continuous tense usage.

1. I was watching TV when my friend called.
2. She were cooking dinner when it started to rain.
3. They was playing football last Saturday.
4. We were studying when the fire alarm went off.
5. He was reading a book at that time.

Answers:

1. Correct
2. Incorrect (should be “was”)
3. Incorrect (should be “were”)
4. Correct
5. Correct

Future Continuous Tense

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Instructions: Complete the sentences using the future continuous tense of the verbs provided in brackets.

1. I _______ (study) for my exams at this time tomorrow.
2. They _______ (travel) to New York next week.
3. She _______ (work) on her project all day.
4. We _______ (have) dinner at 7 PM tonight.
5. He _______ (play) soccer when you arrive.

Answers:

1. I will be studying for my exams at this time tomorrow.
2. They will be travelling to New York next week.
3. She will be working on her project all day.
4. We will be having dinner at 7 PM tonight.
5. He will be playing soccer when you arrive.

Exercise 2: Rewrite in Future Continuous Tense

Instructions: Rewrite the following sentences in the future continuous tense.

1. I read a book at 9 PM tonight.
2. They play basketball next Saturday.
3. She cooks dinner when you get home.
4. We watch a movie at the cinema tomorrow.
5. He studies for his test next week.

Answers:

1. I will be reading a book at 9 PM tonight.
2. They will be playing basketball next Saturday.
3. She will be cooking dinner when you get home.
4. We will be watching a movie at the cinema tomorrow.
5. He will be studying for his test next week.

Also Read: Present Indefinite Tense: Structure, Example & Exercise PDF

Continuous Tenses Exercises (Free PDF)

Check out this worksheet on Continuous Tesnes where we have included several exercises for you. You will also be able to check your answers in the end.

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