Present Continuous Tense

The simple present is about things that are always true. This one is about now. If you can say "මේ වෙලාවේ" in front of the Sinhala sentence, you probably need the present continuous.

How to make it

Two parts: am / is / are, then the verb with -ing.

I'm = I am, she's = she is, they're = they are. We almost always use the short forms when we speak.

A few spelling rules for -ing:

• Most verbs: add -ing → eat → eating, play → playing
• Ending in -e: drop the e → make → making, write → writing
• Short verbs ending in one vowel + one consonant: double the consonant → run → running, sit → sitting, swim → swimming
• Ending in -ie: change to -ying → lie → lying, die → dying

When do we use it?

1. Right now

Right now

සිංහලෙන්

• You are reading this lesson right now.
• It's raining heavily outside.
• The kids are playing cricket outside.
• I'm eating. I'll call you back.

2. Around now (not exactly this second)

Something that's going on these days, even if you're not doing it at this exact moment.

These days

සිංහලෙන්

• I'm studying for IELTS these days.
• A lot of people are learning English online now.
• He's staying with his grandparents this month.
• Are you still working at the same company?

3. Something different from usual

Not the usual

සිංහලෙන්

• I usually take the bus, but today I'm taking a three-wheeler.
• He usually drinks tea, but today he's drinking coffee.

4. Plans you've already made

If it's in your diary or you've already booked it, use the present continuous for the future.

Fixed plans

සිංහලෙන්

• We're going to Nuwara Eliya tomorrow.
• I'm meeting my friends tonight.
• She's starting her new job on Monday.

5. Complaining about a habit (with "always")

Annoying habits

සිංහලෙන්

• My brother is always taking my charger!
• You're always forgetting your umbrella!

Verbs that don't like -ing

Some verbs are about a state (how things are), not an action (what you do). We usually don't use them with -ing.

• Mind: know, understand, remember, forget, believe, mean
• Feelings: like, love, hate, want, need, prefer
• Having: have (= own), own, belong
• Senses: see, hear, smell, taste
• Others: cost, seem, contain

Some of these verbs can take -ing, but then the meaning changes:

Same verb, different meaning

සිංහලෙන්

• She has two cars.own
• She's having lunch now.eat
• I think English is easy.opinion
• I'm thinking about my exam.considering
• I can see the mountains from here.with eyes
• I'm seeing the doctor later.meet

Quick check

Tap an answer. Nothing is saved.

1. Take an umbrella. It outside.

   is rainingrains

2. We going to Ella next week.

   amisare

3. I his phone number.

   knowam knowing

4. Kasun is in the back seat.

   sitingsitting

5. I two brothers.

   haveam having

6. from home today?

   Is she workingDoes she working