Grade 4 English Tenses – Present And Past Continous Tense Notes
English: Tenses — Present and Past Continuous
These notes explain the Present Continuous and Past Continuous tenses. Read, look at the examples, then try the short exercises. (Simple words for a 9-year-old.)
Present Continuous (What is happening now)
Use this tense for actions happening at this moment or around now. Example: "She is eating."
Form:
Subject + am / is / are + verb + -ing
Examples:
- I am reading a book now. 📖
- He is playing football. ⚽
- They are eating lunch at school. 🍽️🏫
Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing.
Question:
She is not (isn't) sleeping. 😴
Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?
Are you doing your homework? ✍️
Past Continuous (What was happening at a past time)
Use this tense for actions that were in progress at a specific past time or for two actions happening at the same time in the past.
Form:
Subject + was / were + verb + -ing
Examples:
- I was doing my homework at 6 p.m. yesterday. 🕕✍️
- While Mama was cooking, the children were playing outside. 🍲🏃♂️
- The bus (matatu) was moving slowly because of the traffic. 🚌
Subject + was/were + not + verb-ing.
Question:
He was not (wasn't) watching TV. 📺
Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?
Were they coming to school when you saw them? 🏫
Words that often go with continuous tenses
Present continuous: now, at the moment, today, this week.
Past continuous: yesterday at..., while, when (for interrupting actions).
How to make the -ing form (easy rules)
- If verb ends with -e, drop the e and add -ing: make → making (not makeing).
- If verb ends with -ie, change ie to y and add -ing: lie → lying.
- If one-syllable verb ends with consonant-vowel-consonant, double the last consonant: run → running.
- Most verbs just add -ing: play → playing, read → reading.
Short Practice (Try these)
- Fill in with present continuous: (you / do) __________ your homework now.
- Fill in with past continuous: (they / play) __________ football at 4 pm yesterday.
- Make a negative past continuous: She / watch TV → She __________ TV.
- Choose correct: He (is / was) reading when the teacher came.
Answers:
- You are doing your homework now.
- They were playing football at 4 pm yesterday.
- She was not (wasn't) watching TV.
- He was reading when the teacher came.
Quick tips
- If you talk about what is happening now, use Present Continuous.
- If you tell about what was happening at a particular time yesterday or last week, use Past Continuous.
- Use "while" for two past actions happening at the same time: While I was reading, my brother was singing.
Practice these sentences with a friend or family member. Try to make more sentences about your school, home or games!