In the present continuous tense, negative forms are made using NOT, and and question forms are made by changing the word order of the sentence. This page explains the rules.
Forming a negative
Negatives in the simple present are formed by adding not or n't after the verb BE:
| Positive sentence
|
Negative sentence
|
Contracted negative
|
| I am eating.
|
I am not eating.
|
I'm not eating.
|
| You are working.
|
You are not working.
|
You aren't working.
|
| He is driving.
|
He is not driving.
|
He isn't driving.
|
| She is teaching.
|
She is not teaching.
|
She isn't teaching.
|
| It is raining.
|
It is not raining.
|
It isn't raining.
|
| We are reading.
|
We are not reading.
|
We aren't reading.
|
| They are writing.
|
They are not writing.
|
They aren't writing.
|
Forming a question
Yes/no questions are created by moving the verb BE to the beginning of the sentence. WH-questions are formed by moving the verb BE, and then adding the WH- word. Here are the rules:
| Statement
|
Yes/no question
|
Wh- question
|
| I am eating.
|
Am I eating?
|
What am I eating?
|
| You are crying.
|
Are you crying?
|
Why are you crying?
|
| He is going.
|
Is he going?
|
Where is he going?
|
| She is arriving.
|
Is she arriving?
|
When is she arriving?
|
| It is sleeping.
|
Is it sleeping?
|
Why is it sleeping?
|
| We are leaving.
|
Are we leaving?
|
When are we leaving?
|
| They are fighting.
|
Are they fighting?
|
Why are they fighting?
|
|
