Présent Continu : Négations et Questions (Suis-je en train de travailler ?)
négatives et questions du Present Continuous te rendra super fort pour parler des actions en cours.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To ask questions, swap 'am/is/are' with the subject; for negatives, add 'not' after the 'be' verb.
- Questions: Move 'Am/Is/Are' to the front. Example: 'Are you working?'
- Negatives: Put 'not' after 'Am/Is/Are'. Example: 'I am not working.'
- Contractions: Use 'isn't' or 'aren't' for natural speech. Example: 'He isn't working.'
Overview
I am eating, tu as fait la moitié du chemin. Mais que se passe-t-il si la nourriture est infecte ?I am not eating this !Et si tu vois ton pote manger un truc bizarre ? Tu dois demander :
Are you eating a bug ?C'est là que les formes négatives et interrogatives du
Present Continuous entrent en jeu. C'est la différence entre être un observateur passif et participer réellement à une discussion de groupe sur WhatsApp.Present Continuous, c'est ton meilleur ami du tout de suite. C'est le temps du scroll sur TikTok, de la réunion Zoom et du SMS tu es en route ?. Alors que la forme de base nous dit ce qui se passe, les formes négatives et interrogatives sont ce qui fait de toi un être humain fonctionnel en anglais.
Where are they going?ou dire "I'm not liking this vibe." Ce serait un cauchemar. Ces formes te permettent de clarifier les faits et d'exprimer tes limites en temps réel.
to be. Une fois que tu auras maîtrisé comment am, is et are dansent dans la phrase, tu remettras en question les choix de vie de tout le monde en anglais comme un pro. Ne me blâme pas si tu commences à poser trop de questions à table.How This Grammar Works
Present Continuous comme à une machine en trois parties : le Subject, l' Auxiliary Verb (am/is/are), et le Main Verb (celui en -ing). Pour le rendre négatif ou le transformer en question, on n'ajoute pas de nouveaux mots compliqués comme do ou does. On joue simplement avec les parties qu'on a déjà.not juste après le verbe be. C'est comme mettre un panneau Sens Interdit au milieu de ta phrase. Pour les questions, on fait une petite pirouette.be saute en début de ligne, laissant le Subject derrière lui. C'est un mouvement très simple, mais ça change complètement l'énergie de la phrase, passant de Je te le disà
Je te le demande. Si tu as déjà joué à un jeu vidéo où tu dois changer de personnage, c'est exactement ça.
Am/Is/Are est ton joueur principal ici, et il fait tout le gros travail pendant que le verbe en -ing traîne à la fin, s'occupant de ses propres affaires.
Formation Pattern
Subject (I, You, He, She, It, We, They).
be (am, is, are).
not.
verb + ing.
She + is + not + working. -> She is not working. (Ou la version plus stylée : She isn't working.)
be (Am, Is, Are).
Subject.
verb + ing.
Are + you + coming? -> Are you coming? (N'oublie pas le point d'interrogation, sinon les gens penseront que tu fais juste une affirmation très bizarre.)
I'm not (Il n'y a pas de "amn't," désolé !)
You aren't ou You're not.
He isn't ou He's not.
She isn't ou She's not.
It isn't ou It's not.
We aren't ou We're not.
They aren't ou They're not.
aren't et isn't sont tes meilleurs amis. Utiliser le is not complet donne l'impression que tu es un parent très en colère ou un fantôme victorien.
When To Use It
- Sur les réseaux sociaux : Quand tu vois le post d'un ami et que tu es perplexe.
Why
ouareyouwearingthat?I
am not feelingthis new filter. - Dans la cuisine : Quand quelqu'un "t'aide
à cuisiner.Areyouaddingsalt to the cake? Please stop." - En voyage : En vérifiant le statut de ton vol sur une application.
The plane
is not taking offyet. - Au travail/à l'université : Lors d'un appel Zoom quand le micro de quelqu'un fait des siennes. "
Areyoutalking? I can't hear you!ouIam not sharingmy screen right now." - Par SMS : Le classique
quand ton ami est inévitablement en retard de 20 minutes.Areyouleavingyet?
Common Mistakes
- Le
Bemanquant :You working?(Faux !) ->Are you working?(Juste !). Tu ne peux pas simplement balancer un mot en-ingà quelqu'un et espérer que ça passe. Il a besoin de son potebe. - Le
-ingmanquant :Is she work?(Faux !) ->Is she working?(Juste !). Sans le-ing, c'est comme une voiture sans roues. Ça ne va nulle part. - Le désastre du
Do:Do you working?(NON !). On utilisedo/doespour le Present Simple (routine), pas pour les choses qui se passent maintenant. Gardedohors des affaires duPresent Continuous. C'est un verbe jaloux et il va gâcher l'ambiance. - Double négative :
I am not not working.(Techniquement ça existe, mais ça veut dire que tu ES en train de travailler, et tu vas juste embrouiller ton patron.) - Oublier l'inversion de la question :
You are coming?(C'est bon pour un SMS décontracté avec un point d'interrogation, mais dans un test officiel ou un vrai entretien, tu as besoin deAre you coming?)
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Present Continuous est le Present Simple.Present Simple(Négatif/Question) : Utilisé pour les habitudes et les faits.Do you drink coffee?signifieEst-ce une habitude générale chez toi ?
I don't drink coffeesignifie "Je n'en bois jamais."Present Continuous(Négatif/Question) : Utilisé pour l'instant présent.Are you drinking coffee?signifieAs-tu une tasse à la main en ce moment précis ?
I'm not drinking coffeesignifie "Mes mains sont actuellement vides (même si d'habitude j'adore les lattes)."
Present Simple comme la page Wikipédia de ta vie (faits statiques) et le Present Continuous comme ta Story Instagram (ce qui se passe pendant 24 heures). Si tu demandes à quelqu'un et qu'il répondDoyousmoke?
I am not smoking, il cache probablement une cigarette derrière son dos et est très littéral. L'un concerne ton identité ; l'autre concerne tes actions actuelles.Quick FAQ
I'm not. Si tu dis "amn't," un linguiste quelque part perd ses ailes. et She isn't" ?On l'utilise pour des plans fixes. Mais pour l'instant, concentre-toi sur la partieAreyoumeetingus tonight ?
tout de suite pour ne pas attraper de mal de tête.-ing ?be, pas de fun en -ing.2. Present Continuous: Negative & Question Forms
| Subject | Negative Form | Question Form | Short Answer (No) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
I am not working
|
Am I working?
|
No, I'm not.
|
|
You
|
You are not working
|
Are you working?
|
No, you aren't.
|
|
He/She/It
|
He is not working
|
Is he working?
|
No, he isn't.
|
|
We
|
We are not working
|
Are we working?
|
No, we aren't.
|
|
They
|
They are not working
|
Are they working?
|
No, they aren't.
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction 1 | Contraction 2 |
|---|---|---|
|
I am not
|
I'm not
|
N/A
|
|
You are not
|
You're not
|
You aren't
|
|
He is not
|
He's not
|
He isn't
|
|
She is not
|
She's not
|
She isn't
|
|
It is not
|
It's not
|
It isn't
|
|
We are not
|
We're not
|
We aren't
|
|
They are not
|
They're not
|
They aren't
|
Meanings
Used to ask if an action is happening right now or to state that an action is not currently in progress.
Current Action Interrogative
Asking if someone is doing something at this exact moment.
“Are you eating lunch?”
“Is it raining outside?”
Current Action Negative
Stating that an action is not happening right now.
“I am not sleeping.”
“She isn't wearing a coat.”
Temporary Situations
Asking or denying actions that are happening 'around' now, but not necessarily this second.
“Are you staying at a hotel?”
“I'm not reading any books lately.”
Reference Table
| Sujet | Affirmation | Négation | Question Oui/Non | Question en Wh- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
I am working.
|
I am not working.
|
Am I working?
|
What am I doing?
|
|
You
|
You are studying.
|
You are not studying.
|
Are you studying?
|
Why are you studying?
|
|
He
|
He is sleeping.
|
He is not sleeping.
|
Is he sleeping?
|
Where is he sleeping?
|
|
She
|
She is eating.
|
She is not eating.
|
Is she eating?
|
What is she eating?
|
|
It
|
It is raining.
|
It is not raining.
|
Is it raining?
|
Why is it raining?
|
|
We
|
We are playing.
|
We are not playing.
|
Are we playing?
|
When are we playing?
|
|
They
|
They are watching.
|
They are not watching.
|
Are they watching?
|
Who are they watching?
|
Spectre de formalité
Are you not attending the gala? (Social invitation)
Are you coming to the party? (Social invitation)
You coming? (Social invitation)
You rollin' with us? (Social invitation)
Present Continuous : Négations et Questions
Négations
- Sujet + am/is/are + not + verbe en -ing I'm not studying.
- Contractions He isn't listening.
Questions Oui/Non
- Am/Is/Are + Sujet + verbe en -ing? Are you watching?
- Réponse courtes Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
Questions en Wh-
- Mot en Wh- + am/is/are + Sujet + verbe en -ing? What is she doing?
- Questions d'information Where are they going?
Present Continuous vs. Present Simple (Questions/Négations)
Former les questions au Present Continuous
Tu veux poser une question Oui/Non ?
Quel est ton sujet ?
Le verbe principal est-il en forme -ing ?
Tu poses une question en 'wh-' ?
Formes du Present Continuous en un coup d'œil
I
- • I am working.
- • I'm not sleeping.
- • Am I listening?
He/She/It
- • He is studying.
- • She isn't eating.
- • Is it raining?
You/We/They
- • You are talking.
- • We aren't playing.
- • Are they watching?
Exemples par niveau
Are you drinking water?
Is he playing a game?
I am not wearing shoes.
They are not coming.
Aren't you feeling well today?
She isn't working this week.
Why are you not eating your dinner?
Is it not snowing in London?
Aren't they considering our offer?
I'm not planning to stay long.
Is she still seeing that doctor?
We aren't expecting any problems.
Why are you always complaining about the weather?
Aren't you being a bit dramatic?
Is the economy not recovering as fast as we hoped?
I'm not exactly enjoying this movie.
Am I not entitled to an explanation?
Are we not witnessing a historical turning point?
He isn't exactly thriving in his new role, is he?
Aren't you forgetting something crucial?
Is it not the case that the system is failing?
The project isn't so much failing as it is evolving.
Aren't I the one who suggested this in the first place?
Why are we not seeing more robust intervention?
Facile à confondre
Learners use 'Are you work?' instead of 'Do you work?' or 'Are you working?'.
Verbs like 'love', 'hate', 'know' don't usually take -ing.
Learners don't know which one to use for 'I'.
Erreurs courantes
You working?
Are you working?
I not working.
I am not working.
Is he work?
Is he working?
Do you working?
Are you working?
Is not she coming?
Isn't she coming? / Is she not coming?
I'm no working.
I'm not working.
Are you knowing the answer?
Do you know the answer?
Am not I invited?
Am I not invited? / Aren't I invited?
Structures de phrases
Are you ___ing ___?
Why is he not ___ing?
Aren't they ___ing ___ tomorrow?
Is it not ___ing yet?
Real World Usage
Are you coming to the gym?
Are you seeing my screen?
Is the machine not working?
Are you still using that plate?
Why aren't you guys posting?
Are you currently working for another company?
Repère le verbe 'Be'
am, is ou are ! Pour les négations, not se met juste après. Pour les questions, am/is/are saute au début de la phrase. Are you hungry?Ne mélange pas avec 'Do/Does'
Do et does sont pour le Present Simple. Avec le Present Continuous, c'est am/is/are qui gère tout. Jamais Do you are working?
Les contractions sont tes amies
et aren't" sonnent super naturels à l'oral et à l'écrit informel. Utilise-les pour parler plus couramment ! "I'm not" est aussi très commun.Questions polies
Are you working? dans un contexte formel, ajouter 'Excuse me,' ou 'May I ask...' peut rendre la question plus polie et moins directe. Excuse me, are you busy?
Smart Tips
Stop! If you see '-ing', you must use 'Am/Is/Are'.
Use the 'Be' verb from the question in your answer.
Avoid contractions like 'isn't' and use 'is not' instead.
Drop the 'g' sound at the end of '-ing' and use 'n'.
Prononciation
Contraction Stress
In negatives, the 'not' part (n't) is often stressed to emphasize the denial.
Question Intonation
Yes/No questions usually have a rising intonation at the end.
Rising Intonation
Are you coming? ↗
Asking for confirmation
Falling Intonation
Why are you leaving? ↘
Asking for information (Wh- question)
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Remember 'B-S-I': Be verb, then Subject, then Ing-verb for questions.
Association visuelle
Imagine a seesaw. In a statement, the Subject is on the left and the Verb is on the right. In a question, they swap places!
Rhyme
To ask a task that's in the flow, move the 'Be' and you will know!
Story
Meet 'Not'. Not is a shy ghost who always hides right behind the 'Be' verb (am, is, are) but before the action (-ing). He only appears when things aren't happening.
Word Web
Défi
Look around you. Find three things people are NOT doing right now and say them aloud (e.g., 'The cat is not barking').
Notes culturelles
British speakers often use 'aren't I' as a question tag or in first-person questions, which can be confusing for learners.
In very casual American speech, the 'g' in '-ing' is often dropped (e.g., 'Are you workin'?).
In international meetings, using the Present Continuous for questions is seen as more polite and less aggressive than the Present Simple.
The continuous aspect in English developed from an Old English construction involving a preposition 'on' and a verbal noun.
Amorces de conversation
Are you working on anything interesting today?
Is it raining in your city right now?
What are you not doing today that you usually do?
Are you planning any trips this month?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
My phone ___ charging right now.
Choisis la phrase correcte :
Present Continuous, 'are' vient avant le sujet 'you', suivi du verbe en '-ing'.Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Present Continuous avec une contraction est Sujet + 'm not + verbe en -ing + objet.Score: /3
Exercices pratiques
8 exercises___ you listening to the teacher?
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Is they playing football in the park?
She is sleeping. -> ?
A: Are you coming to the cinema? B: No, I ___.
not / working / he / today / is
1. I, 2. You, 3. He
We use 'do' to make questions in the Present Continuous.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercises___ she watching that new show on Netflix?
They not working on the report today.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: '¿Por qué no están comiendo?'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the subjects with the correct form:
What ___ you reading these days?
Is the baby crying not?
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Ella no está durmiendo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Are you understanding what I am saying?
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
No, that is incorrect. You should say `Am I not?` (formal) or `Aren't I?` (informal).
It is a strange exception in English! `Aren't I` is the standard contraction for `Am I not` in questions.
In very casual speech, people sometimes drop the 'are', but for learners and in writing, it is better to say `Are you working?`.
`Isn't he` is more common and natural. `Is he not` is very formal or used for emphasis.
No, the main verb always stays in the `-ing` form. Only the verb `be` changes.
Yes! You can say `Are you coming tomorrow?` to ask about future plans.
Drop the 'e' before adding '-ing'. So, `Are you dancing?`.
No, `I aren't` is never correct. Always use `I'm not`.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
estar + -ando/-iendo
English uses the continuous much more strictly for 'right now'.
être en train de
French usually uses the simple present for questions like 'Tu travailles ?' (Are you working?).
Simple Present + 'gerade'
German uses 'Arbeitest du?' for both 'Do you work?' and 'Are you working?'.
-te iru
Japanese word order is Subject-Object-Verb, so the 'be' equivalent comes at the end.
Prefixes/Suffixes
Arabic doesn't have a direct equivalent to the 'am/is/are' auxiliary in the present tense.
zài (在)
Chinese verbs never change their form (no -ing).
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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