In addition to Mario's answer, not only present continuous, we also use this as present perfect continuous. 最近（さいきん）ずっと、この本（ほん）を読んでいます。 I have been reading this book these days.

The combination of the "te form" (て形) plus the "iru" verb "いる", in all its conjugations, equals the continious time in Enlgish So: I read 　　読みます　　よみます I am reading 読んでいます　　よんでいます Tanaka does not eat 田中さんは食べません　　たなかさんはたべません Tanaka is not eating 田中さんは食べていません　　たなかさんはたべていません I hope this helps, Chears