is + VBZ

Writers-especially learners-sometimes write forms like "He is go" when they mean "He is going." The error appears when a form of be (am/is/are) is used but the main verb stays in its base form instead of taking -ing for continuous meaning or switching to the correct simple-present form for routines.

Below you'll find a compact rule, clear examples (wrong/right pairs), practical rewrites for work, school and casual contexts, quick fixes you can paste, memory tricks, and a short note on spacing and hyphenation.

Quick answer

If be (am/is/are) is working as an auxiliary for an ongoing action, use be + verb-ing: He is going (not He is go). Use simple present (He goes) for habits and present perfect (He has gone) for completed actions.

Ongoing / happening now → be + verb-ing: He is eating.
Habit / routine → simple present (+s for he/she/it): He eats / He goes.
Completed / result → present perfect: He has gone.

Why "He is go" is wrong (core grammar)

When be (am/is/are) is an auxiliary, the main verb must take the -ing form to form the present continuous. Writing be + base verb (He is go) is ungrammatical in standard English and confuses meaning.

Learners often mix up three things: aspect (continuous vs simple), third-person -s, and irregular participles (gone vs went). Choosing the right form clarifies both tense and meaning.

Present continuous: subject + be + verb-ing → He is going.
Simple present: subject + base (add -s for 3rd person) → He goes.
Present perfect: subject + have + past participle → He has gone.

Wrong: He is go to the store.
Right: He is going to the store.
Wrong: She is write emails all morning.
Right: She is writing emails all morning.
Wrong: The book is has an interesting plot.
Right: The book has an interesting plot.

Real usage: present continuous vs simple present

Pick the aspect that matches what you mean:

Present continuous (be + -ing) - actions happening now, temporary situations, or arranged near-future plans: She is studying; I am meeting him tomorrow.
Simple present - routines, facts or schedules: She studies every day; The train leaves at 6.
Present perfect - actions completed with relevance now: He has left; She has already finished the test.

Example (habit): Wrong: He is go every Monday.
Correct: He goes every Monday.
Example (arrangement): Wrong: He is go to the dentist tomorrow.
Correct: He is going to the dentist tomorrow.
Example (completed): Wrong: He is go home already.
Correct: He has gone home already.

Everyday examples - common wrong/right pairs

Scan for am/is/are. If the following verb is a base form, decide whether you meant continuous, a habit, or a completed action, then fix accordingly.

Wrong: It is make a loud noise.
Right: It is making a loud noise.
Wrong: The book is has an interesting plot.
Right: The book has an interesting plot.
Wrong: They is arrive at six.
Right: They arrive at six. (scheduled) - or - They're arriving at six. (arranged)
Wrong: I am see him tomorrow.
Right: I am seeing him tomorrow. (arranged plan)
Wrong: He is know the answer.
Right: He knows the answer.
Wrong: The cat is sit on my lap.
Right: The cat is sitting on my lap.

Work examples: professional phrasing

At work, use continuous for in-progress tasks and simple present for schedules or recurring duties. Keep phrasing concise and appropriate to formality-use contractions only in informal chat.

Wrong: He is go to the meeting; I'll update you later.
Right: He is going to the meeting; I'll update you later.
Wrong: She is review the report now - wait for her comments.
Right: She is reviewing the report now - wait for her comments.
Wrong: He is send the invoice every Monday.
Right: He sends the invoice every Monday. (habit)

School examples: essays, lab reports and spoken answers

Aspect affects interpretation in academic writing: present continuous for procedures in progress, simple present for general facts, and present perfect for recent results or relevance.

Wrong: He is finish his homework now, so he can't come out.
Right: He is finishing his homework now, so he can't come out.
Wrong: The student is submit the essay tomorrow because the deadline is tonight.
Right: The student will submit the essay tomorrow because the deadline is tonight. (Or: The student is submitting the essay tomorrow.)
Wrong: She is know the answer to question three.
Right: She knows the answer to question three.

Casual examples: texts and spoken replies

Informal messages still need correct forms. Native speakers often contract be (He's, She's), but they keep the -ing or -s where required.

Wrong: He is go home now - meet you later?
Right: He's going home now - meet you later?
Wrong: He is love that song; he listens to it every day.
Right: He loves that song; he listens to it every day.
Wrong: They is party tonight at Jamie's.
Right: They're partying tonight at Jamie's.

Try your own sentence

Test the full sentence, not just a short phrase. Context usually makes the intended aspect clear: ongoing, habitual, or completed.

Rewrite help: quick fixes and paste-ready templates

Use this quick checklist, then copy or adapt one of the template rewrites below.

Checklist: (1) Spot be (am/is/are). (2) If the action is happening now/temporarily → use -ing. (3) If it's a routine → simple present (+s for 3rd person). (4) If it's completed → use have + past participle.
Shorten or formalize by removing unnecessary continuous forms when appropriate (He is going to lead → He will lead / He leads, depending on meaning).

Original: He is go to the store.
Rewrite: He's going to the store. (Alt: He will go to the store.)
Original: She is study for exams.
Rewrite: She is studying for her exams. (
Casual: She's studying for finals.)
Original: I am see him later.
Rewrite: I'm seeing him later. (Or: I will see him later.)
Original: They is finish the report tonight.
Rewrite: They're finishing the report tonight. (Habitual: They finish reports on Fridays.)

Memory tricks and quick rules

Be + -ing = happening: If it's happening now or during this period, use -ing.
Swap test: replace the verb with "eat". If "He is eat" sounds wrong, try "He is eating." If you mean habit, use "He eats."
Spot the auxiliary: if am/is/are is followed by a base verb, change it to -ing and check the meaning.

Similar mistakes, spacing and hyphenation notes

Writers who make be + base-verb errors sometimes also drop the -s in third-person forms, confuse have vs be, or make small spacing/hyphenation errors.

Auxiliaries: has → present perfect (He has gone). is → continuous (He is going).
Third-person simple present needs -s: He goes, She knows, It works.
Contractions: write He's, She's (no extra spaces or odd apostrophes).
Compound words: windowsill is one word; check a dictionary if unsure about hyphenation.

Wrong: He has go home already.
Right: He has gone home already.
Wrong: He is go to the window sill.
Right: He is going to the windowsill.
Wrong: He is go. (meant as result)
Right: He is gone. (correct state: he has left)

FAQ

Why do native speakers say "He's going" but not "He is go"?

Native speakers form the present continuous with be + verb-ing and usually contract be (He's going). "He is go" is ungrammatical because the main verb must be in -ing when be is an auxiliary.

When should I use "he goes" instead of "he is going"?

Use "he goes" for habits, routines, or general truths (He goes to work by bus). Use "he is going" for actions in progress or arranged near-future events (He's going to work right now; He's going to Paris next week).

Is "He is go" ever acceptable in dialects or slang?

No standard dialect uses "He is go" to mean present continuous. Nonstandard or very informal speech might drop or alter forms, but in standard written and spoken English it is considered incorrect.

How can I fix this quickly when proofreading?

Search for any am/is/are followed by a base verb. If the sentence means an ongoing action, add -ing. If it means habit, switch to simple present with -s for he/she/it. If it means a completed action, use have + past participle.

Will grammar checkers catch this mistake?

Most modern grammar checkers flag be + base-verb errors and suggest be + -ing or simple-present/perfect alternatives. Always confirm the suggestion matches your intended meaning.

Quick second look

Keep a tiny checklist: spot be → happening now? → add -ing. Save a few rewrite templates you use often. Applying those two habits will cut this error dramatically.