Present progressive tense

The present progressive tense is used to describe actions that are happening now or at the moment of speaking. Take a look at the following examples:

Present progressive tense

   When we express affirmative sentences it is necessary to use an auxiliary (verb to be) and the verb in the present participle form:

  

am

is

are

  V -ing

  complement

Examples:

Present progressive tense

I am listening to music and I am walking the dog.

Present progressive tense

Peter is celebrating his birthday and their friends are singing “Happy birthday” right now.

Present progressive tense

We are playing board games at the moment. I am losing the game, but we are having fun.

   For negative sentences the auxiliary takes the word not, check the following structure:

  

am not

isn't

aren't

  V -ing

  complement

Present progressive tense

The storm is ending. It isn't raining anymore, but the wind is blowing now.

Present progressive tense

Katie isn’t wearing a skirt this spring. She’s wearing blue jeans.

Present progressive tense

These days, they aren’t jogging because it’s too cold.

   In the interrogative form, we invert the subject and the auxiliary in the structure, take a look at the formula:

Yes/no questions  

Am

Is

Are

  

  V -ing

  complement

Short answers  

Yes,

am

is

are

No,

am not

isn't

aren't

Wh- questions  

What   

am

is

are

  

  V -ing

  complement

Present progressive tense

Dad: Are you doing homework or texting friends?

Present progressive tense

Mom: Where is your brother? Is he tidying his room?
Sister: No, he isn’t. Maybe, he is watching TV or playing video games.

Present progressive tense

Sheila: Are you enjoying the party tonight?
Tom: Yes, I am. I’m having a great time!

Writing exercise

Look at the pictures and answer the questions. If the answer is negative, provide the right information.

What is happening here?

Follow the example:

Present progressive tense

A: Is the boy doing homework?

B: No, he isn’t. He is making the bed.

Present progressive tense

A: Am I tidying my room?

B: .

No, you aren’t. You are bowling with friends.

Present progressive tense

A: Is the girl riding a bike?

B: .

Yes, she is.

Present progressive tense

A: Are they eating a cake?

B: .

No, they aren’t. They are dancing at the party.

Present progressive tense

A: What is the boy doing?

B: .

He is feeding the dog.

Present progressive tense

A: What is the woman doing?

B: .

She is driving a car.

Present progressive tense

A: What are they doing?

B: .

They are watching a soccer match.

Complete all the gaps to get feedback.

Joining sentences or ideas

In our everyday speech, we use some words to join our phrases or ideas. They are called linking words.

We use linking words:

  • ● To join similar statements (and):
    I am jogging and listening to music at the same time.
  • ● To contrast opposite ideas (but):
    Now, I’m not visiting my parents, but we are having a video call.
  • ● In other cases to give possibilities or options (or):
    Currently, I am not driving my car to avoid pollution or global warming.
  • ● To give a reason or an explanation (because):
    This summer, I am planting trees because I am an environmentalist.
Select exercise

Read the following dialogues and choose the right option.

Example:

Is the monster scaring the boys or making them laugh?

Mom: Are you still awake?
Boy: Yes, mom. I’m not sleeping yet I have too much homework to do.

Keyla: Hey, look at this photo, Sheila is my best friend.
Tony: Is she the girl wearing a blue dress?
Keyla: No, she isn’t. My friend is wearing a black jacket a yellow skirt.

Yazmin: Where are you, Zaira? I’m waiting for you I’m getting impatient.
Zaira: Sorry, I’m just arriving I was in a traffic jam.
Yazmin: Uhmm, hurry up!

Rudolph: So, where are you? Aren’t you at home right now?
Diego: No, I’m not. These days, I’m doing homework at a café internet my computer is failing.

Tina: Are you coming to my party tonight?
Danna: Sorry, it’s not possible, at this moment my mom and I are celebrating her birthday, I will send you a beautiful gift.

A: Can you take a look out the window, please? Is it snowing raining?
B: It's not raining anymore, it’s sunny. Look at the rainbow.