Present Progressive Tense

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The present progressive (also called present continuous) is a verb tense which is used to show that an ongoing action is happening now.

Continuous and Progressive mean unfinished / incomplete or ongoing.  It indicates continuing action, something going on now.

Even though it is a present tense, the present progressive tense can also be used to describe an activity that is going to happen in the future (especially for planned activities).

Progressive tense verbs end with “ing” -> base form + ing

 

The [verb] + "ing" part is known as a present participle. It is formed like this:

Add "ing" to most verbs, like:

·  play -> playing

·  shout -> shouting

·  buy -> buying

For verbs that end "e", remove the "e" and add "ing", like:

·  prepare -> preparing

·  ride -> riding

For verbs that end "ie", change the "ie" to "y" and add "ing", like:

·  lie -> lying

·  untie -> untying

For verbs whose last syllable is written [consonant-vowel-consonant] and is stressed, double the final consonant and add "ing", like:

·  run -> running

·  forget -> forgetting

 

Kinds of Present Progressive Tense

·    The Affirmative Version in the Present Progressive

To form affirmative sentences in the Present Progressive, here is the formula:

 

Subject + to be (am, is, are) + Base form (Verb 1) +ing [Present Participle]

For examples:

First-person singular    : I am reading

Second-person singular  : You are reading      

Third-person singular    : He/she/it is reading

First-person plural       : We are reading       

Second-person plural     : You are reading

Third-person plural       : They are reading

 

These are the complex examples:

·  She is moving to South Korea in the summer.

·  The Bus is arriving in 2 minutes.

·  Stephanie is decorating a cupcake right now.

·  They are painting the wall now.

 

·    The Negative Version in the Present Progressive

If you want to form the negative sentences in the present progressive, you can use the following formula:

 

Subject + to be (am, is, are) + not + Base form (Verb 1) +ing [Present Participle]

 

For examples:

·  Catherine is not preparing for her exams.

·  Laura is not always coming late to School.

·  They are not going to The Zoo.

 

Note: The word "is not" and "are not" are sometimes written as the contractions "isn't" and "aren't".

 

·  The Question Version / Interogative Version in the Present Progressive

If you need to ask a question, you can use the following word order for a yes/no question:

 

To be (am, is, are) + Subject + Base form (Verb 1) +ing [Present Participle] ?

 

· Is Jessica cooking Fish in the kitchen?

· Are They closing the studio?

 

We can use the following word order for a question-word question:

 

Question Word + To be (am, is, are) + Subject + Base form (Verb 1) +ing [Present Participle] ?

 

·  When is Jessica cooking Fish in the kitchen?

·  Why are They closing the studio?