Present Progressive

The present progressive (also called present continuous) is used for actions that are happening now — at this moment.

How to Form the Present Progressive

The present progressive has two parts:

be + verb + -ing

Subject	Be	Example
I	am	I am eating.
You	are	You are eating.
He / She / It	is	He is eating.
We / They	are	We are eating.

Remember: The be verb changes, but the main verb always ends in -ing.

When Do We Use the Present Progressive?

Use the present progressive when an action is happening right now, around now, or for a temporary situation.

Use	Example	Meaning
Happening right now	She is studying now.	She is studying at this moment.
Around now	We are learning English these days.	This is true during this period of life.
Temporary situation	I am staying with my aunt this week.	This is not permanent.

Common Time Markers

Time Marker	Example
now	She is studying now.
right now	He is calling you right now.
at the moment	The boy is playing hockey at the moment.
these days	We are learning English these days.
today	I am wearing a green sweater today.
this week	My friend is taking piano lessons this week.

Spelling Rules for -ing

Rule	Example
Most verbs: add -ing	walk → walking, eat → eating
Verbs ending in -e: drop -e, add -ing	dance → dancing, write → writing
Short verbs (CVC): double the last letter	run → running, swim → swimming
Verbs ending in -ie: change ie to y, add -ing	lie → lying, die → dying

CVC = consonant + vowel + consonant (e.g., run, swim, sit)

Non-Action Verbs

Some verbs describe states, not actions. These verbs usually cannot be in the present progressive.

Correct	Incorrect
She is hungry.	She is being hungry.
He has a dog.	He is having a dog.
I like pizza.	I am liking pizza.
We know the answer.	We are knowing the answer.
Ice cream tastes good.	Ice cream is tasting good.

Some verbs can be action verbs in one sentence and state verbs in another sentence.

State Meaning	Action Meaning
I have a car.	I am having lunch.
This soup tastes good.	The chef is tasting the soup.

At A1, remember the simple rule first: use the present progressive for visible actions like eating, reading, walking, working, and studying.

Questions in the Present Progressive

Move be to the front of the sentence.

• Are you studying?
• Is she working?
• Are they coming?

Short Answers

Question	Short Answer (Yes)	Short Answer (No)
Are you...?	Yes, I am.	No, I'm not.
Is he...?	Yes, he is.	No, he isn't.
Is she...?	Yes, she is.	No, she isn't.
Are they...?	Yes, they are.	No, they aren't.

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Common Mistakes

Mistake	Better	Why
She watching TV.	She is watching TV.	The present progressive needs be.
They are walk home.	They are walking home.	The main verb needs -ing.
I am liking pizza.	I like pizza.	Like is usually a state verb.
Does he is studying?	Is he studying?	Questions use be at the front, not do/does.

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Practice

Exercise 1 — Choose the Correct Form

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She ___ TV right now.

AwatchBwatchesCis watching

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Summary

• The present progressive describes actions happening now, around now, or in a temporary situation.
• Form it with be + verb-ing: I am reading, She is studying, They are working.
• The be verb changes with the subject: am, is, or are.
• Use time markers like now, right now, at the moment, today, and this week.
• Some state verbs usually use the simple present instead: I like pizza, not I am liking pizza.
• For questions, move be to the front: Are you studying?

Keep practicing by describing what people are doing right now.