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The Present Progressive Tense

Talking about dynamic ongoing activities happening at a specific present time only

The Present Progressive tense (or Present Continuous) is a much-used verb tense in English that describes on-going actions at the moment of speaking, stressing that the doer is in the middle of the activity and hasn’t finished yet (the action is incomplete). It is used to refer to a temporary dynamic activity occurring at a specific time in the present, not on a regular basis. To know more, read these sections of our grammar review on the Present Progressive in English. For other related topics, you are welcome to browse our English lessons portal.

1. Slogan
2. Usages
3. Form
4. Common time expressions
5. Negative statements and questions types
6. Summary

1. Slogan: “I am in the middle of doing something, please don’t disturb !” or

“It doesn’t happen all the time”

The slogans encapsulate the basic meaning of the Present Progressive, so use it when hesitating about what verb form to choose in your English writing. Remembering one short slogan can help you navigate through all the grammar rules it relates to.

2. Usage:

Read through the table and try to understand the connection between the usages and the slogan.

Use	Examples	Explanations
1. an ongoing incomplete action happening at the moment of speaking	• Donna is doing her homework at the moment. • Watch out, the water is boiling and about to spill over ! • Be quiet ! The Prime Minister is speaking.	• Donna, the water and the Prime Minister are all busy doing something right now, at the moment of speaking about it. It doesn’t mean that Donna usually does her homework or that the Prime Minister constantly talks, not allowing anybody else to talk as well. It is all happening only now. • Because they are in the middle of the action, they cannot do anything else.
2. an ongoing incomplete action being carried out during a limited period of time, not necessarily now	• I am cleaning the house today. • Michelle is working in London this month. • Scientists are looking for a cure for AIDS.	• The house cleaning is only happening today, not now though, and not everyday. • Michelle does not usually live in London, but is working there for a limited period of one month, temporarily. • Scientists began working on a cure for AIDS in the 80s and will hopefully find a cure within the next few years, so the time period is long, but limited.
3. plans and arrangements in the near future	• I am watching a movie on TV this evening. • Susan is meeting new investors next week.	• For prearranged future plans related to such a near future time that we feel we are almost already in the middle of the process.

Watch out !
• If the action occurs regularly and not only now/today/this month, you need the Present Simple tense (I clean the house once a week.)
Ron usually rides his bike to work, but today he is taking a bus.
[ rides is in the Present Simple because it refers to a regular habit, is taking is in the Present Progressive because it refers to a one-time change in the routine, pertaining only to today]

• Stative verbs ( appear, realize, love, sound) are more commonly used with simple tenses rather than with progressive tenses.

Advanced Usage of the Present Progressive:

Use	Examples	Explanation
4. complaining about actions regularly repeated	• She is always losing her books. • My grandfather is forever telling us about his teenage adventures.	• for actions repeating themselves regularly, with which you are not satisfied.

3. Form

The Present Progressive verb is a compound verb, composed of the auxiliary to be, which agrees with the subject in form, and the present participle (Ving). Make sure you do not forget the auxiliary verb.

Subject	Auxiliary Verb be	Main Verb	Rest of sentence
I	am	Ving
he, she, it	is	Ving
we, you, they	are	Ving
I	am	working	on a new project this month.
Donna	is	staying	with her aunt this weekend.
My brothers	are	playing	chess tonight.

Remember: V1=base form, V2=Past Simple, V3=Past Participle, Ving=Present Participle

Watch out !
Remember to use the 2-part Present Progressive verb with the correct form of to be to agree with the subject.

• Spelling Rules in the Present Progressive:
Click here for the spelling rules for creating the present participle form (adding ing to a verb), needed to form the Present Progressive verb.

4. Common Time Expressions

The Present Progressive is used with time expressions (in blue) informing that the action is taking place around now, today, this week etc., and is of temporary nature.

Subject	Verb		Time
I	am going	on vacation	today.
You	are not making	any sense	now.
Dan \ He	is swimming	at the pool	right now.
Sheila \ She	is studying	for her big test	this week.
We	are still studying	at the library.
You	are working	too hard	these days.
My parents \ They	are leaving	for the Far East	next month.

5. Negative Statements and Question Types in the Present Progressive

For detailed rules for forming negative statements and questions in English, click here.

Negative Statements:

Subject	Auxiliary Verb+not	Main Verb	Rest of sentence
I	am not	working	on a new project this month.
Donna \ He \ She \ It	is not isn’t	staying	with us this weekend.
My brothers We \ You \ They	are not aren’t	playing	chess tonight.

The 3 Question Types:

1. Yes/No Questions:

Auxiliary Verb	Subject	Main Verb	Rest of sentence
Am	I	working	on a new project this month ?
Is	Donna \ he \ she \ it	staying	with us this weekened ?
Are	my brothers we \ you \ they	playing	chess tonight.

2. Wh Questions:

Wh question word	Auxiliary Verb	Subject	Main Verb	Rest of sentence
What	am	I	working	on this month ?
Where	is	Donna \ he \ she \ it	staying	this weekened ?
When	are	my brothers we \ you \ they	playing	chess.

3. Wh Subject-Questions:

Wh Subject Question Word	Verb	Rest of Sentence.
Who	is playing	chess tonight ?
What	is happening	here ?

Watch out !
• In Wh subject-questions in the Present Progressive, the verb is always in the third person singular form, with is as an auxiliary verb.

6. Summary

This has been a review about the usage and formation of the Present Progressive tense in English grammar. It is mostly used to refer to live dynamic actions going on in present time within a framework of a limited time period. Reviewing the rules is not enough to make you use it properly. The more you pick it up in your reading, and more importantly, use it in your writing, the better you will use it. The WhiteSmoke English grammar and writing software is an excellent solution to check up on your grammar, using a highly advanced contextually-based grammar engine.