The Present Progressive Tense To be + -ing

The Present Progressive describes actions that are happening now, are in progress at the moment of speaking, are unfinished, are not completed. They could be temporary actions.

Spelling rules: Workworking Writewriting Tietying Runrunning Listenlistening Permitpermitting Allowallowing Fixfixing

Give the –ing form of these verbs Come grow look study die ski mix whisper prefer

Temporary situations happening at the moment of speaking They are singing.

Temporary actions over a longer period of time. They are enjoying themselves these days. They are relaxing this summer. They are spending a lot of time together these days.

What is he doing?

What is she doing?

What are they doing?

Time expressions these days now, right now today, tonight this week, this semester this month, this year

I’m taking you’re taking he’s taking we’re taking they’re taking I’m not talking you’re not talking you aren’t talking

Questions Are you studying English this semester? Are they enjoying themselves at the party? Who is coming with me? What are you doing?

What are you doing now? What are you studying this semester? Are you taking a class with Mr. Duffis? Are you dieting this week? Are you eating a lot these days? Where are you going on vacation this summer?

Verbs with stative meaning describe states not actions: feel, forget, know, remember, think, understand, need, want, love, have, hear, see, smell, taste, be, cost, look, seem, sound, weigh, hate, prefer, like, etc.

Verbs that express a state of being cannot be used in the progressive tense. They describe a state or quality that we do not expect to change.

Martha is being rude today. Martha is a nice person. The soup tastes delicious. Mother is tasting the soup. I think BCC is a wonderful school. I am thinking seriously about going there.

Many verbs can have both a stative or an active use: smell, think, have, taste, look, see. He has a beautiful house. He is having dinner with his family.

Common expressions with have describe an experience: have fun have problems have a good time have dinner have trouble with have difficulty with

Use the correct verb form 1. How much ______ the baby ______(weigh) now? 2. She _______ (look) like her father. 3. Listen! ______ she ________(cry)? 4. I _________ (not hear) anything. 5. She _________ (not sleep) right now. 6. The Smiths already _______ (have) two boys.

The end!