Describe an action in progress now with a form of be and a verb ending in -ing.
The idea
Use am, is or are plus the -ing form: I am making lunch; she is reading. Choose the form of be to match the subject. Put not after be for a negative, or put be before the subject in a question. This tense also describes some temporary situations and future arrangements.
Examples
- I am making lunch.
- She is reading a message.
- We are waiting for the bus.
- They are not working today.
- Are you listening to me?
- The children are playing outside.
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Watch out
Do not omit be: say She is reading, not She reading. The spelling of some verbs changes before -ing, as in make → making.
Try it yourself
I ___ making lunch. (am / is)
Show answer or example answer
am
am agrees with I and precedes making.
She is ___ a message. (read / reading)
Show answer or example answer
reading
reading is the -ing form after is.
The children ___ playing outside. (is / are)
Show answer or example answer
are
are agrees with the plural subject the children.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
I ___ making lunch. (am / is)
She is ___ a message. (read / reading)
The children ___ playing outside. (is / are)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write one sentence about what you are doing now, one about someone else, and one question about an action happening now.