What is Present Progressive Tense?

What Is Present Progressive?

Present progressive tense is a tense in the English language used to express the idea that something is not finished. The action is, or is not, in a state a progression. While the focus of the present progressive tense is on what is happening in the present moment, there are a few different ways this can formed.

Expressing the Present Progressive Tense

There are four ways to use present progressive tense. You can use it to:

• To describe an action that is, or is not, happening right now, at this very moment.

  I am running.
  He is not cleaning.
  Are they studying right now?
  

• To describe a longer, or temporary, action in process that may, or may not, be happening right now.

  We are still taking dance classes.
  Are you building a house?
  I am not studying to become a teacher.
  

• To indicate something that has been planned, and will, or will not, be happening in the near future.

  Are you coming shopping with us after school?
  They are not taking that vacation next week.
  Is he meeting you at the coffee shop tomorrow afternoon?

• To describe a habitual action, or something that is always happening.

  They are always talking too loudly.
  I am constantly biting my fingernails.
  She is always taking too long to get ready.

Present Progressive: Basic Sentence Parts

When writing or speaking in the present progressive tense, the basic sentence parts are:

• The subject of the sentence; who the sentence is about (I, you, he, she, it, we, they, etc.)
• The present tense form of the verb 'to be' (am, is, are)
• The present participle of the verb being used (verb + -ing; example: dancing, jumping, crying)

Forming Present Progressive

Now, let's put those sentence parts together to create three types of present progressive sentences: affirmative, negative, ad interrogative sentences.

• Affirmative sentences state that something is happening. They contain a subject + am/is/are + present participle.

  He is jumping.
  They are going to the store.
  I am making cookies.

• Negative sentences state that something is not happening. They contain a subject + am/is/are + not + present participle.

  We are not studying.
  I am not crying.
  They are not wearing their seat belts.

• Interrogative sentences ask a question about what is happening. They contain words like am/is/are + subject + present participle and then end with a question mark.

  Are you driving?
  Is she cooking dinner?
  Am I winning?

Adding Adverbs

Adverbs can both intensify, or turn down, the feeling of the verb being used in a sentence. An adverb is a word used to express place, frequency, time, and manner.

• Place describes where the action is taking place.

  Upstairs
  Outside
  Everywhere

• Frequency describes how often the action is taking place.

  Usually
  Always
  Often

• Time describes when the action is taking place.

  Now
  Later
  Tomorrow

• Manner describes the manner in which the action is taking place.

  Cheerfully
  Expertly
  Excitedly

Let's look at a few examples of present progressive statements and questions, with the addition of adverbs.

• Are you still writing that paper?
• He is usually running every morning.
• I am happily playing the piano.