ESLGold Present Progressive Tense Lyrics

The present progressive tense takes the form be + V ing.
The form of be is determined by the subject of the sentence.

He is singing.
She is listening.

They are sleeping.

I am going home.

In English, the present progressive is used to indicate actions happening at the time of speaking, or right now.

Jake is speaking to his mother right now.
Please keep quiet. The baby is sleeping.

The present progressive can also be used to indicate actions occurring over a period of time which includes the present.

I'm taking five classes at the university.
Grace is working at a chemical factory.

What are you doing these days?

The present progressive is sometimes used to indicate ongoing, developing, imminent or future actions.

Ongoing

Don't bother Mr. Grumpy while he is watching the football game.

Developing

I'm beginning to like this place!

Imminent

A: Honey, where are you?
B: I'm coming. Just let me put on my shoes.

Future (Note the presence of future time words.)

A: Are you going to the concert this weekend?
B: I wish I could, but I'm meeting an important client from Oklahoma.

Some non-action verbs do not occur in the present progressive tense. The simple present is sufficient.

For Conversation practice:

Situations: Talking about here and now

For an example of this in context, see

Describing Action in Progress

In this picture,* there are many people riding on a bus. Some of the people arestanding and some are sitting. The bus driver is talking to a young man who is just getting on the bus. An old woman is standing in the aisle and is leaning against a post. She looks very tired. Next to her, there is a shopping cart full of groceries. Two men are standing near the old woman. They are arguing about something. On the right side of the bus, there is a bald man looking out the window, and sitting behind him is a young man listening to the radio. On the left side of the bus, there are some girls chatting happily while someone is smoking in the seat behind them. I think this looks like a typical day on the bus in Taiwan.

Describing Action in Progress:

Present Progressive Tense He is standing.
They are sitting.

There is
Prepositions
There are
to show movement and position

in, on, by, near, over, under,

next to, in front of,

on the right (side)

Opinions I think . . .
It looks like . . .

They look tired.

They appear to be tired.