A teacher asks his students what projects they began that day.
“I’m writing a story,” says one student.
“I’m drawing a picture,” says another.
“I’m still wondering why these other two are such teacher’s pets,” says a third.
While the third student may have a point, each of these three subjects did a great job demonstrating the present progressive tense, just one of twelve verb tenses.
The present progressive tense, also known as the present continuous or the present imperfect, describes an action that began previously but is still continuing in the present. Just like the name present progressive suggests, this tense combines a present action with a continuous quality.
Use this tense to describe:
Actions that are happening right now:
- My dog is playing in the backyard.
Future planned activities that will be happening:
- We are moving to Tennessee in April.
How to Form the Present Continuous Tense
[am, is or are] + -ing form of verb
This same formula applies to all verbs in the present progressive tense, even verbs that act irregularly in other tenses. There are no irregular conjugations in the present progressive or past progressive tenses.
| Subject | am, is or are | -ing form of verb | |
| First-person singular: | I | am | jogging. |
| First-person plural: | We | are | laughing. |
| Second-person singular: | You | are | playing. |
| Second-person plural: | You | are | cooking. |
| Third-person singular: | He | is | shopping. |
| Third-person plural: | They | are | talking. |
Examples of the present progressive tense in action.
- My son and his friend are playing video games upstairs.
- I am heading home from work now.
- Within the next three years, we are moving out of this house.
Forming the present participle
The -ing form of a verb (jog→jogging) is called the present participle, and you form it like this:
Add “-ing” to a verb.
- ring→ringing
- jump→jumping
For verbs that end in -e, replace the -e with -ing.
- take→taking
- give→giving
For verbs that end in -ie, replace the -ie with -y and add -ing.
- die→dying
- tie→tying
For verbs that end with a stressed [consonant-vowel-consonant] syllable, double the last consonant and add –ing.
- plan→planning
- rip→ripping
Negative version of present progressive tense: Subject + [am, is, or are] + not + present participle
- I am not working out today.
- You are not ruining my birthday party.
- My kids are not going over to your house.
Interrogative (question) version: [Am, Is, or Are] + subject + present participle ?
- Are you coming over tonight?
- Is she watching the game?
Adding adverbs to the present progressive: insert adverb either right before or right after the present participle.
Correct: I am quickly running to the store.
Correct: We are waiting anxiously for your arrival.
Incorrect: We happily are married.
In a world with many verb tenses, sometimes it feels overwhelming to consider all the tenses involved in writing. But with time spent reading, writing, and consulting guides like this one when you feel unsure, your writing will grow in complexity and clarity. Tools like the present progressive tense allow you to tell stories with the same complexity that illustrate your life, your thoughts, and your imagination. So get writing, and enjoy bringing your mind to life, clearly.
