The present progressive tense represents an action that is going on at present. It is not finished yet. Here we shall discuss it.
The list of examples of the present progressive tense is shown below.
- My friends are playing cricket on the playground.
- Nayon Sir is teaching us English now.
- They are planning to arrange a picnic in Digha.
- Someone is knocking at the door.
- Are you listening to the radio?
- They are watching a movie in the cinema hall.
- Sourabh and Dinesh are joining the party tonight.
- My mother is cooking delicious dishes for us.
- Is your sister not preparing for the final test?
- Kakoli is working in a multinational company at present.
- The mansions are working in a flat now.
- We are studying hard to get success.
- He is gossiping with his friends now.
- Are not they doing exercise at the present moment?
- The tourists are returning from the pilgrimage today.
- I along with my friends am enjoying a football match now.
- We are talking to the teacher.
- The players are working hard for the ensuing tournament.
- The boy is taking breakfast now.
- Is the girl singing a song?
- Manomay is watching the news on the television.
Here we see that all the features of the present progressive tense are found in these sentences where we find the ongoing actions. Now, let us discuss some more facts about it.
2. Present progressive structure:
We must know the proper structure of the present progressive tense. Here we shall find out the structure of the present progressive tense.
The structure of the present progressive tense is given here with the help of the root verb ‘arrange’.
| Sl | Person | Singular number | Plural number |
| 1. | 1st | I am arranging a picnic. | We are arranging a picnic. |
| 2. | 2nd | You are arranging a picnic. | You are arranging a picnic. |
| 3. | 3rd | Priyanka is arranging a picnic. | They are arranging a picnic. |
The table is on the negative sentence using the main verb ‘make’.
| Sl | Person | Singular number | Plural number |
| 1. | 1st. | I am not making a toy. | We are not making a toy. |
| 2. | 2nd | You are not playing hockey. | You are not playing hockey. |
| 3. | 3rd | Joy is not playing hockey. | Kamal and Bimal are not making toys. |
The table is on the rules of interrogative sentences with help of the main verb ‘eat’.
| Sl | Person | Singular number | Plural number |
| 1. | 1st | Am I eating? | Are we eating? |
| 2. | 2nd | Are you eating? | Are you eating? |
| 3. | 3rd | Is he/she eating? | Are they eating? |
3. Formula of present progressive:
We need to know the proper formula of the present progressive tense. Let us discuss it.
We can form the present progressive which is also called the present continuous tense by using the appropriate ‘be verb’ i.e. am/is/are. Before it, the subject is placed. After the ‘be verb’ we use the present participle form of the main verb. The formula is as follows.
| Sl | The formula of the present progressive tense | Examples | Explanations |
| a. | Subject+ ‘be verb’ (am/is/are)+ verb+ ing + object+ rest of the sentence (positive sentence). | We are riding the bicycles. | Here it is seen that an action is continuing at present. |
| b. | Subject+ ‘be verb’( am/is/are)+ not+ verb+ ing+ object+ rest of the sentence (negative sentence). | They are not going to the picnic during this puja vacation. | In this sentence, it is seen that a negative sense has been provided. It is not going on in the present moment. |
| c. | ‘Be verb’ (am/is/are)+ subject+ verb +ing+ object+ rest of the sentence+? (interrogative sentence). | Is the teacher teaching in the class now? | Here wee that an action that is continuing at the present moment has been cited. It is a question because it is enquired whether the teacher is teaching or not. |
4. What is present progressive tense?
The present progressive tense is the form of the verb that shows us an ongoing action. We will see here what it is.
The present progressive is one of the present tenses that is used to represent an activity that is happening at the present moment or at the moment of speaking.
5. Where to use present progressive tense?
We can use the present progressive tense in certain fields. We shall discuss it now.
| Sl | Places of using the present progressive tense. | Examples | Explanations |
| a. | We can use the present progressive tense to refer to an ongoing action. | Bipasa is singing a nice song on stage. | In this example, an ongoing activity has been stated. |
| b. | We can use the present progressive to refer to changes that take place during this period of time. | The number of failure cases is increasing by leaps and bounds. | In this sentence, we see the rules of the present progressive tense. Here the changes in the present situation have been stated. |
| c. | We can use the present progressive tense in order to describe something that we are doing at the present moment of speaking. | He is reading carefully to become a doctor. | In this sentence, we see that the action is taking place now. It is not finished and its result will be seen in the future. |
| d. | We use the present progressive tense to indicate something that will or will not happen in the near future. | We are going to Delhi tomorrow. | In this sentence, an action has been stated that will happen in the near future. |
| e. | We use the present progressive tense to express irritation. | She is always coming late. | In this sentence, the irritation of the speaker has been shown through the use of the present progressive tense. |
| f. | The present progressive tense is used to indicate a definite plan for the future. | My elder brother is buying a new car next month. | Here the future plan is indicated through the use of the present progressive tense. |
6. When to use present progressive tense?
Here we shall discuss when we use the present progressive tense.
We can use the present progressive tense to mention the actions that are happening now and the result will be in the future. We again use it for a temporary activity, even if it is not taking place at the moment of talking.
Ex- Chandreyee is learning German in a college.
Explanation- Here the temporary action is shown that is not happening at the moment of talking.
7. How to use present progressive tense?
There is a specific rule for using the present progressive tense. Now take a look at that.
To form the present progressive tense we have to use a subject followed by a ‘be verb’ i.e. am/is/are and the present participle form of the base verb. We can make all the sentence forms in this form of tense.
| Sl | Examples | Explanations |
| 1. | He is doing an online class on the computer. | In this sentence, we see that an action is continuing at the moment of speaking. Here the rules of framing present progressive tense are maintained through the sentence. |
| 2. | Dipanjan is always complaining about his health. | Here we see that the action is going on now. It is an example of the present progressive tense where the rules are maintained very well. |
| 3. | Are you not going out tonight? | In this sentence, it is seen that the action is not going on at present. |
| 4. | The footballers are playing for their country. | Here it is seen that the action is continuing at the moment of speaking. |
| 5. | Mother is feeding her child now. | Here the action is going on now. The formula of the present progressive tense is maintained. |
| 6. | What are you doing today? | Here the action is going on at the present. Actually, it is cited that the action is going on near future. This is a question here. |
| 7. | My brother is not reading now. | Here we see that the action is not going on now. The rules are kept very well here. |
Conclusion
This article deals with a detailed discussion of the present progressive tense. The rules of structure, formula, examples, and explanation will definitely help us a lot whenever we will frame sentences in the present progressive tense.
Hi…. I am Goutam Datta. I have completed a double M. A. in English and B. Ed. I am a creative writer. Currently, I am a part of the LambdaGeeks.