Present Continuous — Questions

Hook

You call a friend and hear music and voices. “What are you doing?” “Are you at a party?” To ask about what is happening now, put am, is or are first.

Notice

  • What are you doing? — I’m cooking dinner.
  • Is she sleeping? — Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t.
  • Are they studying? — Yes, they are.
  • Where are you going? — To the supermarket.
  • Why is he laughing? — Because the film is funny.

Where is am / is / are in a question?

Rule

TypePatternExampleShort answer
Yes/NoAm/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?Is he working?Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.
Wh-Question word + am/is/are + subject + verb-ing?What are you reading?(full answer) I’m reading a novel.

Question words: What (thing) · Where (place) · Who (person) · Why (reason) · How (manner).

Short answers don’t use contractions in yes answers: Yes, I am (not Yes, I’m).

Watch Out

  • ✗ What you are doing? → ✓ What are you doing? (am/is/are before the subject)
  • ✗ Is she sleep? → ✓ Is she sleeping?
  • ✗ Are you working? — Yes, I’m. → ✓ Yes, I am.
  • ✗ Where he is going? → ✓ Where is he going?

Practice

  1. Make a question: she / read
  2. Make a question with what: you / do
  3. Answer: “Is he sleeping?” (no)
  4. Answer: “Are they playing?” (yes)
  5. Make a question: why / she / laugh
  6. Make a question: where / they / go
  7. Correct it: “What you are eating?”
  8. Answer: “Are you reading this lesson?”
Show the answers
  1. Is she reading?
  2. What are you doing?
  3. No, he isn’t.
  4. Yes, they are.
  5. Why is she laughing?
  6. Where are they going?
  7. What are you eating?
  8. Yes, I am.

Your Turn

Imagine you are phoning three friends. Write a question and an answer for each: A: Where are you going? B: I’m going to the gym.

Connect

Put question words in the right order with our Sentence Builder.

Try our Sentence Builder →

Our Grammar Quiz has A1 questions on present continuous questions.

Try our Grammar Quiz →

CEFR A1 — Spoken Interaction: I can ask and answer simple questions about what people are doing now.

Azizul Hakim
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