- English Grammar A1 Level - https://open.books4languages.com/english-a1-grammar -

Present Continuous Interrogative

Introduction

The present continuous (or progressive) is the tense used to express situations that are happening now (before, during and after the moment of speaking).

When expressed in its interrogative form, it is used to form questions about something that is happening now.

Form

The present continuous, in its interrogative form, has this structure:
To be + subject + [verb + -ing] + …?

To be Subject Verb + -ing Question
Mark
Am I working ?
Are you working ?
Is he working ?
Is she working ?
Is it working ?
Are we working ?
Are you working ?
Are they working ?

 

Example

  1. Am I eating an apple?
    Are you watching a film the moment?
  2. Is he buying a computer this weekend?
    Are we repeating the class next week?
  3. Is the teacher improving her classes?
    Are
    we getting better at singing?
  4. Are you always listening to music?
    Is the student asking questions repeatedly?
  5. Is he looking for the map?
    Are the classmates working in groups?

Use

We use present continuous, in its interrogative form, to ask about:

  1. actions happening at the moment of speaking;
  2. actions that are planned for the future;
  3. changes and tendencies;
  4. consistency of the events;
  5. temporary activities (that will finish in the future);

Summary

The present continuous, in the interrogative form, is used to ask about situations that are going on around the moment of speaking.

When we use the present continuous in its interrogative form, we start with the verb to be followed by the subject and a verb that ends with -ing (the sentence ends with a question mark).

For example:
— “Is he working on an important project today?” = We use the present continuous to ask about an action that takes place while talking (in that moment).
♦ “Does he work on important projects?” = We use the present simple to ask about an action that happens repeatedly or always in the present.

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.