Grammar Practice Worksheets

Present Progressive
Table of Contents
2 Grammar Notes
Present Progressive

8 Exercise 1
Positive Sentences

9 Exercise 2
Writing

10 Exercise 3
Negative Sentences

11 Exercise 4
Yes/No Questions

11 Exercise 5
Act It Out

12 Exercise 6
Wh- Questions

13 Exercise 7
Guessing Game

14 Exercise 8
Find the Error

15 Exercise 9
Quiz

16 Answer Key

18 Action Cards

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Present
Progressive

Grammar Notes
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

A. Use

Use the present progressive for actions

that are happening now (continuing actions).

Present Progressive

Diagram

• now • nowadays
Common • right now • these days
Time Markers • at the moment • currently
• at this time • presently

• I am writing an email now.

• My sister is taking a nap.
• These days, I’m learning French.
Examples
• We are leaving right now.
• The students are working in groups.
• He’s listening to music at the moment.

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Present
Progressive

B. Patterns for Positive Sentences

To form the present progressive (also called the present continuous),

use the Be verb with a present participle (-ing form). The Be verb is
Pattern #1:
often shortened into a contraction in speaking and writing.
Be + -ing V

Pronouns Contractions

I am walking to work. I’m walking to work.

You are watching TV. You’re watching TV.

Singular He is playing tennis. He’s playing tennis.

She is washing the dishes. She’s washing the dishes.

It is raining. It’s raining.

We are eating dinner. We’re eating dinner.

Plural You are watching a movie together. You’re watching a movie together.

They are singing. They’re singing.

Nouns Contractions

The dog’s chasing the cat.

Singular The dog is chasing the cat.
(possible, but informal)

Plural The children are sleeping. —

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Present
Progressive

Grammar Notes cont.

C. Patterns for Negative Sentences

To make a negative present progressive sentence, use not between

Pattern #2: Be and the -ing verb. When the subject is a pronoun, there are two
common ways to make contractions (short forms) of the negative verb.
Be + not + -ing V

Pronouns Contractions

I am not calling him back. I’m not calling him back. —

You are not cooking dinner. You’re not cooking dinner. You aren’t cooking dinner.

Singular He is not washing his car. He’s not washing his car. He isn’t washing his car.

She is not playing the guitar. She’s not playing the guitar. She isn’t playing the guitar.

It is not going well. It’s not going well. It isn’t going well.

We are not moving We’re not moving We aren’t moving

to a new city. to a new city. to a new city.

Plural You are not You’re not You aren’t

studying together. studying together. studying together.

They are not swimming. They’re not swimming. They aren’t swimming.

Nouns Contractions

That driver’s not That driver isn’t

That driver is not
Singular stopping at the right light. stopping at the red light.
stopping at the red light.
(possible, but informal) (more common)

The students are The students aren’t

Plural —
not paying attention. paying attention.

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Present
Progressive

Grammar Notes cont.

D. Patterns for Yes/No Questions

Yes/No questions in the present progressive tense

Pattern #3: begin with the Be verb. There are two common ways
to make contractions for answers with No.
Be + Subject + -ing V

Short Answers
Pronouns
Positive Negative

Am I bothering you? Yes, you are. No, you’re not. / No, you aren’t.

Are you studying right now? Yes, I am. No, I’m not.

Singular Is he doing his laundry? Yes, he is. No, he’s not. / No, he isn’t.

Is she playing basketball? Yes, she is. No, she’s not. / No, she isn’t.

Is it snowing? Yes, it is. No, it’s not. / No, it isn’t.

Are we getting a raise? Yes, we are. No, we’re not. / No, we aren’t.

Plural Are you packing for your trip? Yes, we are. No, we’re not. / No, we aren’t.

Are they shopping? Yes, they are. No, they’re not. / No, they aren’t.

Short Answers
Nouns
Positive Negative

Singular Is the manager speaking to her staff? Yes, she is. No, she’s not. / No, she isn’t.

Plural Are the neighbors walking their dog? Yes, they are. No, they’re not. / No, they aren’t.

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Present
Progressive

Grammar Notes cont.

D. Patterns for Yes/No Questions cont.

Note #1: Note #2:

Do not use a contraction in short answers with Yes. When the short answer is No, there are two common ways to make
negative verbs, except when the pronoun is I.

Yes, I’m. Yes, he’s. Yes, they’re.

Yes, I am. Yes, he is. Yes, they are.
E. Patterns for Wh- Questions
‘re not ‘s not ‘m not
aren’t isn’t amn’t
The Be verb follows the Wh- word (who, what, when,
where, why, how, which, whose) in this type of present
Pattern #4:
progressive question.
Wh- + Be + Subject + -ing V

Questions Answers

What are you doing now? I’m doing my homework.

Who is she texting? She’s texting her roommate.

Why are your friends running? Their teacher is telling them to hurry up.

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Present
Progressive

Grammar Notes cont.

F. Spelling Rules

To spell verbs with an -ing ending, use the following rules.

# Rules Examples

• run running
If the verb ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) pattern,
1 • forget forgetting
double the final consonant and add -ing.
• put putting

• write writing
2 If the verb ends in -e, drop it and add -ing. • give giving
• choose choosing

• catch catching
3 For almost all other cases, add -ing to the base verb. • ski skiing
• try trying

• lie lying
4 There are a few exceptions to the normal spelling rules. • visit visiting
• panic panicking

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Present
Progressive

Exercise 1
POSITIVE SENTENCES

Complete the sentences below with verbs from the Word List.
Use each verb only once. Use the present progressive tense.

Ex. It is a beautiful day. The sun is shining . Word List:

1. My mother is busy now. She dinner. • wear
• study
2. My father is in the garage. He the car. • sneeze
3. The students are in the classroom. They to their teacher. • listen
• rain
4. My son is in his room with his toys. He . • fix
• dance
5. Ellie is in her bedroom. She for her exam. • eat
• read
6. Amira and Ali are at a party. They . • shine
7. You should take your umbrella. It . • buy
• make
8. Vasha is going to a wedding. She a beautiful dress. • wash
• snore
9. The floor is dirty. Mika it. • play

10. Sayid is at the supermarket. He groceries.

11. It is 12:00. The children lunch.

12. Bianca has a bad cold. She .

13. The students are in the library. They .

14. My grandfather is asleep on the couch. He .

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Present
Progressive

Exercise 2
WRITING

Look at the picture. Write 10 sentences using the present progressive tense.

Ex. The man is looking at his watch.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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Present
Progressive

Exercise 3
NEGATIVE SENTENCES

Complete the sentences below with verbs from the Word List.
Write the same present progressive verb twice in each pair
of sentences, but make the first sentence negative.

Word List:

• drink • eat • drive

• go • study • speak
• wash • listen • watch
• play • write • ride
• wear • snow • smoke

Ex. Junko isn’t wearing wearing a blue dress. She is wearing a black dress.

1. Mohammed mathematics. He history.

2. The boys soccer. They hockey.

3. I coffee. I tea.

4. She a letter to her grandmother. She to her aunt.

5. We a new car. We a used car.

6. I fish for dinner. I steak.

7. She sports on TV. She a movie.

8. The tourists Chinese. They Japanese.

9. He a cigarette. He a pipe.

10. She the dishes. She her clothes.

11. They to classical music. They to rock music.

12. We to Hawaii for our vacation. We to Mexico.

13. It inside the house. It outside.

14. My daughter a bicycle. She a horse.

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Present
Progressive

Exercise 4
YES/NO QUESTIONS

Write short answers to these Yes/No questions.

Ex. Are you jogging at the moment? (yes) 6. Is she preparing for her next class right now? (no)

Yes, I am.

1. Is Mrs. Jackson typing up the report? (yes) 7. Are the children playing? (yes)

2. Are you reading Shakespeare right now? (no) 8. Is Mario taking a test at the moment? (no)

3. Are they looking for a new car? (no) 9. Is the teen looking at his phone? (yes)

4. Are you out shopping for my gift now? (no) 10. Is your daughter learning to
tie her shoes nowadays? (yes)

5. Is your dog eating more food these days? (yes)

Exercise 5
ACT IT OUT
Example:
Your teacher will give you a
card with an action. Act it out! Lisa: [gets a card that says dance]
Your classmates will ask what you Lisa: [starts dancing]
are doing. Respond using a short Mark: Are you jumping?
answer. Then guess what your
Lisa: No, I’m not.
classmates are doing.
Kim: Are you dancing?
Lisa: Yes, I am!

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Present
Progressive

Exercise 6
WH- QUESTIONS

Look at the answers below. Then write questions using Wh- words.

Ex. What are you eating?

I’m eating a sandwich.

1.
He’s going to the store.

2.
The teacher is writing on the blackboard.

3.
I’m studying because I want to do well on the test.

4.
I’m talking to my mother.

5.
My roommates are buying milk and bread.

6.
Kate is jogging around the track.

7.
I’m doing well, thanks.

8.
He is wearing his brother’s jacket.

9.
We are driving to the mall.

10.
I’m taking vitamins because I want to be healthy.

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Present
Progressive

Exercise 7
GUESSING GAME

Find a partner. Your teacher will give you some action cards.

A. Speaking

Take turns choosing a card and Example:

describing your action to
your partner. Do not say the A: I am using my voice. I am making a loud sound.
words on the card and do not B: Are you snoring?
act!
A: No, I’m not. I’m making a beautiful sound.
Your partner will try to guess
what you are doing. Use present B: Are you singing?
progressive verbs. Save your last A: Yes, I am!
card for Part B below.

B. Drawing

For your last action card, do not speak. Draw the action
in the box below. Your partner will try to guess the action.

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Present
Progressive

Exercise 8
FIND THE ERROR

Find one error in each sentence. Write the correct sentences below.

Ex. You’s working on your computer.

You’re working on your computer.

1. My neighbor are mowing the lawn.

2. Are studying you right now?

3. I not am speaking to her at the moment.

4. He is writting an essay in class.

5. Michael and Lindy is watching a movie.

6. She’s walking her dog yesterday.

7. Where you are going?

8. My brothers’re making spaghetti.

9. They’re sking down the mountain.

10. My friends is playing baseball now.

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Present
Progressive

Exercise 9
QUIZ

Circle the correct answer.

1. learning English quickly. 6. Is he watching TV? Yes, .

a) You’s a) he’s
b) You’re b) he is

2. Ahmed his car.

7. We the apartment. The guests will be
a) are washing here soon.
b) is washing a) are cleaning
b) is cleaning
3. your homework right now?

a) Are you doing 8. My father in his favorite chair.

b) Are doing you a) is siting
b) is sitting
4. I to the radio at the moment.

a) not listening 9. Why ?

b) am not listening a) is she crying
b) is crying she
5. Tara is the plates on the table.

a) putting 10. Are you thinking about your family? No, I .

b) puting a) amn’t
b) ‘m not

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Present
Progressive

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION:
LEVEL: Beg – Low Int
In this lesson, students learn the patterns and usage of the
TIME: 2 hours
present progressive tense. They practice making affirmative
and negative sentences as well as questions. TAGS: present progressive, present continuous,
verb tenses, time markers, sentence patterns,
questions, negative sentences

Exercise 1 Exercise 3
Answers may vary slightly (contractions may be used).
Answers may vary slightly (contractions may be used).

1. is making
6. are dancing 11. are eating 1. isn’t studying / is studying
2. is fixing
7. is raining 12. is sneezing 2. aren’t playing / are playing
3. are listening
8. is wearing 13. are reading 3. am not drinking / am drinking
4. is playing
9. is washing 14. is snoring 4. isn’t writing / is writing
5. is studying
10. is buying 5. aren’t driving / are driving
6. am not eating / am eating
Exercise 2
7. isn’t watching / is watching
8. aren’t speaking / are speaking
Answers will vary. You can make this task more interactive by 9. isn’t smoking / is smoking
pairing up students. You can also make it competitive by telling 10. isn’t washing / is washing
students that the first pair to write 10 correct sentences is 11. aren’t listening / are listening
the winner. Possible answers: 12. aren’t going / are going
13. isn’t snowing / is snowing
1. The woman is buying / paying for / ordering a hot dog.
14. isn’t riding / is riding
2. The woman is selling / handing over a hot dog.
3. The squirrel is holding / eating an acorn.
(continued on the next page...)
4. The bird / pigeon is eating some seeds.
5. The boy is holding a balloon.
6. The man is loading / putting groceries into his trunk.
7. The old man is reading a newspaper / sitting on a bench.
8. The girl is walking her dog.
9. The girl is reading / sitting in front of / beside the fountain.
10. The bird is singing.
11. The man / woman is having a picnic /
drinking / sitting on a blanket.
12. The child is hiding behind a tree.
13. The woman is pushing a baby stroller /
walking down the sidewalk.
14. The man is driving.

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Present
Progressive

Answer Key cont.

Exercise 4
Exercise 7
1. Yes, she is.
Answers will vary.
2. No, I’m not.
3. No, they’re not. / No, they aren’t.
4. No, I’m not.
Exercise 8
5. Yes, it / he / she is.
1. My neighbor is mowing the lawn.
6. No, she’s not. / No, she isn’t.
2. Are you studying right now?
7. Yes, they are.
3. I am not speaking to her at the moment.
8. No, he’s not. / No, he isn’t.
4. He is writing an essay in class.
9. Yes, he is.
5. Michael and Lindy are watching a movie.
10. Yes, she is.
6. She’s walking her dog now.
7. Where are you going?
Exercise 5
8. My brothers are making spaghetti.
9. They’re skiing down the mountain.
You can decide if you want to let any student yell out a question or
10. My friends are playing baseball now.
have them take turns. If you have a small class, you could have each
performing student do five actions instead of just one before they
sit back down. Alternatively, each student can perform as many Exercise 9
actions as they can in a certain time frame (e.g., one minute).

If you require more cards, use the blank card templates in our 1. b 3. a 5. a 7. a 9. a
Resources section to create your own actions, or have students fill 2. b 4. b 6. b 8. b 10. b
in actions of their choice: https://esllibrary.com/resources/2463 SPELLING NOTE:

This lesson shows the American spelling of the words Neighbor

Exercise 6
and Favorite. Most other English-speaking countries spell these
words this way: Neighbour and Favourite. Make it a challenge for
Answers may vary.
your students to find these words in the lesson and see if they
Encourage your students not to use what for every question.
know the alternate spellings.
1. Where is he going?
2. What is the teacher doing?
EDITOR’S NOTES:
3. Why are you studying?
4. Who are you talking to? 1. For practice comparing the simple present and
5. What are your roommates buying? the present progressive tenses in mixed exercises,
6. Where is Kate jogging? try our Simple Present Vs. Present Progressive lesson:
7. How are you doing? https://esllibrary.com/courses/88/lessons/1593
8. Whose jacket is he wearing?
2. Note that the present progressive can also be used
9. Where are you driving to?
to indicate a future action (e.g., We are flying to Seattle
10. Why are you taking vitamins?
next weekend). You can find further explanation and
practice exercises in our Simple Future lesson:
https://esllibrary.com/courses/88/lessons/1596

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Present
Progressive

Action Cards
Use these cards with Exercises 5 and 7.

sing run iron a shirt play cards

swim wash a car wake up make dinner

put on makeup eat spaghetti make a sandwich plant a flower

brush your teeth play basketball read a book watch TV

change a
walk a dog pet a cat make cookies
light bulb

play volleyball vacuum text someone take a selfie

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Present
Progressive

Action Cards cont.

wave at someone light a candle play the guitar dry your hair

play a video watch a movie play the piano take a picture

game

watch fireworks play the drums go hiking mow the lawn

sleep paint your nails paint a picture study

go to bed walk dance stand up

sit down throw a ball catch a ball kick a ball

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