Cooking, reading, raining: say what is happening right now. In this short guide you learn how to say what is happening right now.
This article is the reading companion to the free Mondosol lesson 🇬🇧 English A2: Present Continuous (What Are You Doing Now?), part of the English course. Read it, watch the videos, or press play and listen first, then practise in the lesson.
Free: create your free Mondosol account to practise this lesson and track your progress.
In this article
Present continuous: the phrases you need
We use am, is or are with a verb ending in -ing. These example sentences show how it works.
| Phrase | What it means |
|---|---|
| I’m cooking | happening right now — am, is or are + verb-ing shows what is happening now |
| He’s running | he is running now — double the last letter: run → running, sit → sitting |
| She is reading a book | she is reading now — he, she or it + is + verb-ing |
| They are playing football | they are playing now — we, you or they + are + verb-ing |
| What are you doing? | a question about now — answer with I’m + verb-ing, for example I’m cooking |
| It’s raining | rain falling now — compare It rains a lot in Bergen, which is a habit |
| I’m not sleeping | negative — am, is or are + not + verb-ing |
| Are you listening? | a yes/no question — Are you + verb-ing? Answer Yes, I am or No, I’m not |
Check yourself
Try each question before you open the answer.
Choose the correct sentence:
Options: She reading a book / She is reading a book / She reads now a book. Answer: She is reading a book
Which spelling is correct?
Options: He is running / He is runing / He is runnning. Answer: He is running
A friend asks ‘What are you doing?’ You are cooking. You say:
Options: I cook / I am cook / I’m cooking. Answer: I’m cooking
Which question is about right now?
Options: Did you listen? / Are you listening? / Do you listened?. Answer: Are you listening?
Watch: the present continuous in English
Two short videos from other teachers show the same idea in a different voice. Watch one, then come back to the lesson.
Video: “What are you doing? Present Continuous – Basic English Grammar Class”, on YouTube.
Video: “Present Continuous in English Conversation | What Are You Doing?”, on YouTube.
Take it further
Look around you and say three things that are happening right now. Look around you and describe three things people are doing right now.
Frequently asked questions
What will I learn in this lesson?
You learn 8 key phrases, such as I’m cooking, He’s running, She is reading a book, and how to use them in real sentences.
What level is this lesson?
It is an A2 (elementary) lesson in the Mondosol English course.
Is the lesson free?
Yes. Create a free Mondosol account to practise this lesson and track your progress.
How do I practise after reading?
Open the lesson and work through the exercises. Look around you and say three things that are happening right now.
Keep learning
- Practise it: 🇬🇧 English A2: Present Continuous (What Are You Doing Now?)
- Full course: Learn to speak English
- Related reading: The English verb “to be” and English likes and dislikes
Reading is a good start. These options help you go from knowing to doing.
All courses, live coaching sessions and members-only events, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See the plans
A live session on Google Meet to turn this topic into your own plan. Book a session
Ready to practise?
Create your free account and try the English lessons.
Create your free Mondosol account
