Present Progressive Examples And Example Sentences
Most beginner English language students learn about the present progressive tense early on. Once students have learned about the present progressive tense, learning plenty of present progressive examples will enable them to talk about what they and others are doing.
On this vocabulary page, you can find a list of present progressive examples. These examples include present progressive words with example sentences. We will also explain the present progressive tense rules to follow to change a verb into the present progressive tense.
And, if you’re teaching the present progressive tense, check out the bottom of the page for related resources about the present progressive/present continuous tense.
Present Progressive Examples
When changing a verb into the present progressive tense, there are certain spelling rules to follow. Here is a list of present progressive examples and the spelling rules for changing a verb into the present progressive tense.
Most Verbs
With most verbs, to make the present progressive tense, simply add -ing to the base form of the verb. For example, the verb eat becomes eating in the present progressive tense.
Here are some present progressive examples with example sentences which follow this rule:
- eat – eating – I am eating a sandwich.
- watch – watching – Kelly is watching a movie.
- cook – cooking – Mom is cooking a delicious dinner.
- do – doing – She is doing her homework.
- play – playing – He is playing computer games
- talk – talking – They are talking on the phone.
- read – reading – Tom is reading quietly.
- study – studying – We are studying English.
- start – starting – Hurry up! The movie is starting.
- show – showing – Chris is showing his friends around his house.
- rain – raining – It is raining outside.
- learn – learning – The students are learning English in the classroom.
- clean – cleaning – Tom is cleaning his bike.
- wash – washing – Dad is washing the dishes.
- wait – waiting – I am waiting at the bus stop.
Verbs Ending in e
With verbs that end in e, to make the present progressive tense, drop the e and add –ing. For example, the verb make becomes making in the present progressive tense.
Here are some present progressive examples and example sentences which follow this rule:
- make – making – Mom is making a cake.
- smile – smiling – She is smiling.
- write – writing – Chris is writing a letter to his friend.
- drive – driving – Dad is driving a car.
- take – taking – I am taking a shower.
- have – having – Chris and Kelly are having breakfast.
- type – typing – I am typing on the keyboard.
- shave – shaving – Dad is shaving off his beard.
- shake – shaking – The dog is shaking because it is so cold.
Verbs Ending In ie
When a verb ends in ie, to change the verb into the present progressive tense, change the ie for y and add -ing. For example, the verb die becomes dying in the present progressive tense.
Here are some present progressive examples and example sentences which follow this rule:
- die – dying – The plant is dying because I forgot to water it.
- lie – lying – I think she is lying.
- tie – tying – Chris is tying his shoelaces.
Verbs Ending In A Consonant Preceded By A Vowel
With most verbs that end in a consonant preceded by a vowel, double the consonant and add -ing. For example, the verb swim ends in a consonant (m) and is preceded by a vowel (i). So, to change swim into the present progressive tense, we must double the consonant m and add -ing. Swim becomes swimming.
Here are some present progressive examples and example sentences which follow this rule:
- swim – swimming – Kelly is swimming in the lake.
- run – running – Chris is running as fast as he can.
- stop – stopping – The bus is stopping.
- get – getting – It’s getting really hot in here.
- put – putting – Mom is putting more icing on the cake.
*Note: When the final consonant is y or w and is preceded by a vowel, the consonant is not doubled (e.g. buy – buying / snow – snowing)
Two-Syllable Verbs
With two-syllable verbs the present progressive rule is a little different. If the second syllable in a two-syllable verb is stressed, then the last consonant is doubled. For example:
- upset – upsetting
- forget – forgetting
- commit – committing
If the first syllable in a two-syllable verb is stressed, then the consonant is NOT doubled. For example:
- whisper – whispering
- visit – visiting
- benefit – benefiting
Resources For Teaching Present Progressive Tense
If you’re teaching the present progressive tense, check out our free resources for this topic below.