be -ing

Be + -ing is a useful piece of grammar. It basically means something is not finished. So, it is useful when taking about what is happening now or in the future.

What is the -ing form?

present form past form ing form en form
eat
work
have
play
ate
worked
had
played
eating
working
having
playing
eaten
worked
had
played

What does it mean?

If someone is doing something, it is not finished.

the ing form - progressive / continuous timeline - not finished - happening after

How do we use it?

We use be with the -ing form.

It may not be finished because the person is doing it now.

These things started but are not finished.

the ing form - progressive / continuous tense timeline - not finished - happening at the time and after

It may not be finished because it is happening later (in the future).

We talk about things that have not started and are not finished. We know or say when.

the ing form - progressive / continuous timeline - not finished - happening after

We use the present form of be (am/are/is) and the -ing form to talk about unfinished actions. These actions finish in the future.

I‘m eating breakfast.

present progressive / present continuous tense timeline - not finished, started, happening now

This started in the past and finishes in the future. It is happening now.

I‘m eating breakfast at 6AM.

present progressive / present continuous tense timeline - future action

This starts and finishes in the future. It is happening in the future.

We also talk about things that started in the past and finish in the future that are not happening right now.

Sometimes exactly when doesn’t matter. We know it is in the near future.

I‘m learning Spanish.

We know that it isn’t happening right now. I’m speaking English now.

I‘m getting a new bike.

This is in the future. We know that it isn’t happening in the present.

Examples

Subject be Verb -ing Object Place/Time
We are eating eggs.  We’re eating eggs.
She is working.  She’s working.
I am living in Sweden.  I’m living in Sweden.
He is having breakfast at 7:30 tomorrow.  He’s having breakfast at 7:30 tomorrow.
You are playing soccer on Sunday.  You’re playing soccer on Sunday.

Key Point

We use be -ing to refer to something that is NOT finished.

Exercises

1. Find the -ing form

2. Complete the sentences

3. Complete the conversation

Looking for a good grammar book?

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If you are interested in a grammar book that looks at common parts of English sentences and what they mean (like be -ing on this page), be sure to check out Real Grammar.

With Real Grammar you understand grammatical meaning. Grammatical meaning helps you understand more of what people say in English.

Real Grammar is grammar for communication.

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