Welcome back, Potion Maker.

So far, your grammar potions have described timeless truths, complete ideas, and states of being. But now, we add a new kind of magic—one that captures action while it is happening.

This is the spell of the present progressive tense, also called the present continuous tense.

Present Progressive Tense

The present progressive tense shows that an action is in progress in the present.

It often shows that the action is:

• happening now
• not yet complete
• temporary or limited to the present period
• developing or changing

Examples:

• I am swimming.
• She is running.
• They are studying grammar.
• The weather is getting colder.

The present progressive helps your reader picture an action unfolding instead of standing still.

Potion Formula for the Present Progressive

To create this tense, combine two ingredients:

• A present form of the auxiliary verb “to be”
• A present participle, which is a verb form ending in “-ing”

Potion Formula for Present Progressive: present form of “to be” + present participle

The auxiliary verb to be changes to agree with the subject. The main verb changes into its present participle form.

Present Participle Spelling Rules

1. For most one-syllable verbs ending in one vowel letter followed by one consonant letter, double the final consonant and add “-ing.”  

• Example: run → running

This rule does not usually apply when the final consonant is w, x, or y.

• Example: fix → fixing

It also does not apply when the vowel sound is written with a vowel team or when the final consonant is part of a multi-letter spelling pattern.

2. When a multi-syllable verb ends in a stressed final syllable with one vowel letter followed by one consonant letter, double the final consonant before adding “-ing.”

• Example: admit → admitting

But if the final syllable is not stressed, do not double the final consonant.

• Example: open → opening

A stressed syllable is pronounced with more force or clarity than an unstressed syllable. An unstressed vowel often reduces to the schwa sound /ə/ or a reduced vowel, as in the first syllable of about or the final syllable of sofa.

3. When a verb ends in a consonant plus silent “-e,” drop the “-e” before adding “-ing.”

• Example: come → coming

4. Do not drop the letter “-e” in “be.”

• Example: be → being

5. If no other rule applies, add “-ing.”

• Example: drink → drinking

Conjugation Chart: Present Progressive Tense

		“To be” Primary Auxiliary	Present Participle
Singular	1st person	am	swimming
	2nd person	are	swimming
	3rd person	is	swimming
Plural	1st person	are	swimming
	2nd person	are	swimming
	3rd person	are	swimming

Stative Verbs and the Progressive Form

Some verbs usually describe states rather than actions. These are called stative verbs.

Stative verbs are often used in the simple present tense because they describe states, thoughts, feelings, possession, or conditions.

Examples:

• I know the answer.
• She owns a cat.
• He believes the story.

However, some verbs that are usually stative can appear in the progressive form when their meaning becomes more active, temporary, or dynamic.

Compare:

• I think you are right.
• I am thinking about the problem.

In the first sentence, think means “believe.” It is stative.

In the second sentence, am thinking means “am considering.” It is dynamic.

Potion Note: If a verb that is usually stative appears in the progressive form, it often shifts to a more dynamic or temporary meaning.

Verb Phrase

A verb phrase is one or more verbs working together as the verb of the sentence. Some linguistic resources expand the definition of a verb phrase to include complements and modifiers.

A simple predicate is the main verb or verb phrase that tells what the subject does or is.

A complete predicate includes the verb phrase plus its complements and modifiers.

Example: The elegant unicorns are trotting through the meadow.

• Simple predicate: are trotting
• Complete predicate: are trotting through the meadow.

If you look in grammar books, you will see the terms simple predicate and complete predicate. In some linguistic resources, the terms simple verb phrase and complete verb phrase may be used instead. Many linguists do not use the terms simple predicate or complete predicate; they simply use verb phrase, which may refer only to the verbs or to the verbs plus their complements and modifiers.

Understanding Participles

A participle can have more than one grammatical role.

As a verbal, a participle often functions like an adjective.

• Example: The running water sparkled.

In this sentence, “running” describes water.

As part of a verb phrase, the present participle helps form the progressive aspect.

• Example: The water is running.

In this sentence, “is running” is the verb phrase.

Remember our discussion about the word “object” and how its meaning shifts depending on the context? The word “participle” works in a similar way. Its role depends on how it is being used in the sentence.

In this lesson, we are focusing on the present participle as part of the verb phrase.

Role of Helping Verbs

Helping verbs are also called auxiliary verbs.

The primary auxiliary verbs are:

• to be
• to have
• to do

Each primary auxiliary verb can also function as a main verb.

Examples:

• She is happy.
• She has a book.
• She does her homework.

Primary auxiliary verbs help:

• form different tenses and aspects
• form negatives
• form questions
• add emphasis

In the present progressive tense, the auxiliary verb to be helps create the progressive aspect.

Examples:

• I am reading.
• She is writing.
• They are practicing.

Adverbs in the Present Progressive

In Lesson 9, we have charts to show where to place adverbs in sentences.

With the present progressive tense, an indefinite frequency adverb usually goes after the auxiliary verb and before the present participle.

VP → (Auxiliary Verbs) + (Adverb) + Verb + (Verb Complements)

Present Progressive VP → form of “to be” + adverb + present participle + verb complements

Example: She is always studying.

Some adverbs may shift position depending on emphasis, so refer back to Lesson 9 when needed.

Boxing in Phrases

With this potion complete, you now wield the magic of the present progressive tense! Practice your spells, and soon you’ll master the art of conjuring action in progress.

Words of Wisdom

“Action in progress reveals intention. What you are doing right now shapes what you become.”