Present continuous is used in 2 ways. It tells what is happening now or what is happening in the future.
In the previous lessons, we learned about making sentences and yes/no questions with the present continuous. We can also make questions with the question words. These words are who, what, where, when, why, and how.
Follow this pattern to make questions in the present continuous verb tense.
Question Word + be verb + subject + verb(-ing)…?
- What are you doing tonight?
- What are you doing now?
- What is he doing after work?
- What is he doing at the moment?
- What are you watching?
- What movie are you watching later?
- Why are you crying?
- How is the project going?
- When is the movie starting?
We can also make questions with “what + noun” or “which + noun”.
- What movie are you going to see?
- What kind of salad are you making?
- Which company are you working for?
- Which apartment building are you moving to?
- What game is he playing?
We can also make questions with “how many” and “how much”.
- How many cookies are you baking?
- How many people are coming to the party?
- How much money is being wasted on this government project?
- How much sugar are you putting in your coffee?
Remember that sometimes “what” or “who” can be the subject of the sentence. The noun in “how many + noun..” can also be the subject of a sentence. These question patterns will look like this.
Who + be verb + verb(-ing)…?
What + be verb + verb(-ing)…?
How many + noun(s) + verb(-ing)…?
- Who is coming to dinner tonight?
- Who is talking?
- What is happening now?
- What is making that sound?
- How many people are coming?
- How many children studying in the library?
Remember that practice makes perfect.
Example Questions
- What are you doing now?
- What are you eating?
- What is he looking at?
- What is she doing later?
- What are they talking about?
- What are Mike and Nick doing this weekend?
- What is happening?
- Where are you going?
- Where are you going tonight?
- Where is he moving to?
- Where are they traveling for vacation this summer?
- Where are the children going?
- Where is this flight going?
- Where are you playing basketball tonight?
- When is the movie starting?
- When are you leaving?
- When are we starting the meeting?
- When are you giving your presentation?
- When are they arriving at the airport?
- When is Nick graduating from university?
- When are you playing soccer tonight?
- Who is James talking to?
- Who is coming to the party?
- Who is presenting at the seminar next week?
- Who are you thinking about?
- Who is making that sound?
- Who are you messaging?
- Why are you laughing?
- Why are they sitting in a circle?
- Why is Mary not attending the meeting this afternoon?
- Why are they fighting?
- Why are you going there tonight?
- Why is Ben sleeping at this time?
- How is your life going?
- How are you doing that?
- How are you going home?
- How many people are working in the conference room now?
- How long are you staying at the hotel?
- How much water are you buying?
- What time are you going?
- Which one are you buying?
- What food are you eating?
- What kind of food are we having for dinner?
- Which countries are you visiting on your trip?
English Conversation 1
A) What are you doing?
B) I am finding out how to cook steak.
A) Why? Are you cooking steak tonight?
B) Not tonight. I am cooking steak for Sharon’s birthday. I want to surprise her.
English Conversation 2
A) Where are you going on your vacation?
B) My wife and I are going to Mexico.
A) Are you taking your kids?
B) No, we aren’t taking the kids. My wife’s parents are watching the kids when we go.
A) That is nice of them. You should definitely do something to say thank you.
B) I know. I am planning on buying them some nice presents in Mexico.
Practice speaking English by finishing the questions below and then practice making your own questions. It is the best way to learn English and improve your English fluency fast!
Tip: Say the questions aloud. This will help you practice speaking English and improve your pronunciation and fluency.
What are you _______________?
What is he _______________?
What is she _______________ now?
What is she _______________ tonight?
Where is the boy _______________?
Where is your family _______________ this summer?
When is the show _______________?
Why are you _______________?
Why are you _______________ this weekend?
What time are you _______________?
