Verb TO BE (am / is / are) + Lexical verb -ing (see spelling rules)
- An action in progress at the time of speaking:
- Temporary situations / states ( usually incomplete actions still in progress):
"She is waiting for the train to arrive"
- A planned action that will take place in the near future:
"We are meeting Paul tonight"
Subject + To Be (am/ is/ are) + Lexical verb -ing + Objects (if necessary)
"I am writing a letter to my grandmother"
Subject + To Be (am/ is/ are) + NOT + Lexical verb -ing + Objects (if necessary)
"I am not writing to my grandmother"
Yes/No question: To Be (is/ am/ are) + Subject + Lexical verb -ing + Objects (if necessary)?
"Are you writing to your grandmother?
Wh- question: To Be (is/ am/ are) + Subject + Lexical verb -ing + Objects (if necessary)?
"Where are you writing to your grandmother?"
Yes, + Subject + To Be (am/ is/ are)
Yes, I am.
No, + Subject + To Be (am/ is/ are) + Not
No, I´m not.
When adding -ing, if the infinitive ends in one -e we leave out the -e before the -ing:
The -y does not change even if preceded by consonant:
Infinitives ending in -ie change to -y before adding -ing: