Showing an Action in Progress

Level 2

An -ing verb can express an ongoing action without a spoken be auxiliary: She waiting downstairs. Full auxiliary forms are also available, and an -ing form does not automatically identify present time.

How It Works

An -ing verb can present an activity in progress without a spoken am, is or are: She waiting downstairs. This is distinct from an adjective predicate without be, although both can omit a word found in a full English form.

The timeline comes from context. At that time, she waiting downstairs can locate the ongoing waiting in a past scene; tomorrow at six can set a future scene. Full forms such as She is waiting are also available. Do not infer the time solely from -ing, and do not remove an auxiliary where doing so would lose the intended meaning or create an unnatural clause.

Examples (4)

  1. She waiting downstairs now.

    She is waiting downstairs now.

  2. I reading your message.

    I am reading your message.

  3. They packing the boxes.

    They are packing the boxes.

  4. At that time, we still looking for the key.

    At that time, we were still looking for the key.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Showing an Action in ProgressLevel 2

Learn This First

Separate event time from verb shape before identifying an activity presented as ongoing.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.