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Verb Tenses

Present Progressive Verbs

Talking about what is happening right now.

Mastered by
ASHA places -ing verbs in the 2-to-3-year band
Practice items
32
Sections
3

What this skill is

Present progressive describes an action in motion: "The dog IS RUNNING." It needs two pieces working together - a helping verb (is, am, are) and an -ing ending. The -ing shows up very early, usually as the first grammatical ending a child ever uses. The helping verb takes longer, which is why toddlers say "doggy running" long before they say "the doggy is running."

What to expect

Around 2, expect "baby crying." Around 3, the helping verb starts appearing but may be the wrong one - "they is running." By 4, most children have both pieces and the right agreement. Dropping the helping verb entirely past age 4 is worth paying attention to, especially if other grammar is also delayed.

Try this at home

Sportscast your day. While you cook, narrate: "I am stirring. The water is boiling. You are watching me." Children need to hear a form many, many times before it becomes theirs, and narration delivers volume without pressure.

When to refer

Still omitting is/are before -ing verbs after age 4;6.

Print it

Present Progressive Verbs worksheet32 items across 3 sections, with answer key · PDF

Add the -ing Ending

12 items

Fill in the blank with the -ing form of the verb.

  1. 1.The boy is ____ a book. (read)reading
  2. 2.The dog is ____ in the yard. (run)running
  3. 3.The baby is ____ in the crib. (sleep)sleeping
  4. 4.Mom is ____ dinner. (cook)cooking
  5. 5.The girl is ____ a picture. (paint)painting
  6. 6.The cat is ____ on the couch. (sit)sitting
  7. 7.Dad is ____ the car. (drive)driving
  8. 8.The bird is ____ over the tree. (fly)flying
  9. 9.The kids are ____ in the pool. (swim)swimming
  10. 10.The horse is ____ over the fence. (jump)jumping
  11. 11.The teacher is ____ to the class. (talk)talking
  12. 12.The rabbit is ____ a carrot. (eat)eating

Is, Am, or Are?

12 items

Choose the right helping verb to finish each sentence.

  1. 1.The dog ____ barking at the mailman.is
  2. 2.The children ____ playing at the park.are
  3. 3.I ____ building a tower.am
  4. 4.My brother ____ riding his scooter.is
  5. 5.The birds ____ singing in the tree.are
  6. 6.You ____ doing a great job.are
  7. 7.The baby ____ crying for her bottle.is
  8. 8.We ____ walking to the store.are
  9. 9.I ____ eating my lunch.am
  10. 10.Grandma ____ knitting a scarf.is
  11. 11.The puppies ____ chewing on a bone.are
  12. 12.The bus ____ coming down the street.is

What Is Happening?

8 items

Look at each picture card and answer with a full sentence in present progressive.

  1. 1.What is the girl doing? (swing)The girl is swinging.
  2. 2.What are the boys doing? (climb)The boys are climbing.
  3. 3.What is the cat doing? (drink)The cat is drinking.
  4. 4.What is the fireman doing? (spray)The fireman is spraying.
  5. 5.What are the ducks doing? (swim)The ducks are swimming.
  6. 6.What is the baby doing? (clap)The baby is clapping.
  7. 7.What is the man doing? (rake)The man is raking.
  8. 8.What are the girls doing? (dance)The girls are dancing.