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3 min readLesson 7 of 9

Simple Present Continuous — Question

When do we use it?

Asking what is happening right now.

Checking what someone or something is doing at this moment.

Are you listening?

Why is the engine making that noise?

What is she doing in there?

How can we apply it?

Yes/No Question:

Am / Is / Are + Subject + Verb-ing?

Wh- Question:

Wh-word + am / is / are + Subject + Verb-ing?

⚠️ Just like Simple Present, the auxiliary verb moves to the front to signal a question. You cannot just add a question mark.

❌ Wrong	✅ Correct
You are working now?	Are you working now?
She is sleeping?	Is she sleeping?
The engine is running?	Is the engine running?

Examples

Yes/No Questions:

Question	Short Answer
Are you listening?	Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
Is he coming?	Yes, he is. / No, he isn't.
Is the water boiling?	Yes, it is. / No, it isn't.
Are they waiting?	Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.

Wh- Questions:

Question	Sample Answer
What are you doing?	I'm studying English.
Where is she going?	She's going to the market.
Why is the light blinking?	The battery is low.
What is the printer doing?	It is printing my document.
Who are you talking to?	I'm talking to my boss.

Real-life sentences

Are you eating right now? I'll call back later.
What is the system doing? It is updating.
Is it still raining outside?
Why is the engine making that noise?
What are the kids doing upstairs?
Is the coffee still boiling?

Pratice

Sample Anwser

(he / read) → Is he reading?
(the baby / crawl) → Is the baby crawling?
(they / play / football) → Are they playing football?
(she / water / plants) → Is she watering plants?
(the dog / run) → Is the dog running?
(it / rain) → Is it raining?
(they / watch / TV) → Are they watching TV?
(you / use / the computer) → Are you using the computer?
(he / sleep) → Is he sleeping?
(she / wash / dishes) → Is she washing dishes?

Wh- Questions

11. (what / she / paint) → What is she painting?

12. (where / he / go) → Where is he going?

13. (why / the dog / bark) → Why is the dog barking?

14. (what / they / cook) → What are they cooking?

15. (who / he / talk / to) → Who is he talking to?

16. (when / the train / arrive) → When is the train arriving?

17. (what / the kids / build) → What are the kids building?

18. (where / she / run) → Where is she running?

19. (why / the light / blink) → Why is the light blinking?

20. (what / you / listen / to) → What are you listening to?

Sample Anwser

Is the phone charging?
Is the water boiling?
Is the fan spinning?
Is the app loading?
Is the candle burning?
Is the pipe leaking?
Is the screen flashing?
Is the snow melting?
Is the printer printing?
Is the engine running?
What is the system doing?
Why is the pipe dripping?
Where is the water flowing?
What is the machine printing?
Why is the light blinking?
How fast is the wheel rotating?
Why is the roof leaking?
What is the screen flashing?
Why is the ice melting so fast?
Where is the signal streaming?

Lesson 7 of 9