Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 4 · A1

are you doing? (present continuous questions)

To ask about something happening now, put am, is or are before the subject: Are you working? What is she doing?

Start the lesson

13Steps · about 19 minutes

In this lesson

The question formA2 screens of questions
Word orderB4 screens of questions
Short answersC2 screens of questions

Point A of 3

The question form

positive question
I am doing am I doing?
he / she / it is working is he / she / it working?
we / you / they are going are we / you / they going?

A woman comes home and finds her husband under the kitchen table with a torch. What are you doing? It is a fair question.

  • "Are you feeling better?" "Yes, much better, thanks."
  • "Is it snowing?" "Yes, wear your boots."
  • Why are you wearing sunglasses? It's dark.
  • "What's Grandad doing?" "He's doing a crossword."
  • "What are the twins doing?" "They're playing upstairs."
  • Look, there's Hamid! Where's he going?
  • Who are you phoning? Are you phoning the garage?

Point A · Exercise 4.1 · part 1 of 2

Read each scene and write the question.

  1. Example

    The radio is on. A man is reading the paper. A woman asks him; he says: "No, you can turn it off."

    (you / listen to / it?)

    Are you listening to it?

    AnswerAre you listening to it?

  2. A woman is putting her coat on at the end of the working day. Her colleague asks; she says: "Yes, see you on Monday."

    (you / go / now?)

  3. A man is on the phone to his sister in Manchester. He asks; she says: "No, not at the moment."

    (it / rain?)

  4. Two friends are at a concert. One asks; the other says: "Yes, it's brilliant."

    (you / enjoy / the concert?)

  5. A man is looking at a washing machine that is not moving. He asks; his wife says: "No, it's broken."

    (the washing machine / work?)

Point A · Exercise 4.1 · part 2 of 2

Read each scene and write the question.

  1. A girl is writing in a card at the table. Her mum asks; she says: "Yes, to my grandma."

    (you / write / a card?)

Point B of 3

Word order

is/are + subject + -ing

is/are subject -ing
Is she working today?
Is Nadia working today?
Where are they going?
Where are your friends going?

The subject goes between is/are and the -ing word. We say Is Nadia working today? (not Is working Nadia today?) and Where are your friends going? (not Where are going your friends?).

  • Is Nadia working today?
  • Where are your friends going?
  • What is your brother cooking?

Point B · Exercise 4.2 · part 1 of 2

Read each scene and complete the question. Use one of these verbs.

Use these

cryeatgolaughlook atread

  1. Example

    A man is on the train with a thick book open in front of him. The woman next to him is curious.

    What are you reading?

    AnswerWhat are you reading?

  2. A woman is walking quickly out of the office door. Two colleagues are watching her.

    Where ?

  3. A boy has something in his mouth and his cheeks are full. His dad asks him.

    What ?

  4. A little boy is sitting on the floor with tears on his face. His mum asks him.

    Why ?

  5. Two people are standing in the street and pointing up at the sky. A man walking past asks them.

    What ?

Point B · Exercise 4.2 · part 2 of 2

Read each scene and complete the question. Use one of these verbs.

Use these

cryeatgolaughlook atread

  1. Two girls are laughing at the next table in a café. A woman turns round and asks them.

    Why ?

Point B · Exercise 4.3 · part 1 of 2

Write questions from these words. Use is or are and put the words in the right order.

  1. Example

    (working / Jade / today?)

    Is Jade working today?

    AnswerIs Jade working today?

  2. Example

    (what / doing / the boys?)

    What are the boys doing?

    AnswerWhat are the boys doing?

  3. (you / waiting / for me?)

  4. (where / going / your parents?)

  5. (your sisters / the match / watching?)

  6. (what / making / Tariq?)

Point B · Exercise 4.3 · part 2 of 2

Write questions from these words. Use is or are and put the words in the right order.

  1. (why / you / running?)

  2. (coming / the train?)

Point C of 3

Short answers

Yes No
Yes, I am. No, I'm not.
Yes, he / she / it is. No, he's / she's / it's not. or No, he / she / it isn't.
Yes, we / you / they are. No, we're / you're / they're not. or No, we / you / they aren't.
  • "Are you leaving now?" "Yes, I am."
  • "Is Nadia working today?" "Yes, she is."
  • "Is it raining?" "No, it isn't."
  • "Are your parents staying in a hotel?" "No, they aren't. They're staying with us."

Point C · Exercise 4.4 · part 1 of 2

Write true short answers (Yes, I am. No, he isn't. and so on).

  1. Example

    Are you listening to music?

    Yes, I am.

    AnswerNo, I'm not.

  2. Are you wearing glasses?

  3. Are you drinking something?

  4. Is the sun shining?

  5. Are you sitting on a chair?

Point C · Exercise 4.4 · part 2 of 2

Write true short answers (Yes, I am. No, he isn't. and so on).

  1. Are you feeling tired?

Lesson 4 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: I do/work/like etc. (present simple)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. The question form–Not checkedB. Word order–Not checkedC. Short answers–Not checked