Present Continuous - Questions and Short Answers

Present Continuous - Questions and Short Answers

To make a question in the present continuous, we put am/is/are before the subject and then use the verb + -ing form.

Yes/No questions

Yes/No questions are questions that can usually be answered with yes or no. The structure is:
→ Am/Is/Are + subject + verb + -ing?

Short answers

To answer Yes/No questions, we use a pronoun + am/is/are (or isn't/aren't). We do not repeat the verb with -ing.

• Is Mike watching TV?
  → Yes, he is.
  → No, he isn't.
• Are they telling the truth?
  → Yes, they are.
  → No, they aren't.
• Are you coming with us?
  → Yes, I am.
  → No, I 'm not.

Remember: We say I'm not (never I amn't or I aren't).

Wh- questions

Wh- questions use a question word (what, where, who, why, how) and need a more specific answer than just yes or no.

The structure is:
→ Question word + am/is/are + subject + verb + -ing?

• Where are they swiming?
• What are the boys writing?
• Why are you lying here?

To answer these questions, we often repeat part of the question and add the missing information:

• Where are they swiming?
  → They are swiming in the lake.
• What is he doing?
  → He is cooking dinner.

Quick reference

• Yes/No questions: am/is/are + subject + verb + -ing?
  Are you working? Is she sleeping?
• Short answers:
  Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
  Yes, he/she/it is. / No, he/she/it isn't.
  Yes, we/you/they are. / No, we/you/they aren't.
• Wh- questions: question word + am/is/are + subject + verb + -ing?
  Where are you going? What is he doing?