Unit 4: 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?

A 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?

B 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?

C 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."

Exercises

4.1 Read each scene and write the question.

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?
Are you listening to it?
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?)
A man is on the phone to his sister in Manchester. He asks; she says: "No, not at the moment."
(it / rain?)
Two friends are at a concert. One asks; the other says: "Yes, it's brilliant."
(you / enjoy / the concert?)
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?)
A girl is writing in a card at the table. Her mum asks; she says: "Yes, to my grandma."
(you / write / a card?)

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

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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?
What are you reading?
A woman is walking quickly out of the office door. Two colleagues are watching her.
Where ?
A boy has something in his mouth and his cheeks are full. His dad asks him.
What ?
A little boy is sitting on the floor with tears on his face. His mum asks him.
Why ?
Two people are standing in the street and pointing up at the sky. A man walking past asks them.
What ?
Two girls are laughing at the next table in a café. A woman turns round and asks them.
Why ?

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

(working / Jade / today?)
Is Jade working today?
Is Jade working today?
(what / doing / the boys?)
What are the boys doing?
What are the boys doing?
(you / waiting / for me?)
(where / going / your parents?)
(your sisters / the match / watching?)
(what / making / Tariq?)
(why / you / running?)
(coming / the train?)

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

Are you listening to music?
Yes, I am.
No, I'm not.
Are you wearing glasses?
Are you drinking something?
Is the sun shining?
Are you sitting on a chair?
Are you feeling tired?

are you doing? (present continuous questions)