Present Continuous: wh-questions
450 fill-in-the-gap exercises, 45 tests of ten
Question word, then be, then the subject, then the -ing form.
Practice this form
Loading…
Getting your first question ready.
The usual order
Four slots: question word — be — subject — the -ing form.
Where is he going?
The form of be still agrees with the subject that follows it, so check ahead: Where is the cat hiding? but Where are the cats hiding?
When who or what is the subject
If the question word is doing the action, nothing swaps, because there is no other subject:
- Who is making that noise?
- What is burning?
Compare Who are you calling? — there you does the calling, so the normal order returns.
What are you doing
The most common question in this tense has two meanings that context separates:
- What are you doing? — right now, at this moment.
- What are you doing on Friday? — about a plan already made.
How long are you staying
With a future arrangement, how long asks about the length of a visit or a stay. The answer takes for: For three nights.
All forms
| Question word | Example | Asking about |
|---|---|---|
| What | What are you doing? | the activity |
| Where | Where is she going? | the destination |
| Why | Why are they shouting? | the reason |
| Who | Who is knocking? | the person — see below |
| How long | How long are you staying? | the duration |
| When | When are we leaving? | the time of the arrangement |
Examples
Taken from the 450 sentences in this drill. The answer is highlighted.
- How is your best friend preparing for the exam?
- When are your parents coming back from their trip?
- How are you going to school today?
- Where are they going for their vacation next month?
- Who is he going to the park with for his morning walk?
- Who is she going to the party with?
- What are they planning next month?
- How are you getting to work today?
- What are they doing at work today?
- What are we having for dinner tomorrow?
- What are they having for dinner tonight?
- Who are you having dinner with tonight?
Mistakes to avoid
Wrong: What you are doing? correct: What are you doing?
Be comes before the subject, not after it.
Wrong: Who is cooking dinner? Who is he cooking? correct: Who is cooking dinner?
When who does the action there is no second subject.
Wrong: Why she is crying? correct: Why is she crying?
The question word does not cancel the swap.