The Present Progressive. Wh- Questions

1. The Present Progressive: Wh- Questions

6
The Present Progressive:
Wh- Questions
At the Movies
Focus on Grammar 1
Part V, Unit 16
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. What’s happening?

II think
they
are
Well,
aliens
thinkthe
they
are
looking
forfor
are
looking
getting
hungry.
humans.
life on
the planet.
What’s
Ahhh…!!
This
Who
aremovie
they is so
Why???
happening?
scary!looking
I can’t for?
watch ...

3. Form

Begin wh- questions in the present progressive with a
question word like what, where, why, who, or how. Use
am, is, or are + the –ing form of the verb.
Wh- Word
Be
Verb
Subject
-ing Verb Form
What
am
I
doing?
Where
is
he
going?
Who
are
you
meeting?

4. Who

Use who to ask about a person.
Who is he
talking to?
Who are
they
directing?

5. Why

Use why to ask for reasons.
Because this
is the funny
part.
Why are you
laughing?

6. Practice 1

Look at the underlined words.
Then make questions with the
present progressive.
Example:
Question: Where is he standing?
Answer: He is standing in front of the movie projector.
1. Question: What are they watching?
Where
is he standing?
TheyQuestion:
are watching
a romantic
movie.
Answer: He is standing in front of the projector.
2. Question: Why is she leaving?
She’s leaving because the movie is too scary.
3. Question: Who are you sitting with?
I’m sitting with my friends.

7. Answers

In informal conversation, answers are often
short.
What’s playing at the
Ugh…
theater?
A new romantic movie!

8. Intonation

In wh- questions, your voice goes up and
down at the end.
What are they wearing?
Why are they standing?

9. Practice 2

Work with a partner. Ask and
answer questions about the
pictures. Practice intonation and
short answers.
Example: what / he / eat
Question: What is he eating?
Question: What is he eating?
Short Answer: A lot of junk food.
Short Answer: A lot of junk food.
1. Where / he / hide 2. Why / she / cry 3. Who / you / talk to

10. References

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its
licensors. All rights reserved.