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Games

Verb Tenses

Present Progressive Verbs

Talking about what is happening right now.

Mastered by
ASHA places -ing verbs in the 2-to-3-year band
Practice items
134
Sections
12

Play it

Each one opens full screen, already set to this skill.

The rule, explainedShow ↓

When something is happening right now, the verb gets "-ing" - and it needs a helper in front: is, am or are.

One person: she is jumping. Me: I am jumping. More than one: they are jumping.

  • The dog is running.
  • They are eating.

Watch for: "Dog running" with the helper dropped. The -ing comes early; the "is" comes later.

What this skill is

Present progressive describes an action in motion: "The dog IS RUNNING." It needs two pieces working together - a helping verb (is, am, are) and an -ing ending. The -ing shows up very early, usually as the first grammatical ending a child ever uses. The helping verb takes longer, which is why toddlers say "doggy running" long before they say "the doggy is running."

What to expect

Around 2, expect "baby crying." Around 3, the helping verb starts appearing but may be the wrong one - "they is running." By 4, most children have both pieces and the right agreement. Dropping the helping verb entirely past age 4 is worth paying attention to, especially if other grammar is also delayed.

Try this at home

Sportscast your day. While you cook, narrate: "I am stirring. The water is boiling. You are watching me." Children need to hear a form many, many times before it becomes theirs, and narration delivers volume without pressure.

When to refer

Still omitting is/are before -ing verbs after age 4;6.

Put it into practice

Tap any item below to open it full screen, one at a time, so a child can answer without reading the answer first.

These activities are a starting point, not the practice itself. A structured task is a good way to introduce a form and to find out whether a child has it yet. What actually moves it into everyday speech is using it in the real world and in ordinary play — which means the four things below matter more than finishing the list.

  • Recast

    Say their sentence back correctly, without asking them to repeat it. Child: “he goed.” You: “he went! Where did he go?”

  • Expand

    Add one or two words to what they said and hand it back. Child: “big truck.” You: “a big red truck!”

  • Simplify what you ask

    Cut a long instruction into single steps and say them in the order they happen, rather than repeating the long one louder.

  • Follow their lead

    Use whatever they are already playing with. A form practiced on something they chose is the one that shows up again tomorrow.

Add the -ing Ending

12 items

Fill in the blank with the -ing form of the verb. Tap any item to open it full screen.

Add the -ing Ending: Round 212 moreOpen ↓

Fill in the blank with the -ing form of the verb. Tap any item to open it full screen.

Add the -ing Ending: Round 312 moreOpen ↓

Fill in the blank with the -ing form of the verb. Tap any item to open it full screen.

Add the -ing Ending: Round 412 moreOpen ↓

Fill in the blank with the -ing form of the verb. Tap any item to open it full screen.

Is, Am, or Are?

12 items

Choose the right helping verb to finish each sentence. Tap any item to open it full screen.

Is, Am, or Are?: Round 212 moreOpen ↓

Fill in the blank with is, am or are. Tap any item to open it full screen.

Is, Am, or Are?: Round 312 moreOpen ↓

Fill in the blank with is, am or are. Tap any item to open it full screen.

Is, Am, or Are?: Round 412 moreOpen ↓

Fill in the blank with is, am or are. Tap any item to open it full screen.

What Is Happening?

8 items

Look at each picture card and answer with a full sentence in present progressive. Tap any item to open it full screen.

What Is Happening?: Round 210 moreOpen ↓

Look at each picture and say the whole sentence. The answer needs both the helping verb and the -ing. Tap any item to open it full screen.

What Is Happening?: Round 310 moreOpen ↓

Look at each picture and say the whole sentence. The answer needs both the helping verb and the -ing. Tap any item to open it full screen.

What Is Happening?: Round 410 moreOpen ↓

Look at each picture and say the whole sentence. The answer needs both the helping verb and the -ing. Tap any item to open it full screen.

Describe the picture

138 questions

Pick a picture, then find each thing that is happening right now and say it in a full sentence. Tap a picture to start.