Simple Present:
(einfache Form der Gegenwart)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Tagesabläufe, regelmäßige Ereignisse oder Tatsachen, Gefühle oder Zustände beschreiben
 
Struktur
 
  • I/you/we/they + Infinitive
  • he/she/it + Infinitive + s
 
Signalwörter
 
always, never, often, seldom, rarely, sometimes, usually, normally, regularly, etc. every day, every week, every month, …
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I walk, she walks, they take, he takes
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I don’t walk, she doesn’t walk, they don’t take, he doesn’t take
 
Fragen
 
Do I walk? Does she walk? Do they take? Does he take?
 
 

Present: Present Progressive
(Verlaufsform der Gegenwart)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Dinge beschreiben, die genau im Moment des Sprechens geschehen, oder die ausnahmsweise geschehen; über einen Plan sprechen, der in der nahen Zukunft ausgeführt wird
 
Struktur
 
am/are/is (simple present form of to be) + Infinitive + ing
 
Signalwörter
 
at the moment, right now, just, now, at present, currently, Look!
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I am walking, she is walking, they are taking, he is taking
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I am not walking, she isn't walking, they aren't taking, he isn't taking
 
Fragen
 
Am I walking? Is she walking? Are they taking? Is he taking?
 
 

Past: Simple Past
(Einfache Form der Vergangenheit)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Über Dinge sprechen, die in der Vergangenheit passiert sind und die zum Zeitpunkt des Sprechens abgeschlossen oder vorbei sind
 
Struktur
 
  • Regular verbs: Infinitive + ed
  • Irregular verbs: simple past form
 
Signalwörter
 
yesterday, the other day, in 2009, when, at that time two days ago, a week ago, a month ago, … last night, last week, last month, …
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I walked, she walked, they took, he took
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I didn't walk, she didn't walk, they didn't take, he didn't take
 
Fragen
 
Did I walk? Did she walk? Did they take? Did he take?
 
 

Past: Past Progressive
(Verlaufsform der Vergangenheit)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Handlungen oder Dinge beschreiben, die in der Vergangenheit abgelaufen sind, auch wenn etwas anderes den Ablauf plötzlich unterbrach
 
Struktur
 
was/were (simple past form of to be) + Infinitive + ing
 
Signalwörter
 
while
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I was walking, she was walking, they were taking, he was taking
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I wasn't walking, she wasn't walking, they weren't taking, he wasn't taking
 
Fragen
 
Was I walking? Was she walking? Were they taking? Was he taking?
 
 

Past: Present Perfect Simple
(vollendete Gegenwart)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Das Ergebnis von etwas betonen, über Dinge sprechen, die zu einem unbekannten Zeitpunkt in der Vergangenheit geschahen, Dinge beschreiben, die in der Vergangenheit begannen und zum Zeitpunkt des Sprechens noch nicht abgeschlossen sind
 
Struktur
 
have/has (simple present form of to have) + past participle
 
Signalwörter
 
since, for, already, yet, before, ever, never, still not, so far, just, up to now, recently, until now
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I have walked, she has walked, they have taken, he has taken
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I haven't walked, she hasn't walked, they haven't taken, he hasn't taken
 
Fragen
 
Have I walked? Has she walked? Have they taken? Has he taken?
 
 

Past: Present Perfect Progressive
(Verlaufsform der vollendeten Vergangenheit)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Die Dauer von etwas betonen, Dinge beschreiben, die in der Vergangenheit begannen und zum Zeitpunkt des Sprechens immer noch andauern und/oder die Gegenwart beeinflussen
 
Struktur
 
have/has (simple present form of to have) + been + Infinitive + ing
 
Signalwörter
 
for, since, how long, all day, all day long, the whole day/week/month/year
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I have been walking, she has been walking, they have been taking, he has been taking
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I haven't been walking, she hasn't been walking, they haven't been taking, he hasn't been taking
 
Fragen
 
Have I been walking? Has she been walking? Have they been taking? Has he been taking?
 
 

Past: Past Perfect Simple
(Vorvergangenheit)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Betonen, dass etwas in der Vergangenheit aufhörte oder vorbei war, als etwas anderes begann, die Tatsache beschreiben, dass etwas vor einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt geschah
 
Struktur
 
had (simple past form of to have) + past participle
 
Signalwörter
 
already, until that day, never, just
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I had walked, she had walked, they had taken, he had taken
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I hadn't walked, she hadn't walked, they hadn't taken, he hadn't taken
 
Fragen
 
Had I walked? Had she walked? Had they taken? Had he taken?
 
 

Past: Past Perfect Progressive
(Verlaufsform der Vorvergangenheit)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Den Ablauf oder die Dauer von etwas beschreiben, Dinge beschreiben, die in der Vergangenheit geschahen und endeten oder die zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt in der Vergangenheit vorbei waren
 
Struktur
 
had (simple past form of to have) + been + Infinitive + ing
 
Signalwörter
 
for, since, how long, all day, after, before
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I had been walking, she had been walking, they had been taking, he had been taking
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I hadn't been walking, she hadn't been walking, they hadn't been taking, he hadn't been taking
 
Fragen
 
Had I been walking? Had she been walking? Had they been taking? Had he been taking?
 
 

Future: Will-Future
(Zukunft)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Dinge beschreiben, die sicherlich in der Zukunft passieren werden, über Erwartungen, Hoffnungen, Annahmen oder spontane Entscheidungen sprechen
 
Struktur
 
will + Infinitive
 
Signalwörter
 
tomorrow, next week/month/year, in 2021, expect, believe, hope, suppose, think, probably
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I will walk, she will walk, they will take, he will take
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I won't walk, she won't walk, they won't take, he won't take
 
Fragen
 
Will I walk? Will she walk? Will they take? Will he take?
 
 

Future: Going-to-Future
(Zukunft mit going to)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Zukünftige Pläne, Ziele und Folgen beschreiben, über Dinge sprechen, die in der nahen Zukunft passieren werden
 
Struktur
 
am/are/is (simple present form of to be) + going to + Infinitive
 
Signalwörter
 
tomorrow, next week/month/year, in 2011
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I am going to walk, she is going to walk, they are going to take, he is going to take
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I am not going to walk, she isn't going to walk, they aren't going to take, he isn't going to take
 
Fragen
 
Am I going to walk? Is she going to walk? Are they going to take? Is he going to take?
 
 

Future: Future Progressive
(Verlaufsform der Zukunft)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Dinge beschreiben, die zukünftig ablaufen werden, über Dinge sprechen, die normalerweise in der Zukunft geschehen
 
Struktur
 
will + be + Infinitive + ing
 
Signalwörter
 
tomorrow, next week/month/year, in 2041
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I will be walking, she will be walking, they will be taking, he will be taking
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I won't be walking, she won't be walking, they won't be taking, he won't be taking
 
Fragen
 
Will I be walking? Will she be walking? Will they be taking? Will he be taking?
 
 

Future: Future Perfect
(vollendete Zukunft)

 
   
 
Gebrauch
 
Über Dinge sprechen, die zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt in der Zukunft abgeschlossen oder vorbei sein werden
 
Struktur
 
will + have + past participle
 
Signalwörter
 
until, before by the end of the day, by the end of the week, by the end of the month, …
 
Bejahte Aussage
 
I will have walked, she will have walked, they will have taken, he will have taken
 
Verneinte Aussage
 
I won't have walked, she won't have walked, they won't have taken, he won't have taken
 
Fragen
 
Will I have walked? Will she have walked? Will they have taken? Will he have taken?
 
 
 

The present progressive tense

Look at the following examples:
  • Where is Mum? – She is taking Julia to her dancing lesson.
  • What are you doing? – I am doing my homework.
  • Are you busy? – Yes, sorry, I am just talking to my boyfriend on the phone.
  • We can't make lunch because the cleaning lady is cleaning the kitchen right now.
  • Usually I don't have dinner at a restaurant, but today I am meeting an old friend for dinner.
Take another look at the examples above. Then try to answer the following questions. When you answer the second question, more than one answer is possible.

Die Verlaufsform der Gegenwart

Wirf einen Blick auf die folgenden Beispiele:
  • Where is Mum? – She is taking Julia to her dancing lesson.
  • What are you doing? – I am doing my homework.
  • Are you busy? – Yes, sorry, I am just talking to my boyfriend on the phone.
  • We can't make lunch because the cleaning lady is cleaning the kitchen right now.
  • Usually I don't have dinner at a restaurant, but today I am meeting an old friend for dinner.
Schau dir noch einmal die obigen Beispiele an. Dann versuche, die folgenden Fragen zu beantworten. Wenn du die zweite Frage beantwortest, ist mehr als eine Antwort möglich.
 
de
  1. How do you form the present progressive tense?Tipp
     
    • infinitive form of a verb
       
    • form of to be (am/is/are) + verb + -ing
       
  2. When do you use the present progressive tense?
     
    • to express that something is happening out of the ordinary
       
    • to describe what someone is doing at the moment of speech or around the time of speech
       
    • to say that something (usually an action) is a regular routine, event or a fact
       
    • to talk about something that is happening and has not finished yet
       
    • to talk about a fact or a state like feelings, likes and dislikes
       
 
 

Positive statements

To form a positive statement using the present progressive, use the form of to be am/is/are + the verb + -ing:
  • The farmer's wife is just feeding the hens.
  • They are going downtown to see a movie.
  • I am reading a very interesting book at the moment.
  • She is looking for her set of keys.
However, there are some exceptions concerning some groups of verbs:
If you use verbs that end with an -e like to come, to make, to take, to brake, to bake, to save, you have to leave out the -e when adding -ing:
  • to take She is taking her son to the doctor.
  • to come The family is coming down the street right now.
  • to bake I am baking a cake.
  • to save We are saving money to buy a new car.
If you use verbs that end with -ie like to lie, to die, you have to change the -ie into y when adding -ing:
  • to lie I think he is lying to me.
If you use verbs that end with a short vowel + a consonant like -m, -n, -p, -t like to run, to hop, to cut, to shut, you have to double the consonant when adding -ing:
  • to run The kids are running around the yard.
  • to hop They are hopping around the room like rabbits.
  • to cut She is cutting out something.
Now practise the present progressive tense. Read the sentences below and choose the correct forms.

Bejahte Aussagen

Um eine bejahte Aussage in der Verlaufsform der Gegenwart zu formulieren, nutze die Form von to be am/is/are + das Verb + -ing:
  • The farmer's wife is just feeding the hens.
  • They are going downtown to see a movie.
  • I am reading a very interesting book at the moment.
  • She is looking for her set of keys.
Es gibt jedoch einige Ausnahmen bezüglich mancher Verbgruppen:
Wenn du Verben benutzt, die auf ein -e enden, wie to come, to make, to take, to brake, to bake, to save, musst du das -e weglassen, wenn du -ing anhängst:
  • to take She is taking her son to the doctor.
  • to come The family is coming down the street right now.
  • to bake I am baking a cake.
  • to save We are saving money to buy a new car.
Wenn du Verben benutzt, die auf -ie enden, wie to lie, to die, musst du das -ie zu y abändern, wenn du -ing anhängst:
  • to lie I think he is lying to me.
Wenn du Verben benutzt, die auf einen kurzen Vokal + einen Konsonanten wie -m, -n, -p, -t enden, wie to run, to hop, to cut, to shut, musst du den Konsonanten verdoppeln, wenn du -ing anhängst:
  • to run The kids are running around the yard.
  • to hop They are hopping around the room like rabbits.
  • to cut She is cutting out something.
Übe nun die Verlaufsform der Gegenwart. Lies die unten stehenden Sätze und wähle die richtige Form.
 
de
  1. Tom and Tobi a movie.
     
  2. I on the computer.
     
  3. John to his brother right now.
     
  4. At the moment I a letter to my friend.
     
  5. Julia the door.
     
  6. Usually we meet our parents on Sunday, but this week we them on Saturday.
     
 
 
Read the following text. A girl describes what she sees in a picture. Complete the text. Put the verbs in brackets in the present progressive tense and write them into the gaps.
Lies den folgenden Text. Ein Mädchen beschreibt, was es auf einem Bild sieht. Vervollständige den Text. Bringe die Verben in Klammern in die Verlaufsform der Gegenwart und schreibe sie in die Lücken.
 
de
  • "There is a huge train station in the picture. Many people (to walk) around. Some people (to talk) to each other. Most people (to carry) a piece of luggage. I think I also see a woman. She (to wait) for her train."
     
 
 
Watch out! Some verbs are never used in the present progressive tense! These are:
  • to be, to seem
  • to like, to dislike, to love, to hate
  • to wish, to want
  • to see, to notice
Also, there are some signal words that indicate that you need to use the present progressive tense. These are:
  • right now, now
  • at the moment
  • just
  • at present
  • currently
  • Look!

Negative statements

To negate a statement, you just negate the form of "to be" using the word not:
  • They are not going downtown to see a movie.
  • I am not reading a very interesting book at the moment.
  • The kids are not running around the yard.
  • I think he is not lying to me.
  • She is not taking her son to the doctor.
If you want to read again how exactly to negate the forms of "to be" or how to use the short forms, click here.
Practise negative statements using the present progressive tense. Just negate the positive statements that are given.
Vorsicht! Einige Verben werden nie in der Verlaufsform der Gegenwart gebraucht! Diese sind:
  • to be, to seem
  • to like, to dislike, to love, to hate
  • to wish, to want
  • to see, to notice
Darüberhinaus gibt es einige Signalwörter, die dir anzeigen, dass du die Verlaufsform der Gegenwart gebrauchen musst. Diese sind:
  • right now, now
  • at the moment
  • just
  • at present
  • currently
  • Look!

Verneinte Aussagen

Um eine Aussage zu verneinen, verneinst du einfach die Form von "to be", indem du das Wort not benutzt:
  • They are not going downtown to see a movie.
  • I am not reading a very interesting book at the moment.
  • The kids are not running around the yard.
  • I think he is not lying to me.
  • She is not taking her son to the doctor.
Wenn du noch einmal nachlesen möchtest, wie man genau die Form von "to be" verneint, oder wie man Kurzformen benutzt, klicke hier.
Übe verneinte Aussagen in der Verlaufsform der Gegenwart. Verneine dazu die gegebenen bejahten Aussagesätze.
 
de
  1. I am having fun at this party!
    Tipp⁠.
     
  2. The weather is getting better.
    Tipp⁠.
     
  3. He is taking the garbage outside.
    Tipp⁠.
     
  4. We are fighting all the time these days.
    Tipp⁠.
     
  5. Politicians are having a hard time these days.
    Tipp⁠.
     
 
 

Yes-no-questions

You pose a yes-no-question using the present progressive in the same way as you would pose a yes-no-question with "to be". If you can't remember the rules, click here.
Just change the word order of the sentence. The question has the following word order: Form of to be + noun/pronoun (+ adverb) + verb + -ing + ….? If you look at the question closely, you can see that you only switch the subject of the sentence and the form of "to be":
  • The weather is getting better. Is the weather getting better?
  • He is taking the garbage outside. Is he taking the garbage outside?
  • The kids are running around the yard. Are the kids running around the yard?
It's the same with negative statements and yes-no-questions:
  • The weather is not getting better. Is the weather not getting better?
  • He is not taking the garbage outside. Is he not taking the garbage outside?
  • The kids are not running around the yard. Are the kids not running around the yard?

Wh-questions

Click here to read how to pose a Wh-question. Here are some examples of Wh-questions using the present progressive:
  • What are you doing?
  • Where are you going?
  • Who is calling?

Entscheidungsfragen

Du stellst eine Entscheidungsfrage in der Verlaufsform der Gegenwart genau so wie du eine Entscheidungsfrage mit "to be" formulierst. Wenn du dich nicht mehr an die Regeln erinnern kannst, klicke hier.
Ändere einfach die Satzstellung des Satzes. Die Frage hat folgende Satzstellung: Form von to be + Nomen/Pronomen (+ Adverb) + Verb + -ing + ….? Wenn du dir die Frage genau anschaust, kannst du sehen, dass du nur das Subjekt des Satzes mit der Form von "to be" tauschst:
  • The weather is getting better. Is the weather getting better?
  • He is taking the garbage outside. Is he taking the garbage outside?
  • The kids are running around the yard. Are the kids running around the yard?
Es ist genau das selbe mit verneinten Aussagen und Entscheidungsfragen:
  • The weather is not getting better. Is the weather not getting better?
  • He is not taking the garbage outside. Is he not taking the garbage outside?
  • The kids are not running around the yard. Are the kids not running around the yard?

Fragen mit Wh-Fragewörtern

Klicke hier, um nachzulesen, wie man eine Frage mit Wh-Fragewörtern stellt. Hier sind einige Beispiele für Fragen mit Wh-Fragewörtern in der Verlaufsform der Gegenwart:
  • What are you doing?
  • Where are you going?
  • Who is calling?
Change the positive statements into questions. To pose the question, use all the words from the statement.
Ändere die bejahten Aussagen zu Fragen ab. Um die Frage zu formulieren, nutze alle Wörter aus der Aussage.
 
de
  1. Julia is reading a good book. ⁠?
     
  2. You are going to the party. ⁠?
     
  3. John and Tobi are watching TV. ⁠?
     
  4. He is doing the grocery shopping! ⁠?
     
 
 

Use

You use the present progressive tense in three different cases:
  • to describe what someone is doing at the moment of speech or around the time of speech:
    • Where are the kids? – They are playing outside. At the time when the person asks the question, the kids are playing outside.
  • to talk about something that is happening and has not finished yet:
    • I am reading a really good book at the moment. , The person is reading it at the time, he or she has not finished it yet.
  • to express that something is happening out of the ordinary:
    • Usually we don't spend much money on cars, but this time we are getting a really expensive one.

Verwendung

Du verwendest die Verlaufsform der Gegenwart in drei verschiedenen Fällen:
  • um zu beschreiben, was jemand zum Zeitpunkt des Sprechens oder um den Zeipunkt des Sprechens herum tut:
    • Where are the kids? – They are playing outside. Zu dem Zeitpunkt, zu dem die Person die Frage stellt, spielen die Kinder draußen.
  • um über etwas zu sprechen, das geschieht und noch nicht abgeschlossen ist:
    • I am reading a really good book at the moment. , Die Person liest gerade das Buch, sie hat es noch nicht beendet.
  • um auszudrücken, dass etwas außergewöhnliches passiert:
    • Usually we don't spend much money on cars, but this time we are getting a really expensive one.
Imagine that some of your friends are visiting you. While they are at your place, another friend is calling you on the phone. He or she asks what you are doing at the moment. Think about your answer and write it down. Use the present progressive tense as well as some adverbs of time such as just, right now, at the moment, etc. There is no right or wrong answer! You can take a look at the sample solution if you need to.
Stell dir vor, dass einige deiner Freunde dich besuchen. Während sie bei dir zuhause sind, ruft dich ein anderer Freund an. Er fragt dich, was du gerade tust. Denke über deine Antwort nach und schreibe sie nieder. Verwende die Verlaufsform der Gegenwart sowie ein paar Adverbien der Zeit wie just, right now, at the moment, etc. Es gibt keine falsche oder richtige Anwort! Du kannst dir, wenn nötig, die Beispiellösung anschauen.
At the moment, some friends of mine are with me. We are just sitting around chatting. We are talking about old times. Some people are looking at photos from our school days. Others are searching for our classmates on the internet. Some are just smoking cigarettes outside.

 
 
 

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