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1 Concept
Projects in Progress
📘 Module 2 — Present Continuous — Lesson 2 of 7

In the last lesson, you used the Present Continuous for something happening at the time of speaking — is crying, is raining, something happening right now. But a real project can also be unfinished and still going on, even if no one is working on it right now.

The idea:

If real work is still happening, little by little, even if no one is doing it right this second, it counts as "in progress." Use the Present Continuous.
Watch out: this is different from one event you've planned for later — even when it looks the same. "He is getting his driver's license next month" is not a project in progress. It's a plan for one time in the future. Nothing is happening yet. That's a different use of the Present Continuous (arranged future plans), which you'll learn in a later lesson.
Quick recap of the form: subject + am / is / are + verb-ing. She is writing a novel. They are building a bridge. Nothing changes about the grammar here — only about how broadly "in progress" can stretch.
2 Projects in Progress
Examples of Projects in Progress

Think of a book, a building, an app, or a language — something that takes weeks or months to complete, one piece at a time. At any given time, the person may not be actively working on it, but the project itself is still open and unfinished.

Projects Underway
  • She is writing a novel.
  • He is building a treehouse for his kids these days.
  • She is creating a family cookbook.
  • He is currently working on a translation of a French novel.
  • I am reading a great novel at the moment.
In every example above, no one needs to be doing the verb at this exact second. The sentence is still true. The novel is still being written today, even while its author is asleep — the project is still in progress.

These words show a project in progress. They point to a period of time that is still open, not one exact time:

currently these days at this time at the moment (in a broad sense)
Watch out: words like "this year," "this fall," or "this semester" name a period of time. But they don't tell you if something is really happening now, or just planned for sometime during that period. "She is writing a novel this year" could mean she is working on it today. Or it could just mean her goal for this year is to write a novel. "Currently," "these days," and "at this time" don't have this problem. They can only mean happening now.
3 Correct Use
This Use in Everyday Sentences

Read each sentence and picture the whole project, not just one time.

  • My company is building a new office complex.
  • I'm currently studying for my Master's degree.
  • These days we are just taking it easy.
  • He is writing a novel, though he is not writing right this second.
  • She is growing her own vegetables, one season at a time.
Quick test: is real progress happening little by little, or is this really just one event that hasn't happened yet? If it's the second one, don't use this pattern.
4 Common Mistake
Present Continuous, Not Present Simple

A project that is still happening is different from something you do again and again. Repeated habits take the Present Simple (see Lesson 9). But one project with a beginning and an end needs the Present Continuous — even without one exact time to point to.

✗ She writes letters to her pen pal these days.
✓ She is writing letters to her pen pal these days. Why: this is one specific, unfinished project — not something she does again and again.
✗ He learns to play the piano.
✓ He is learning to play the piano. Why: this is one unfinished task, not something he does again and again.
✗ She studies French at this time.
✓ She is studying French at this time. Why: this is real, unfinished progress — not something she does again and again.
5 Practice
Try It Yourself
Exercise A — Right Now, or In Progress?

Click "Right Now" or "In Progress" for each sentence.

  • 1
    Listen! The baby is crying.
    ✓ Correct — this is happening at the time of speaking.
  • 2
    She is working on a mural for the library.
    ✓ Correct — the mural is unfinished and still happening, even without one exact time.
  • 3
    They are moving to a new apartment these days.
    ✓ Correct — the move is still happening, not finished yet.
  • 4
    She is talking on the phone right now.
    ✓ Correct — you could point to this happening right now.
  • 5
    He is studying for his citizenship test.
    ✓ Correct — real progress is happening little by little, even without one exact time.
  • 6
    Look! It is beginning to rain.
    ✓ Correct — "Look!" points to right now.
  • 7
    The children are playing in the garden right now.
    ✓ Correct — "right now" tells you it is happening now.
  • 8
    They are currently setting up a vegetable garden.
    ✓ Correct — the garden project is still happening, not finished yet.
Exercise B — Type the Correct Form

Type the correct Present Continuous verb phrase (am/is/are + -ing).

  • 1
    She paint colors for the nursery. (choose)
  • 2
    They on a name for the baby. (currently / decide)
  • 3
    She for her real estate license exam. (study)
  • 4
    She her fitness goal step by step. (reach)
  • 5
    He off his student loan. (pay)
  • 6
    She sugar from her diet. (cut)
  • 7
    He smoking. (stop)
  • 8
    The kids a lemonade stand these days. (run)
Exercise C — Correct or Incorrect?

Click your answer for each sentence.

  • 1
    He follows a strict training plan for the race.
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. It should be "He is following a strict training plan for the race."
  • 2
    They buy a house.
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. It should be "They are buying a house."
  • 3
    She is spending the weekend organizing old family photos.
    ✓ Correct — a specific weekend project, still unfinished.
  • 4
    She supports her sister through a difficult time.
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. It should be "She is supporting her sister through a difficult time."
  • 5
    He is currently continuing his guitar lessons.
    ✓ Correct — a personal goal in progress, still happening.
  • 6
    He sells his old furniture online.
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. It should be "He is selling his old furniture online."
  • 7
    They are working out the details of their wedding.
    ✓ Correct — real, unfinished planning still happening.
  • 8
    She is reading through a new recipe book, one dish at a time.
    ✓ Correct — an unfinished personal project, one step at a time.
Exercise D — Negatives

Type the whole negative verb phrase — for example, "isn't building," not just "isn't." The Present Continuous uses "be," so negatives are formed with isn't/aren't, not don't/doesn't.

  • 1
    She many photography classes. (take)
  • 2
    He weight as quickly as he'd hoped these days. (lose)
  • 3
    They enough money for the school trip yet. (raise)
  • 4
    He the violin as often as he should. (play)
  • 5
    He many vegetables in his garden. (grow)
  • 6
    She much progress on her wedding planning. (make)
  • 7
    He a new career at this time. (consider)
  • 8
    She a new fitness class. (try)
Exercise E — Questions

Type the whole opening question phrase — for example, "Is he playing," not just "Is." Follow the subject/verb hint given.

  • 1
    in the community band? (he / currently play)
  • 2
    on renovating the kitchen? (she / work)
  • 3
    a new car? (they / buy)
  • 4
    to swim? (he / learn)
  • 5
    auditions for the school play? (they / hold)
  • 6
    his brother through recovery these days? (he / support)
  • 7
    a venue for the party? (they / choose)
  • 8
    her savings goal a little at a time? (she / reach)
6 Choose the Right Sentence
Apply What You Know

Read each question carefully. Select the sentence that matches the description.

Question 1 of 8
Select the correctly formed sentence.
Question 2 of 8
Select the sentence that describes real progress that is still happening, not a single event you've simply scheduled for later.
Question 3 of 8
Select the best description of a "project in progress."
Question 4 of 8
Select the correctly formed negative sentence.
Question 5 of 8
Select the correctly formed question.
Question 6 of 8
Select the sentence that would sound wrong to a native speaker in this context.
Question 7 of 8
Select the time expression most typical of this use.
Question 8 of 8
Select the best test for whether this use applies.
7 Summary
Projects in Progress The Present Continuous also covers a real project or activity still happening — even without one exact time you can point to.
  • The idea: real progress can still be "in progress" even when no one is working on it right this second. The test is whether it's adding up little by little, not whether it's happening right now.
  • Watch out: don't confuse this with one event you've simply planned for later — "He is getting his license next month" is a plan, not a project, even though it looks the same.
  • Common mistake: don't frame an unfinished project as a repeated routine — "She writes letters" is wrong; "She is writing letters" is right.
  • Typical time words: currently, these days, at this time. Avoid "this year," "this semester," or similar calendar periods — they don't make clear whether something is actually in progress or just planned for later.
  • Quick test: is real progress happening little by little, or is this really just one event that hasn't happened yet?
  • Next, you'll meet a related but different idea: situations that are slowly changing, like a trend or a measurement.
← Previous lesson Actions in Progress Right Now Next Situations That Are Slowly Changing →