1. The Present Progressive: Wh- Questions6
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 © Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

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

3. Form Wh- Word Be Verb Subject -ing Verb Form What am I doing? Where is
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. Because this is the funny part.
Why
Use why to ask for reasons.
Because this is the funny part.
Why are you laughing?

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

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

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 Example: Example: what / he / eat
Work with a partner. Ask and answer questions about the pictures. Practice intonation and short answers.
Practice 2
Example:
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
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