The pattern

"I'm" plus a verb ending in -ing says what you are doing right now, or around now. "I'm cooking" means the pan is on the stove. "I'm reading a good book" means you started it this week and have not finished. Both are the same shape: I'm, then the -ing word, then whatever comes after.

This is the sentence you say when someone calls and asks "What are you doing?" or when you walk into a room and want to explain yourself. It is also how people describe a phase of life: "I'm studying", "I'm looking for a job", "I'm learning English".

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

  1. "Just" here means "at this exact moment", the one place it earns its spot.

Check yourself

1Someone calls and asks what you are doing. Which is the natural answer?
2Which sentence describes a phase of life rather than this exact moment?
3Which verb form follows "I'm"?

Practice · 3 min

Say what you are doing. Prompt on the left, one natural sentence on the right.

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  5. 5

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.