The progressive form in German describes actions that are happening right now, similar to the English "-ing" form (e.g., "I am eating"). While German doesn't have a dedicated progressive tense like English, it uses specific constructions to highlight ongoing actions.
- Marks actions “in progress”
- Highlights immediacy or continuity
- Constructed with sein + am + [Verb]-en (colloquially)
The progressive form expresses ongoing, in-progress actions.
Example:
- Ich esse = I eat/I am eating.
- Ich bin am Essen = I am (in the process of) eating. (progressive)
Progressive forms are used for expressing actions in progress and emphasizing ongoing activity.
Construction
The main colloquial way to form the progressive is:
[Subject] + sein (conjugated) + am + [Verb stem + -en]
- Use the full infinitive minus “-n/-en” for the verb stem.
- Place the verb after am (a contraction of “an dem,” literally “at the”).
Examples:
- Ich bin am Arbeiten. (I am working [right now].)
- Sie ist am Lernen. (She is studying [in the moment].)
The progressive form is sein + am + Verb(-en).
am + Verb(en) Details
- The verb is always in the -en form (like an infinitive without “zu”).
- This form is mainly used in spoken German for emphasis on the ongoing nature.
The progressive is formed with sein + am + verb stem + -en.
Examples
| Subject | Progressive | Literal Translation | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich | Ich bin am Essen | I am at eating | I am (in the process of) eating |
| Du | Du bist am Spielen | You are at playing | You are playing (right now) |
| Er/Sie/Es | Er ist am Arbeiten | He is at working | He is working (at the moment) |
| Wir | Wir sind am Reisen | We are at traveling | We are traveling (right now) |
| Ihr | Ihr seid am Tanzen | You all are at dancing | You (pl.) are dancing |
| Sie/sie | Sie sind am Singen | They are at singing | They are singing (right now) |
Note: The standard present tense can also express ongoing actions without a special form: “Ich arbeite” = “I work/I am working.”
The am + Verb(en) form is mainly used in spoken and informal German.
Contrast with Simple Present
| Meaning | Simple Present | Progressive (am + -en) |
|---|---|---|
| You work (rout.) | Du arbeitest | — |
| You are working (now) | Du arbeitest (can be used) | Du bist am Arbeiten |
| She studies (rout.) | Sie lernt | — |
| She is studying (now) | Sie lernt (can be used) | Sie ist am Lernen |
In everyday use, simple present can cover both “I eat” and “I am eating.” The progressive form adds extra emphasis on the action happening right now.
The am + Verb(en) form is used to emphasize an action in progress in spoken German.
Conclusion
German uses a unique structure with sein + am + Verb(-en) to express ongoing actions, providing a way to convey the progressive meaning familiar from English.
- Progressive = “sein + am + [Verb]-en”
- Focuses on actions in progress (colloquial use)
- Highlights immediacy vs. simple present
sein + am + Verb(-en) is the formula for German progressive.
Progressive forms are used for ongoing actions and emphasizing the present moment.
- How do you express "We are watching TV" in German progressive form?
- Why might a German speaker choose the progressive form over simple present?
- Write the progressive form for "He is reading" and "You (pl.) are swimming."