Progressive Tense with 'đang' — Vietnamese Grammar

To describe an action that is currently taking place, place the particle directly before the main verb. This corresponds to the English continuous structure "to be + -ing" (e.g., is eating, am working, are playing).

Basic Usage with Verbs

The structure is simply Subject + + Verb. Unlike English, the verb itself does not change form; you do not add any suffixes like "-ing". The presence of is sufficient to indicate the action is in progress.

Tôi đang ăn trưa.
I am eating lunch.
Họ đang xem phim.
They are watching a movie.
Trời đang mưa.
It is raining.

Usage with Adjectives

You can also use before adjectives. This emphasizes that a state or feeling is temporary and happening right now, rather than being a permanent characteristic.

Tôi đang bận.
I am busy (right now).
Cô ấy đang vui.
She is happy (currently).
Bây giờ anh ấy đang mệt.
He is tired now.

Time Independence (Past and Future)

Vietnamese grammar focuses on "aspect" (whether an action is finished or ongoing) rather than strict "tense" (time). Because marks the continuous aspect, it can be used for the past or future if the context is clear.

If you mention a specific time in the past, translates to "was/were ...-ing".

Hôm qua tôi đang ngủ.
Yesterday I was sleeping.

If combined with the future marker , it translates to "will be ...-ing".

Ngày mai tôi sẽ đang làm việc.
Tomorrow I will be working.

Asking Questions

To ask if someone is currently doing something, use the construction ... ?. The word is placed before , and is placed at the end of the sentence.

Bạn có đang nghe không?
Are you listening?
Em có đang học không?
Are you studying?

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Vietnamese course

47 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 6. A few of them, with the words “Progressive Tense with 'đang'” is about in bold:

Anh ấy cũng đang ngủ. Còn cô ấy thì không.
He is also sleeping. She isn't.
Lesson 16
Tôi đang mua một quả chuối và sáu quả trứng.
I am buying one banana and six eggs.
Lesson 43
Chào bác sĩ. Em đang gặp một vấn đề.
Hello, Doctor. I have a problem.
Lesson 91

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