How to Use the French Expression Être en Train de

The French expression à ªtre en train de (pronounced  eh tra(n) treh(n) deu)  means to be in the process of or to be doing. This little phrase when combined with an infinitive is the equivalent of the English  present progressive, which French lacks. Like Present Progressive Normally, one would use the simple present in French (je parle) to express both the English simple present (I speak) and the present progressive (I am speaking). When you want to insist on the ongoing, continuous nature of a current action in French, use the expression à ªtre en train de with an infinitive denoting the action. For example:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je suis en train de parler.   I am (in the process of) speaking (right now). The French equivalent of the English past progressive (I was speaking) is the imperfect: je parlais. But if you need to stress the fact that the action was continuing, use à ªtre en train de.  For example:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Jà ©tais en train dà ©crire ma thà ¨se quand le tremblement de terre a frappà ©.   I was (in the middle of) writing my thesis when the earthquake struck. Synonyms The expression  Ãƒ ªtre en cours de has a similar meaning, but it is passive and usually followed by a noun: La maison est en cours damà ©nagement the house is being renovated. While the French present participle -ant cant be used to mean that one is doing something, it is equivalent to -ing in English when used as a noun or adjective. Expressions and Use Il est en train de manger. He's eating. se voir en train de faire quelque chose to picture someone doing something surprendre quelqu'un en train de fairequelque chose to catch someone doing something se voir en train de faire quelque chose to see someone doing something Il est en train de la draguer. He's trying to pick her up. L'eau est en train de chauffer. The kettle's on. / The water's heating. en train de faire quelque chose à ªtre en train de changer à ªtre en train de faire quelquechose in the act of doing somethingto be undergoing changeto be in the middle of doing something Additional Resources   Expressions with  Ãƒ ªtreExpressions with  enExpressions with  deMost common French phrases