Let's head to an active construction site to learn how to express actions that are currently in progress.
Right Here, Right Now: être en train de
In French, the standard present tense (je travaille) can mean both "I work" and "I am working."
To emphasize that an action is happening at this exact moment—that you are "in the middle of" or "in the process of" doing something—use the expression être en train de.
To build this structure, conjugate être (to be) and add en train de, followed by the infinitive (the dictionary form) of the action verb:
- subject + être (conjugated) + en train de
- infinitive
| I am currently looking for the shovel. | Je suis en train de chercher la pelle. |
| The worker is currently moving the sand with the shovel. | Le travailleur est en train de déplacer le sable avec la pelle. |
Note: If the infinitive verb begins with a vowel or a mute h, *de contracts to d' (e.g., en train d'écouter).*
Heavy Machinery and Plurals
This structure works with any subject. Just make sure to conjugate être to match who or what is performing the action, whether it is a team of workers preparing concrete (le béton) or a crane (la grue).
| Is the crane currently loading the wood? | Est-ce que la grue est en train de charger le bois ? |
| They are currently preparing the concrete. | Ils sont en train de préparer le béton. |
In the Middle of the Mess
Because être en train de heavily emphasizes the ongoing nature of an action, it is often used as an explanation or an excuse for something else going on—like making a lot of noise or kicking up dust (la poussière) while cutting stone (la pierre).
| We are in the middle of cleaning the bricks. | Nous sommes en train de nettoyer les briques. |
| The boss is in the middle of demolishing the brick wall. | Le chef est en train de démolir le mur en briques. |
| There is dust because we are currently cutting the stone. | Il y a de la poussière parce que nous sommes en train de couper la pierre. |
